Written Answers Nos. 129-136
129. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to the ongoing delay in the publication of the expert group's review of the Mental Health Act 2001, the impact of the delay of over a year in publishing the report on addressing the continuing human rights issues within the mental health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45593/14]
View answerI expect to receive the report of the Expert Group set up to review the Mental Health Act 2001 in the coming days.
As the Deputy will be aware, while the Expert Group was originally due to report in 2013, additional time was requested by the Group to consider the implications for mental health legislation of the Assisted (Decision Making) Capacity Bill which was published in July 2013. In addition, detailed discussion and analysis was required by the Group on complex areas of mental health legislation including, for example, the requirement to take account of certain Articles of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the need to achieve a balance between individual human rights and the requirements for public safety. I made it clear to the members of the Group at the commencement of their work that they should take an open and expansive approach, and consider all issues which they might feel were relevant and necessary for a thorough review, having regard to the Review's term of reference.
As I have previously indicated to the Deputy, the Mental Health Act 2001 was introduced on a phased basis and was fully enacted by 2006. For the majority of legislation that has been fully operational for less than a decade, it would not be normal to have such a formal comprehensive review of the legislation. However a commitment was made in the Programme for Government to review the Act and the Government and I attach great importance to the review.
The Mental Health Act 2001 was consistent with prevailing approaches to rights issues at that time and continues to underpin a modern approach to the regulation of mental health services in Ireland. As I have previously indicated, I am satisfied that the additional timeframe which was necessary for the current review is not impacting on human rights issues within the mental health system.
130. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 23 April 2013, if he will confirm that all of the posts identified in his reply have now been filled; the number that are still waiting to be filled; if the recruitment has been completed of the 13 occupational therapists, two physiotherapists and seven speech and language therapists for the Health Service Executive West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45594/14]
View answerUp to the end of October 2014, 232.5 of 264.5 Primary Care Team posts, which were approved in 2013 have been filled. A further 4 posts have start dates agreed and the remaining 28 posts are still going through the recruitment process. The HSE is striving to have the remaining posts filled as soon as possible.
All of the Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy posts allocated to the Health Service Executive West region have been filled.
131. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if under the revised conditions for the issuance of medical cards, he will consider the inclusion of chronic asthma sufferers aged 70 years and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45599/14]
View answerUnder the Health Act, 1970, eligibility for a medical card is founded primarily on the undue financial hardship test and every application must be assessed on that basis. Under the legislation, determination of an individual’s eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE. The 1970 Health Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and their family, having regard to their overall financial situation and reasonable expenditure. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illnesses, or with a disability.
The system of assessment for eligibility for those 70 years of age and over is based on significantly higher gross income limits rather than the standard net income thresholds. This advantageous arrangement for persons aged over 70 years has facilitated a much greater share of this cohort qualifying for a medical card compared to the general population as a whole. In the main, persons in the over-70s age cohort do not have the same outlays and expenses as those under 70 years of age who are assessed on a means basis. However in circumstances where their income exceeds these limits persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card where discretion is exercised where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.
The Deputy is aware that the Director-General of the HSE established an Expert Panel to examine and recommend the range of medical conditions that would be considered as a basis of eligibility for health services. The Expert Panel report was presented to Minister Varadkar last month. The Expert Panel concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. It also concluded that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card and recommended that the existing eligibility assessment should be extended beyond financial hardship to include an assessment of the burden of a medical condition, but it noted that there are significant challenges to including such an assessment. It is however recognised by Government that there is a need for discretion and sensitivity in assessing eligibility, which will take into account an individual's medical condition and needs, rather than a list of specific medical conditions. In that context, the Government has approved a number of immediate improvements that the HSE is making to the medical card system.
132. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health when a medical card decision will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [45600/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
133. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of early intervention teams for children in each local health area; the total number on each team; the number of children in each area waiting for an appointment with a team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45606/14]
View answerAll Health Service Executive areas have significant early intervention services in place for children with disabilities aged zero to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE. At the same time, the HSE has recognised the need to improve the way in which both early intervention services and services for school-aged children are delivered. It is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years). The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, where these children go to school or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties.
The Programme is a key priority for the HSE’s Social Care Directorate. An additional €4m was allocated this year to assist in implementing the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts, and further investment in the Programme will take place in 2015. The transition to this new service model is taking place on a phased basis and includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including service users and their families.
Within this context, I have asked the Executive to provide the Deputy with the detailed information that he has requested. 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.
134. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that all of the community-based mental health teams are in place in the Health Service Executive west; the posts that remain to be filled; when these will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45607/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.
135. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health when work will commence on the construction of the new primary care centre at Baldoyle, Dublin 13. [45609/14]
View answerDelivery of primary care infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question 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.
136. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will review the care and admission policy of acute psychiatric patients at Portiuncula and Galway University Hospitals in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive has failed to put an appropriate admission system for suicidal patients in place following the closure of St. Brigid's acute psychiatric unit, Ballinasloe, County Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45610/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE 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.
