Written Answers Nos. 190-199
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determining an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12424/15]
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.
191. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding the substitution of a person in County Kerry on long-term sick leave will be dealt with as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12454/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
192. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when that person will receive an appointment for a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scan at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore in County Offaly. [12470/15]
View answerThe 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.
193. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the current location of the medical records, including the birth registers and the maternity theatre registers, and the type of records held, on site and off site, relating to maternity and obstetric services provided at St. Munchin's Regional Maternity Hospital in County Limerick in each of the years 1960 to 1985 under arrangements pursuant to maternity services legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12475/15]
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.
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the placement list for the nursing home support scheme; the timeframe for awarding places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12484/15]
View answer197. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme; the average waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12506/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 197 together.
As of the 19 of March 2015 (latest figures available) there were 1,399 people on the national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme with an average wait time of 11 weeks. The budget for the Scheme in 2015 is €948.8m which reflects an increase of €10m from the 2014 position. The additional €10m was allocated to the Scheme as part of a wider initiative to alleviate the problem of delayed discharges in acute hospitals and has resulted in 300 extra approvals under the Scheme.
195. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of missions the emergency aeromedical service has carried out since its launch to date; the number in counties Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway; when the service will be made permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12486/15]
View answerThe Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service Establishment Group was set up to examine how best to provide a dedicated EAS service. The Group has completed its work and its report is currently under consideration. Pending a decision, the Department of Defence has agreed that the Air Corps will further extend aeromedical support to the EAS, to June 2015.
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to your statistical queries. If you have not received a reply from them within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Sligo Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12491/15]
View answerThe 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.
198. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine an application for a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry, as all relevant details have been submitted to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12545/15]
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.
199. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise the prevention, treatment and aftercare for meningitis and septicaemia patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12547/15]
View answerMeningococcal disease is a serious disease the incidence of which is falling in Ireland. Ireland's introduction of Meningococcal C and Pneumococcal vaccine programmes have reduced the burden of these diseases and Meningococcal B vaccine is currently being used to control outbreaks of Meningococcal B disease.
In order to harmonise the approach to the management of meningitis in Ireland, HPSC in 2012 produced the guidance document “Guidelines for the early clinical and public health management of bacterial meningitis (including meningococcal disease)” (available at http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/VaccinePreventable/BacterialMeningitis/Guidance/File,12977,en.pdf) which gives clear and straightforward guidance on the management to reduce mortality and morbidity, during the pre-admission and continuing care phases; Investigation of suspected cases; Development of effective Case definitions; Public health action after a single case and Management of clusters of meningitis.
The key recommendations in the guidelines include:
- A presumptive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency and immediate referral to hospital is required. Health care providers should ensure that all patients with an acute systemic febrile illness, particularly children, can be reassessed without delay if their condition deteriorates.
- Doctors should be encouraged to review the situation within 4-6 hours if early meningococcal disease cannot be ruled out at the first assessment (safety net approach). All GPs should carry benzylpenicillin in their surgeries and emergency bags, and should be ready to administer it without delay to patients with a systemic febrile illness and a petechial or purpuric rash. Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime are suitable alternatives if available.
- The development of signs suggestive of acute sepsis and/or meningitis is a medical emergency and mandates prompt intervention. Treatment should not be delayed while awaiting results of diagnostic tests.
- In patients with meningococcal infection, treatment to eradicate nasopharyngeal carriage is required. The department of public health (medical officer of health) should be notified immediately so that the appropriate public health response can be determined.
Public Health Management
The public health response to meningococcal disease includes: identification of close contacts, arranging appropriate chemoprophylaxis and provision of appropriate information.
Clinicians and laboratories are legally required to notify all cases of suspected bacterial meningitis, invasive meningococcal or Hib disease to the local public health department immediately without waiting for microbiological confirmation and notify all cases of pneumococcal meningitis upon microbiological confirmation.
Departments of public health should undertake enhanced surveillance on all cases and implement prompt public health interventions as appropriate.
The main reason for giving chemoprophylaxis is to eliminate meningococci from any carrier who may be in the network of contacts of each index case. This reduces the risk to other susceptible individuals, protecting them from acquiring the meningococcal strain from the carrier and possibly developing the disease.
Vaccination can also be used to control outbreaks and clusters in appropriate circumstances.
The objective of public health management of outbreaks is to interrupt the transmission of disease and prevent further cases occurring.
