Wednesday, 1 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 212-222

HSE Properties

Questions (212)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

212. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health his plans for a health care property (details supplied) and if the facade will be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26572/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (213, 214, 215, 216)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

213. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the provision of a primary care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 4; if a centre will be provided; when works are scheduled to start; when he expects this much needed health care facility to be in place, as it was originally projected to open in quarter two of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26573/15]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

214. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the provision of a primary care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 6; if a centre will be provided; when works are scheduled to start; when this much needed health care facility will be in place, as it was originally projected to open in quarter two of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26574/15]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

215. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the provision of a primary care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 6; if a centre will be provided; when works are scheduled to start; when this much needed health care facility will be in place, as it was originally projected to open in quarter two of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26575/15]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

216. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health the current plans for the provision of a primary care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 4; if a centre will be provided; when works are scheduled to start; when this much needed health care facility will be in place, as it was originally projected to open in quarter two of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26576/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 to 216, inclusive, together.

The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, these matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.

Hospital Closures

Questions (217)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

217. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans for the former maternity hospital site at Mount Carmel in Dublin 14; how work is progressing; the amount that will be spent on the fit-out; when it will begin use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26577/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.

General Practitioner Contracts

Questions (218)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of a new scheme reported in the media which is intended to incentivise general practitioners to reduce the cost of prescribed medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26592/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Earlier this year a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed by the Department of Health, HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation on a process of negotiation on a new GP contract. The provision of safe, rational and cost-effective prescribing, including effective medicines management, is one of the topics included in the outline scope of these negotiations.

The HSE Medicines Management Programme is currently developing a proposal for a quality prescribing incentive scheme for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health. Any such proposal will be considered in the context of the agreed Memorandum of Understanding with the IMO.

EU Directives

Questions (219)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no public awareness campaign to actively inform patients of their rights in law under the cross-border directive; if he will undertake to provide for such a campaign and also to disseminate information to patient bodies and citizen information centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. In line with practice in other EU Member States, the HSE, through the National Contact Point (NCP) office, provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/ - and also by phone. The principal function of the NCP (which is the mechanism specified under the Directive for the dissemination of information on the Directive by Member States) is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost and the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements.

The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all inquirers are informed of the right to healthcare, if any, that they may have through the European legislation on the co-ordination of social security schemes (EU Regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them. The NCP is able to inform patients what the cost of their treatments would be in Ireland to allow them make a comparison with the costs they are being quoted for comparable treatment in another Member State.

Similar to other healthcare schemes operated by EU Member States under Community legislation, access to healthcare abroad under the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive is based on patients following public patient pathways, hence the HSE has in particular concentrated on informing the doctors who make the referrals.  For example, prior to the transposition of the Directive the HSE met the ICGP and various consultants at hospital level to inform them of the provisions of the new Directive.  The HSE has also participated in an EU Patients Forum conference which was held in Dublin in April to inform patient groups of the Directive. 

Additionally, the HSE is at this time actively engaged with consultants representing two specific cohorts of patients to facilitate access to certain diagnostics and treatment for which there are long waiting lists in Ireland.  The HSE welcomes requests from Hospital Medical Boards to present and inform the doctors of the provision to refer patients to other EU/EEA countries for healthcare under the terms of the Directive.

Hospitals Building Programme

Questions (220, 221, 222)

Gerry Adams

Question:

220. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed capital funding for improvements at a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth; the actual budget provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26634/15]

Gerry Adams

Question:

221. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth and the outcome of the planning application lodged by the Health Service Executive to Louth County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26635/15]

Gerry Adams

Question:

222. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health with regard to a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth, if the planning application submitted by the Health Service Executive to Louth County Council has Health Information and Quality Authority approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26636/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 222, inclusive, together.

Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.