Written Answers Nos. 171-180
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health notwithstanding previous correspondence in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is anxious to meet their consultant and is currently on a waiting list, if and when their request will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42567/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the impact of prescription charges may be ameliorated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42569/14]
View answerIt was necessary to increase the prescription charge in 2014 due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
I am pleased to announce that as part of the packet of health measures in Budget 2015 that the prescription charge is frozen at the level set in 2014.
Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. There are no plans to amend the prescription charge.
176. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who requires associated equipment for a prosthesis; if he is aware that this constituent is not due for an appointment with his consultant for some months and if he will make alternative arrangements for this person to obtain the necessary equipment as soon as possible [42576/14]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
177. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his views on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has been admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital three times within the past year suffering from abdominal pain; and if he will examine and provide an update on this case. [42578/14]
View answerWith regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, entitled “Your Service Your Say”, details of which are on the HSE website, at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/. In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.
If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.
HSE Director of Advocacy
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel 1890 424 555
Office of the Ombudsman
18, Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel 1890 223 030
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
178. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the necessary funding to Clarecare to increase its capacity to deliver additional home help hours as there are in excess of 220 persons currently on the waiting list for this vital support; if he will also address the historical funding issues in the mid-west region with regard to home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42585/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
179. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of reports from external consultants commissioned by his Department in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the costs incurred by his Department to commission these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42589/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy for the period January 2012 to March 2014 is set out below. The Department is collating relevant data from April 2014 to date and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
Year |
Number of Reports |
Cost to Date € |
|
2014 |
1 |
5,000 |
|
2013 |
12 |
519,951 |
|
2012 |
12 |
226,116 |
180. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will have hip replacement surgery as their mobility is very restricted and they are in severe pain. [42598/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
