Michael Healy-Rae
Question:463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the ambulance service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15383/15]
View answerAmbulance Service Provision
Questions (463)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Questions (464)
John McGuinness
Question:464. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will fund the purchase of specially made shoes in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will expedite a positive response. [15384/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (465)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:465. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when an appointment with a urologist will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [15386/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive, HSE, is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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 the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (466)
Michael Creed
Question:466. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if transplant patients are entitled to either a medical card or to a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15396/15]
View answerWritten answers
In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), 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. The Deputy will be aware of the publication of the Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility and the Medical Card Process Review in November 2014. Key findings of the Expert Panel were that it would not be feasible, desirable or ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility and that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, the Government recognises that the health service needs to be responsive to the circumstances of people with significant medical needs. Following publication of the two reports, 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.
The medical card system is now operating in a more sensible and sensitive manner. The HSE is exercising greater discretion, as is evident in the increase in the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation - by 60% from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to over 83,000 at the end of March this year.
With regard to the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme, there are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme.
I can advise the Deputy that, under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals not holding a medical card, a GP visit card or not covered under the LTI scheme who incur ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (467)
Michael McGrath
Question:467. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if applications for medical cards by retired public servants who are over 70 years of age is considered based on their income, after the application of the public service pension reduction; if persons who should qualify based on their income, taking account of the reduction have been denied a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15398/15]
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, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
Health Insurance Payments
Questions (468)
Seán Kenny
Question:468. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the current outstanding amount due to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 from private health insurance companies; the total amount of claims awaiting signatures from consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15412/15]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (469)
Brian Walsh
Question:469. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a full medical card was replaced by a general practitioner visit card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15416/15]
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, will he please please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
HSE Investigations
Questions (470)
John McGuinness
Question:470. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of retired Health Service Executive staff appointed to the investigation team relative to the Áras Attracta Home; if these persons are being paid, or are in receipt of expenses; their qualifications and involvement in other programmes operated by the executive in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15428/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (471)
Clare Daly
Question:471. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 12 March 2015, if he will request the Health Service Executive to answer the question asked, which was the reason the person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is not receiving access to the drug Lemtrada, rather than an explanation of the overall policy of Beaumont Hospital in that regard. [15432/15]
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 the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will she please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Questions Nos. 472 to 476, inclusive, answered with Question No. 434.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (477)
Tom Fleming
Question:477. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact the person has submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15438/15]
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, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
Disability Support Services
Questions (478)
John McGuinness
Question:478. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of staff and their qualifications, employed by St. Patrick's Centre at the residential facility Renua, County Kilkenny, in each of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, relative to the amount allocated in each year, 2012 €367,244, 2013 €355,236.30 and 2014 €388,306; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15442/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Disability Support Services
Questions (479)
John McGuinness
Question:479. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient property accounts opened by St. Patrick's Centre in County Kilkenny and the respite house Renua in 2014; if both of these facilities acted in accordance with legislation in respect of these accounts since 2005; if the parents of the persons concerned were informed of the accounts being opened; if the parents' permission was sought; if a statement of affairs was provided in each case; if any client's moneys was invested; if so, if interest was paid and-or accounted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15448/15]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Nursing Education
Questions (480)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:480. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if the review of the nursing adaption programme 2015 by Nursing Homes Ireland, Health Service Executive, and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which was due to take place in February 2015, has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15472/15]
View answerWritten answers
The issue the Deputy refers to is an operational matter. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the HSE for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (481)
James Bannon
Question:481. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has reneged on its commitment to recruit 90 nurses for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, just seven weeks after the agreement was announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15483/15]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (482, 483, 484, 485, 486)
Gerry Adams
Question:482. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting lists, by number and percentage, for each of the north east hospitals, since 2011. [15488/15]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:483. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the outpatient waiting lists for each north east hospital on a yearly basis, by number and percentage, since 2011. [15489/15]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:484. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of cancelled procedures in each of the hospitals in the north east region, since 2011. [15490/15]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:485. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of non-urgent appointments cancelled by each of the hospitals in the north east hospital group, by month, from 2011. [15491/15]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:486. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting treatment in each of the hospitals in the north east hospital group, by illness or procedure, for example, ear, nose and throat, general surgery and so on. [15492/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 486, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.