Finian McGrath
Question:130. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4098/15]
View answerMedical Card Applications
Questions (130)
Written answers
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.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (131)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:131. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve services for those with mental health difficulties in view of ongoing problems (details supplied). [4100/15]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the Programme for Government, my priority as Minister of State has been to modernise our mental health services, notwithstanding the severe resource constraints overall in recent years, and to prioritise new resources to underpin implementation of A Vision for Change. In that regard, the Government has provided an additional €125 million and some 1,150 posts for mental health comprising €35m with 416 posts in 2012, €35m with 477 posts in 2013, €20m for the recruitment of approximately 250 posts in 2014 and a further €35 million in 2015. The funding is being used to continue to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children, to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness, forensic mental health services, and to enhance access counselling and psychotherapy in primary care and investment in suicide prevention measures.
In relation to the specific issue by the Deputy, there are a number of treatment options for depression. The best and most appropriate treatment option depends on the individual case, the likely cause of depression and the severity of symptoms. Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of medication, talking therapies - usually provided by a mental health professional, such as a counsellor, psychiatrist or psychologist - and self-help. In some cases, a combination of all three might be the most appropriate treatment plan for that individual.
There are many excellent counselling services currently provided across the country by both the HSE and voluntary sector. Counselling is provided across the health service including primary care, social care and within the mental health. The type of service can be provided by a range of trained health professionals and delivered to meet a clinical need at either primary or secondary care level. The Government, in keeping with its commitment in the Programme for Government to increase access to counselling and psychotherapy, has provided funding totalling €7.5 million to develop the Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) service, which works closely with HSE Mental Health Service, under whose aegis this funding is provided. CIPC is one of a range of initiatives taken by the HSE to build the capacity of primary care services to respond to mental health needs of individuals. I was pleased to note that the HSE in its National Service Plan 2015 has committed to "reviewing and improving access to psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions".
If the Deputy wishes to provide me with the contact details of the person in question, I will ask the HSE to contact the individual directly.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (132)
Jack Wall
Question:132. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4103/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Appointments Delays
Questions (133)
Tom Fleming
Question:133. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will review a hospital referral in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4106/15]
View answerWritten answers
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific case 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (134)
Timmy Dooley
Question:134. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason theatre facilities at the Mid-West Regional Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, are not being scheduled for use on alternate Wednesdays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4109/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (135)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:135. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4112/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Health Services
Questions (136)
Clare Daly
Question:136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a query in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4115/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (137, 140)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding meningitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4125/15]
View answerFinian McGrath
Question:140. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if there is a timeframe to introduce the new vaccine against meningitis B and to make it freely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4138/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 140 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health.
NIAC has issued guidance in relation to the use of the Meningitis B vaccine in the control of clusters or outbreaks of Meningococcal B disease.
My Department has recently received a letter from the Chairman of NIAC regarding the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine into the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. This matter will be considered by my Department.