Terence Flanagan
Question:196. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the number of Dublin Fire Brigade ambulances will increase this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10823/15]
View answerAmbulance Service Provision
Questions (196)
Written 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.
Question No. 197 answered with Question No. 194.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Applications
Questions (198)
Noel Coonan
Question:198. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health when an application for a long-term illness payment will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10851/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, 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.
Community Pharmacy Services
Questions (199)
Clare Daly
Question:199. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is being denied access to the multiple sclerosis drug treatment, Lemtrada. [10852/15]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (200)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:200. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive an appointment for surgery in Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10858/15]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (201)
Joe Carey
Question:201. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 5 March 2015, when it is envisaged that a patient (details supplied) in County Clare will undergo a procedure in view of the fact that the person has been classified as an urgent clinical priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10869/15]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to my answer of 5 March. In relation to your further query in this 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (202)
Michael Creed
Question:202. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive funding under the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10875/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (203)
Billy Timmins
Question:203. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10883/15]
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 should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved.
In relation to the specific case raised, 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.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (204)
Bernard Durkan
Question:204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the grounds for transferring Dublin City Fire Brigade ambulance services to the Health Service Executive in view of the excellent record established by the service through the Dublin fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10894/15]
View answerWritten answers
In a report published last December, HIQA identified serious patient safety concerns over the lack of coordination between Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) and the National Ambulance Service (NAS). Following discussions, the HSE and Dublin City Council have agreed in principle to address the identified weaknesses, through the provision of a single point of contact for all emergency calls in Dublin. Under this agreement, all 999/112 ambulance calls for the Dublin region will be routed through the National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght, and all ambulances, whether DFB or NAS, will be dispatched from Tallaght. In addition, clinical governance of Dublin ambulance services will become the responsibility of the NAS Medical Director. The new arrangements will mean that the people of Dublin will get an improved ambulance service.
Staff in DFB will, of course, be fully consulted before any changes are implemented. In that regard a Joint Forum will be established under an independent chair, Mr Stephen Brady, former Dublin Chief Fire Officer, to address issues regarding the reconfiguration of the control centre. The Forum will include Dublin City Council Management and Union representatives.
DFB has, I believe, provided very well for the emergency ambulance needs of Dublin for a very long time. I can assure the Deputy that there is no suggestion that NAS will take over the role of DFB in Dublin. I am happy to confirm that DFB will continue to be fully involved in emergency ambulance service delivery and there will be no diminution of such services.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy and that it explains the situation fully.