Written Answers Nos. 338-357
338. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason a surgical procedure is not being facilitated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19490/15]
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.
339. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the location of the medical records, including the birth registers and the maternity theatre registers, for each year from 1950 to 2007, relating to maternity and obstetric services formerly provided at the Erinville Hospital, County Cork, under arrangements pursuant to maternity services legislation. [19495/15]
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.
340. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for eye surgery at the mid-west regional hospital, County Limerick, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19496/15]
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.
341. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm recent reports from the National Association of General Practitioners that 32 rural communities currently have no general practitioner service; if he will provide a breakdown of the communities concerned, and their location; the steps taken by his Department to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19509/15]
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.
342. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact she has submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19515/15]
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.
343. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the options available to enable a person (details supplied) in County Dublin to travel to and from hospital appointments, given that the person is wheelchair bound, has no family, has no means of transport, and accordingly has missed a number of appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19518/15]
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.
344. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a care plan and course of speech and language therapy will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [19552/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
345. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the prescription charges for elderly persons, in view of the fact that they have increased from €0.50 to €2.50 under this Government, despite promises to the contrary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/15]
View answerPrescription charges are part of a set of measures introduced by Government in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical drugs expenditure. Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
There are no plans to amend the prescription charge, however, I am pleased that the prescription charge is frozen at the level set in 2014 as was announced as part of the packet of health measures in Budget 2015.
346. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free general practitioner care to the approximately 57,000 recipients of the carer's allowance. [19562/15]
View answerThe Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees on a phased basis. The first phase will be for all children aged under 6 years. This service will commence during the summer. In parallel with this, the second phase will extend universal GP care without fees to all persons aged 70 years and over, subject to the passing of the necessary legislation These measures represent a major step on the way to universal health care. By this summer, approximately 800,000 people in Ireland will benefit from universal access to GP services.
The introduction of a universal GP service constitutes a fundamental element in the Government's health reform programme. The current Government is the first in the history of the State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population. The principles of universality and equity of access mean that all residents in Ireland should be entitled to access a GP service.
Children under 6 will benefit from a new enhanced service under the proposed GP contract. This will involve age-based preventive checks focused on health and well-being and the prevention of disease. The contract will also cover an agreed cycle of care for children diagnosed with asthma. The costs of the enhanced GP service for all children under 6 years of age will be approximately €67 million.
Previously estimates of costs of providing a universal GP service were made on the basis of the existing scope of the service, rates of payments to GPs and eligibility. At this time, in the absence of a detailed analysis of the make-up of this cohort, it would not be possible to provide a valid estimate in respect of those in receipt of Carer's Allowance.
347. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 3 may receive a diagnosis following his assessment of needs. [19565/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
348. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will be provided with an appointment for surgery at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19567/15]
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.
349. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons waiting for bypass operations, nationally and by county; the average waiting time, nationally and by county; the percentage of patients, nationally and by county, for the past four years, who have died while on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19571/15]
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.
350. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the issues being dealt with between his Department, the Health Service Executive and Camphill Communities of Ireland; if the funding issue will be resolved; and his plans in this regard. [19581/15]
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.
351. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for registration with An Bord Altranais in respect of a person (details supplied) in Scotland who is a qualified nurse starting work in County Kilkenny on 15 June 2015 and who applied for registration on 24 December 2014; and the reason for the delay in processing this application, in view of the fact that all of the information has been submitted. [19583/15]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NMBI for attention and direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the NMBI within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
352. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19591/15]
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.
353. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a medical card application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19592/15]
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.
354. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an operation at Cork University Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19599/15]
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.
355. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide long-term care in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, in view of the fact the person has been given 28 days' notice of the termination of care, due to lack of funding; and if his Department and the Health Service Executive will resolve all of the issues, relative to the person's care at Camphill Community, County Kilkenny, in view of the fact she has lived there for the past 14 years, and any disruption of care at this location will have a negative effect on her health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19602/15]
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.
356. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for a project (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19603/15]
View answerMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. Funding in 2015 amounts to €3.286m.
My Department has received an application for funding from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The organisation will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
357. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment from Mayo General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/15]
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.
