Written Answers Nos. 392-408
392. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the subsistence being paid to those treated medically outside the State; if this will be reinstated given the significant financial costs on patients and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2301/15]
View answerThe Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) as provided for in EU Regulations and Department of Health Guidelines, does not include a provision for travel and subsistence expenses for patients or their relatives travelling abroad to avail of approved treatments. However the HSE, subject to available funding, under the Treatment Abroad Scheme Travel Policy, may provide assistance towards reasonable economic air or sea travel fares for patients, and a travelling companion where appropriate or where the referring consultant identifies a necessity. The HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme National Travel Policy was implemented in November 2009 to standardise and provide equity to the provision of entitlements relating to travel expenses. Expenses other than air/sea fares are not admissible. However, patients who experience difficulty funding any additional costs may apply to the Department of Social Protection for assistance as an exceptional needs payment. It should be noted that, in general, patients do not incur subsistence costs when undergoing treatment abroad as such costs are included in the cost of the care that the patient is receiving.
393. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if he will expedite the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2303/15]
View answerThe 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.
394. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a mobility scooter in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2308/15]
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.
395. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2309/15]
View answerThe 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.
396. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [2313/15]
View answerAs 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.
397. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/15]
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.
398. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who sought drug and alcohol addiction services in County Donegal during the past five years; where these services were availed of; and the number of patients who sought rehabilitation and detox services specifically. [2315/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
399. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government regarding legislation for stem cell research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44784/14]
View answerFollowing the Supreme Court's ruling in MR & Anor v An tArd Chláraitheoir & Ors case on November 7th, I gave a commitment that I would bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to draft legislation on assisted human reproduction. It is envisaged that this comprehensive legislation would deal with a wide range of issues from the beginning to the end of the assisted human reproduction process as well as related matters, which will include stem cell research. This Memorandum was circulated to the relevant Departments and the Office of the Attorney General for observations and advice in December. It is my intention that the finalised Memorandum will be submitted to Cabinet in the near future, once this observation process is complete.
400. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the capital infrastructure projects that are taking place in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. [2327/15]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
401. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure recognition of the genetic mother as mother on the birth certificate of her child; if legislation will ensure that children will have a right to knowledge of both their surrogate and genetic parents; when legislation is likely to be presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43966/14]
View answerThe issue of recording the genetic identity of children born through assisted human reproduction other than surrogacy is being dealt with in the context of the Children and Family Relationships Bill, currently at an advanced stage of drafting by the Department of Justice and Equality. That Bill will enable the intending parents who undertake donor assisted human reproduction to be assigned legal parentage and to obtain a birth certificate recording both of them as the child's parents. They will be the parents of the child for all legal purposes. In tandem with these provisions, the Bill will ban the use of anonymously donated gametes and will require notification of genetic parentage to the national donor-conceived person register. The donor-conceived person will, on reaching the age of 18, be able to obtain information, including identifying information, about the donor. These measures are intended to safeguard the right of the child to his or her identity including as to genetic origins. The Children and Family Relationships Bill is expected to come before the Oireachtas shortly.
In relation to surrogacy I have given a commitment to bring a memorandum for Government, seeking approval to draft the General Scheme of legislative provisions for assisted human reproduction. It is envisaged that this comprehensive legislation would deal with a wide range of issues from the beginning to the end of the assisted human reproduction process and will include provisions relating to surrogacy. The issue of parentage will be considered as part of these surrogacy provisions and the provisions will take into consideration the recent Supreme Court judgment in the MR & Anor v An tArd Chláraitheoir & Ors case.
402. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if there is a contract in place for chemists who are involved in the dispensing of methadone; if the Irish College of General Practitioners still accredits level 2 training for methadone prescribing; if doctors can work in more than one location; and if there is a restriction on the number of patients seen by level 1 and level 2 doctors. [2422/15]
View answerAs these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
403. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there should be an appeal process or alternative means to apply for treatment abroad other than consultant only referrals in view of the case load of consultants and the backlog of procedures offered by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2423/15]
View answerThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in Regulation (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public health care outside the State through model form E112. The application requires the patient's Irish based public referring hospital consultant, following clinical assessment, to certify, among other things, that the treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it. Once a patient is discharged from a specific episode of care abroad, their care immediately reverts to their Irish based consultant.
Applications to TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. Each application is reviewed individually and a decision is made in accordance with the legislation and guidelines and on the basis of a review by clinical experts. Each application is given a formal written decision and where a decision is one of decline, the reason for that decision is clearly outlined and the option of an appeal is afforded. Previous approvals or declines are not used as an influencing factor on subsequent applications. The appeals process is outlined in each decline letter without exception. Where on appeal a decline decision is upheld, the appeal decision letter advises that the applicant can make a further appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman.
There are no proposals to amend the application process as referred to by the Deputy. It should be noted that, in general, this scheme is one whereby a consultant refers a patient abroad for a specified treatment which is not available in Ireland. The statutory framework stipulates the patient must be a public patient and is required to have followed public patient pathways. GPs refer patients to consultants for acute care and it is the treating consultant who, having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within the country, refers the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS. The consultant must specify the specific treatment and in making the referral accepts clinical responsibility in relation to the physician and facility abroad where the patient will attend. Consultants may only refer patients within their area of specialty. Therefore it would be inappropriate and contrary to both the criteria and spirit of the statutory framework for this pathway to be circumvented and could have implications for patient safety.
404. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the specific funding allocated by the Health Service Executive to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, Aras Mathair Pol, Castlerea, and St. Patrick’s, Carrick-on-Shannon, in view of the fact that community nursing units must comply with new Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations coming into effect this year. [2424/15]
View answer405. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive fully costed the Health Information and Quality Authority compliance works required to upgrade the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon town, the Plunkett Home in Boyle, Aras Mathair Pol, Castlerea, and St. Patrick’s, Carrick-on-Shannon. [2425/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
406. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding support and advice from the health services in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2431/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for 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.
407. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an orthodontic appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2432/15]
View answerAs 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.
408. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card being revoked in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2433/15]
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.
