Written Answers Nos. 136 to 143
136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason persons with mental illness are excluded from the long-term illness scheme once they reach 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16066/15]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, this includes Mental Illness in a person under 16 years of age. There are no plans at present to amend these regulations.
137. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to re-introduce the scheme whereby those who were on a gluten-free diet, due to suffering from coeliac disease, could obtain gluten-free products under the medical card scheme at their local pharmacy. [16069/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (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.
In the current financial environment, the HSE faces a continuing challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, as a result it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of items reimbursable under the GMS and other community drug schemes. This includes gluten-free products.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. There are no plans to reinstate these products on the list of reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
138. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards and the number of general practitioner cards as of 1 April 2015, and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [16092/15]
View answerThe medical and GP visit card figures, as requested by the Deputy are provided below:
|
1 April 2015 |
|
|
Card Type |
No. of cards |
|
Medical Cards |
1,751,883 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
83,450 |
|
GP Visit Cards |
161,054 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
38,293 |
139. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been screened at Roscommon hospital under the national cancer control programme since it commenced in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16117/15]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
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.
140. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full progress report on the new endoscopy unit at Roscommon hospital, including works completed to date; if the works are running to schedule; the expected completion date; and the specific plans to staff the unit. [16118/15]
View answerAs the delivery of infrastructure projects and staffing are matters for the Health Service Executive your question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
141. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if proper arrangements will be put in place to ensure inappropriate and unacceptable conditions for persons who are waiting to check in at the outpatients department of Portlaoise General Hospital, County Laois, are rectified and improved, in the interest of patients attending the outpatients department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16122/15]
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.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be issued, as a matter of urgency, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 whose child is in need of urgent hospitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16148/15]
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.
143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if, and when, a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16156/15]
View answerUnder 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 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.
