Thursday, 11 Dec 2014

Written Answers Nos. 151-157

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Questions (151)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

151. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a case in respect of a person (details supplied) an Irish citizen who, as a result of lack of adequate neuro-rehabilitative care here has had to be hospitalised in Germany for more than 17 months following an accident; when the necessary care this person requires will be provided in an Irish hospital; the financial assistance that will be made available to assist towards the high cost of necessary rehabilitative care that is being provided in Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47531/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

With regard to financial assistance towards the cost of care in Germany, the patient or their family should make contact with the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Treatment Abroad Scheme office. That office will engage with the patient or family in respect of the scheme and ensure that all available assistance is provided, in line with the Scheme rules. Full information on the Treatment Abroad Scheme may be found on the HSE website at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatmentabroad/ or by contacting the office on 056 7784554.

As the Deputy's question regarding the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services relates to service matters, I have arranged for that aspect of the question to be referred to the 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (152)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

152. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive treatment in view of the time they have been waiting for this procedure they have almost totally lost their vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47557/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular 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 my officials will follow the matter up with them.

Ambulance Service Response Times

Questions (153)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

153. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency ambulances and rapid response vehicles allocated to the Dublin region; and the number of such vehicles available after hours. [47564/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 my officials will follow the matter up.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (154)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will continue to supply a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who recently lost their medical card for continence aids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47588/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. 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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (155)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 410 of 2 December 2014, the process by which a person aged over 70 years may seek a medical card on a discretionary basis; if all applicants who are not granted a medical card when applying to the over 70s scheme are now assessed for undue hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47589/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (156)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

156. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to three outstanding cases in north Dublin of children who have aged out of Jack and Jill Foundation supports and were referred to the Health Service Executive last July, but have received no assistance to date; when supports will be put in place for these families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47591/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Maternity Services Provision

Questions (157)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

157. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review of national maternity services; his views on the recent reports on deaths that occurred in hospitals and the figures contained in the 2014 report of the United Nations Population Fund that placed Ireland with a relatively high rate of maternal mortality in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47593/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE's National Service Plan 2015 includes a commitment to the undertaking of a review and evaluation of current maternity services. This review will inform a national maternity strategy which will be developed by my Department, in conjunction with the HSE.

In relation to the UN Report referenced, it is recognised that it can be difficult to make international comparisons in relation to maternal mortality because data collection systems vary. However, in an effort to improve the accuracy of our information on maternal deaths in Ireland, a Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry (MDE) system was established in 2009, linking Ireland to the United Kingdom’s Confidential MDE which is considered the gold standard for maternal death enquiries. Therefore Ireland and the UK are virtually unique in having such fully comprehensive reporting systems. Taking full account of the more comprehensive information from the Confidential Maternal Death Enquiry, Ireland has amongst the lowest levels of maternal mortality in the developed world.