Tuesday, 3 Mar 2015

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (371)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

371. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, for each child and adolescent mental health service for each service area, for each year from 2011 to 2014, the number of children admitted to adult inpatient units; the number admitted by month for 2014; the number waiting for a first outpatient appointment, detailed by waiting more than one month, three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8795/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter.

Health Services Funding

Questions (372)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

372. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide financial assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8796/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE funds cord blood collection in cases where the cord blood stem cells are collected for donation to an identified family member in high risk families. In these cases the collection is clinically indicated by a consultant overseeing care and is undertaken in collaboration with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

The HSE does not fund the collection of cord blood stem cells for an unidentified need which may arise in the future. It is open to individual hospitals to accommodate patients who wish to avail of this service on a case by case basis. In such circumstances, arrangements for the collection of cord blood are made between the patient and a third party commercial entity.

Given that the cord blood stem cells that were collected in this instance were not for donation to an identified family member in a high risk family, I am not in a position to provide any financial assistance to the individual concerned.

Questions Nos. 373 and 374 answered with Question No. 370.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (375)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

375. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be decided on, as this person is currently undergoing significant, and costly, treatment. [8810/15]

View answer

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.

Suicide Prevention

Questions (376)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

376. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the perilous funding situation of an organisation (details supplied) which conducts vital suicide prevention work in the community; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that funding to tackle suicide has never been of more critical need, considering that the number of suicides reached its highest ever number in 2011 and that Ireland has the fourth highest rate of suicide for men aged 15 to 24 years in Europe; if he will commit to ensuring that vital funding of this organisation will be maintained in the event that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is unable to continue support through the Pobal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8816/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The role of the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is to oversee the implementation of Reach Out the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention and to co-ordinate suicide prevention efforts around the country. The NOSP helps to support a wide array of work in communities, in partnership with the voluntary sector, across the country that focus on promoting positive mental health and reducing suicide and self-harm by providing significant grant funding each year as well as by assisting in coordinating and giving strategic direction to the work undertaken.

The funding of specific programmes/organisations is a service issue, therefore this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Primary Care Centres Data

Questions (377)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

377. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the spend on primary care centres to date; the spend that is yet to be made; the international examples upon which the roll-out of primary care centres was based; if there have been difficulties in achieving this, including recruitment of health professionals to posts in these centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8819/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Primary Care Strategy, which was published in 2001, is available on line at http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/primary-care-a-new-direction/. During the preparation of the strategy, primary care strategies in a number of other countries were examined. An outline of those Primary Care systems is given at Appendix 2 at the aforementioned link.

The mechanism and time scale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors, including staffing. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to sufficient financing.

Despite constraints on the availability of public capital and revenue in recent years, a very ambitious programme is underway to develop Primary Care Centres and support the provision of an enhanced and more integrated range of services within communities.

There are currently 86 Primary Care Centres in operation throughout the country, 43 of which have opened since 2011. At present, there are also 37 locations where Primary Care Centres are at an advanced planning stage using one of the three methods of delivery; Direct build (by HSE); Public Private Partnership (PPP) project; or Operational Lease with private sector. These are expected to be delivered by the end of 2016/first half of 2017.

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care infrastructure and the staffing of Centres, the Executive has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy about difficulties related to the staffing of Centres and about the spend (capital and revenue monies) for existing and proposed Centres. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office which will follow up the matter.

Hospital Services

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Questions (384)

Noel Coonan

Question:

384. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health when an application under the long-term illness scheme will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8886/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the Long Term Illness Scheme. Therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply. 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.

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Questions (385)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

385. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the subsistence being paid to those medically treated outside the State and to the family members accompanying them; if this will be reinstated in view of the significant financial costs to patients and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8914/15]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (386)

Michelle Mulherin

Question:

386. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding applications for medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo; when a decision will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/15]

View answer

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, she should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.