Written Answers Nos. 387-402
387. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on an application for nursing registration in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8918/15]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have referred this question to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
388. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has not implemented a recommendation made by the rights commissioner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8932/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to look into this matter and to respond to the Deputy directly. 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.
389. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of speech and language therapists working for the Health Service Executive in north Dublin on 1 January 2013 and on 1 January 2015; the number of extra speech and language therapists the executive plans to put in place in this area in 2015, in view of the major demand for this service and the lack of adequate provision at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8933/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to look into this matter and to respond to the Deputy directly. 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.
390. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views that it is appropriate to refuse medical cards to children with Down's syndrome on the basis of their parents' income (details supplied). [8938/15]
View answer399. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding medical cards for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8986/15]
View answer417. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical cards for children with a disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9167/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 399 and 417 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, eligibility for medical cards is set out in the Health Act 1970 (as amended). In accordance with the Act, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no entitlement to a medical card for a person with a particular illness or medical condition and, therefore, in accordance with the legislation, it is not possible for the HSE to award a medical card. The HSE does not collate medical card data on this basis.
However, the Government recognises that the health service needs to be responsive to the circumstances of people with significant medical needs. In November 2014, the Minister for Health and I announced a series of measures to enhance the operation of the medical card scheme and make it more sensitive to people’s needs, especially where serious illness is involved. Where deemed appropriate in particular circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card even though an applicant's means exceed the prescribed threshold. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may be provided with a GP Visit Card, appropriate therapy or other community supports or drugs and appliances under the Long Term Illness scheme, where the qualification criteria are met.
Down’s Syndrome is covered under the Long Term Illness Scheme for which entitlement applies, irrespective of means. The HSE can provide the full requirements in respect of prescribed medicines and appliances free of charge through this statutory entitlement. Public dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment and appliances are also available free of charge to children and in respect of any difficulties identified at child health or school health examinations.
The Deputies will also be aware that the HSE recently established a Clinical Advisory Group for Medical Card Eligibility. The Group will provide oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate medical card system and will focus initially on the development of a framework for assessment and measurement of the burden of disease in this context.
391. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of cases referred by general practitioners in Dublin 5, 13, and 17 to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8943/15]
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 with them.
392. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be considered for the home help scheme; if all appropriate documentation will be sent to that person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8948/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it 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.
393. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a full medical card will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [8952/15]
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.
394. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of the funding announcement for the Grove site in Tuam, County Galway, if he will confirm if it is the Health Service Executive's intention to move the mental health day-hospital in Toghermore House, Tuam, to the Grove; if so, the future plans for Toghermore House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8959/15]
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 within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
395. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a reimbursement, applied for under the drugs payment scheme, will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [8963/15]
View answerUnder 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 to you.
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.
396. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in respect of the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, if the dental, ophthalmic and aural services will be equivalent to those set out in appendix G of Judge Quirke's report, Health Amendment Act 1996 card guide, that is, if Magdalen women will be able to obtain any and all dental, ophthalmic and aural primary care services, including from private practitioners; and if referred for hospital treatment, if Magdalen women will receive an appointment within two weeks, as Health Amendment Act 1996 cardholders do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8966/15]
View answer416. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the support and care being provided for women affected by the treatment they experienced at the Magdalen laundries (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9166/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 416 together.
The Minister for Justice and Equality welcomed the passing by Dáil Éireann of the Redress for Women Who Were Resident in Certain Institutions Bill on 18 February last. Seanad Second Stage deliberations on the Bill took place last week and Committee Stage is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday 4 March. When the Bill has completed its passage in the Oireachtas, the final provisions determined and the legislation commenced, the HSE will be so advised.
397. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if there is or will be provision made for all ambulance drivers to have satellite navigation devices installed in all ambulances in the future so as to avoid delays in ambulances getting to patients located in isolated rural areas throughout the country. [8974/15]
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 with them.
398. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8982/15]
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.
400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the most appropriate accommodation requirements to meet the needs of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who is deemed not suitable for independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8992/15]
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 within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
401. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9001/15]
View answerMedical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Where a single prescribed item is required to be dispensed in different strengths and different containers and therefore claimed as more than one item, a prescription charge will apply to each claimed strength of the product. This raises policy issues surrounding the implementation of prescription charges which is still under review.
402. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Dublin, and the review of their case at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, if he will clarify the period for which notes are being reviewed; if only midwife notes are being reviewed or if any doctors' notes will be reviewed; the reason Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is now being asked to review its own notes for retrospective entries (details supplied); in view of the fact the external review (details supplied) was completed in early 2013, the reason there has been a two year delay in commencing these proposed reviews; the timeframe that exists for these proposed reviews; if it is the intention of the Health Service Executive and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to inform other patients that their medical records are being reviewed; the reason this is taking so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9011/15]
View answerAs the detailed queries raised relate to service matters, 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.
