Written Answers Nos. 490-505
490. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the rheumatology outreach clinic in Letterkenny, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18541/15]
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.
491. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18549/15]
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.
492. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for scoliosis surgery, per year, for the past five years, and waiting at present; the actions he will take to ensure these lists are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18550/15]
View answerSpinal conditions, including scoliosis, in children and young people are predominantly managed at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC). It is acknowledged that the waiting times for spinal surgery services at Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin are unsatisfactory and must be addressed as a priority. Accordingly, funding was allocated in the HSE Service Plan for 2015 for the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. This will maximise the use of available theatre sessions in the hospital. The first of these additional staff is now in post, and recruitment for the remaining posts is in process. In addition, capital funding has been agreed for a new theatre on site at Crumlin, which will expand theatre capacity further. As a further measure, available capacity is being identified in other hospitals and some children are being transferred for their surgery, where it is considered clinically appropriate for them.
In relation to the specific issues raised by you, 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.
493. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has not received a reply in respect of a home support appeal, despite being informed that she would receive a reply within six weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18564/15]
View answerAs 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.
494. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for transport in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18566/15]
View answerAs 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
495. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the reason a general practitioner (details supplied) was refused a rural practice allowance; the criteria on which this decision was based; the methodology used to determine the local population; the reason other general practitioners locally are being paid under similar population circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18569/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
496. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when that child can expect an appointment with the consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 2. [18572/15]
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.
497. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners being trained at each level; his plans to increase this number; the number of applicants there are for training posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18588/15]
View answerThere are 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes currently in operation in Ireland. Doctors who wish to pursue GP training in Ireland may apply for a general practice training post in one of the 14 GP Training Programmes. Currently all GP training programmes are of 4 years duration and all trainees are required to complete 2 years in a hospital setting and 2 years in general practice with a GP trainer.
On 1 July 2010, the GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 training places per year. The HSE has recently been in discussion with the Irish College of General Practitioners about the potential to increase this year's trainee intake. This has resulted in an additional four training places for the July 2015 intake.
The HSE is currently engaged in a medical workforce planning project, which will include a workforce plan for GPs. When this work has been completed, it will assist in identifying GP requirements.
Information about the number of applicants for training places is a service matter. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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.
498. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the changes planned for numbers of emergency departments across the State; if his Department uses specific criteria to plan emergency departments, such as distance from population, overall number across the State, number of senior clinicians; the way Ireland compares to other jurisdictions in these respects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18589/15]
View answerAs Hospital Groups are implemented, of key importance will be the early demonstration of progress towards a more a co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of services, including emergency services, within and across the hospital groups, with an increased focus on networks of service provision with smaller hospitals managing routine urgent or planned care locally and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals. Each Hospital Group must develop and produce a strategic plan which will describe how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services; how they will reorganise these services to provide optimal care possible to the populations they serve.
A Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) has been established to provide objective advice and expertise to the Minister, Department, the HSE, hospital groups on the implementation of hospital groups and to provide national strategic direction in relation to a number of key national and supra regional services to ensure a coherent approach to the reorganisation of hospital services nationally. The future organisation of emergency services will also be guided by the recommendations of the Emergency Medicine clinical programme to ensure the optimal provision of high quality emergency care in all regions of the country.
Any change to Emergency Department services will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner and will take account of existing patient flows, demands in other hospitals and the need to develop particular services in the context of overall service reorganisation in the Hospital Groups.
499. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the status of major centres of excellence for the north east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18590/15]
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.
500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the matter will be addressed as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18601/15]
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. 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.
501. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18605/15]
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 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.
502. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current level of child and adolescent mental health services staffing in comparison to the recommended number, as outlined in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18607/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been sent 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.
504. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if this appointment is included in the schedule of appointments at the relevant hospital in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18619/15]
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 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.
505. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total savings achieved to date from the overall reduction in the income threshold from €1,400 per week to €900 per week, for a couple in respect of eligibility for an over 70 years of age medical card. [18622/15]
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.
