Written Answers Nos. 340-362
341. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who wishes to enrol in an adaptation course, in order to be considered eligible for a position as a registered child's nurse with the Health Service Executive. [27224/15]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised.
Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
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 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to providing a long-term funding solution to the organisations currently funded under the scheme to support national organisations, organisations that have to deal with uncertain futures and difficulties in planning long-term campaigns and service provision, in particular the Irish Stammering Association, which, as a national organisation, only receives €25,000 funding annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27225/15]
View answerThe Government currently provides funding of almost €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Service Plan for 2015 and is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities. In 2015, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a level of services consistent with that provided in 2014.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if respite care will be urgently facilitated in the case of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27231/15]
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.
344. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding mental health services as a model of good practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27233/15]
View answerThe Mental Health Service referred to by the Deputy is committed to improving the lives of the people with mental health problems in its catchment area. It does this through a well-established community focus and collaborative working with users of the service, carers and advocates. A priority for the service is the provision of patient-centred, recovery orientated services, in line with A Vision for Change, including Community Mental Health Teams, Home Focus Teams, a Recovery Bus, Trialogue Groups for family and friends and liaison with community and voluntary sector organisations, all of which are a fundamental part of an overall response to mental health needs in any area.
In relation to the availability of mental health services on a 24/7 basis I wish to advise the Deputy that specialist Mental Health Services generally, have reconfigured to provide Community Mental Health Teams for children and young people, working age and older adults. These Teams have the ability to respond to urgent/crisis referrals by GPs with most teams having slots for urgent cases to be seen that day or the next working day.
Outside normal working hours, all mental health services also have a crisis response capability provided through the on-call medical system which operates in all acute hospitals with a 24-hour Emergency Departments. This on-call system consists of a consultant psychiatrist together with an NCHD. The consultants and NCHDs work within the Community Mental Health Teams or in the Hospital Liaison Services and provide the on-call service in addition to their day time commitment with Community Mental Health Teams.
In addition, there is now a National Clinical Programme for the Assessment and Management of Patients presenting to Emergency Departments following Self-Harm. This is based on the recruitment of Clinical Nurse Specialists in psychiatry who work in Emergency Departments to provide a more rapid response to those who present with episodes of self-harm.
The HSE in its Service Plan for this year also commits to developing weekend services for existing vulnerable patients attending the mental health services that would benefit from contact over the weekend. This could be by way of phone call, attendance at the base in which the nurses are working or a domiciliary visit. This is already available in a number of areas.
346. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the delay for funding for a wheelchair in respect of a person (details supplied); the reason a person with a disability, requiring a wheelchair would be expected to wait for more than one year for the wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27247/15]
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.
347. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons awaiting wheelchairs for more than three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, and 18 months, in the years 2013 and 2014 and in 2015 to date; the reasons for these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27248/15]
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.
348. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there are adequate support services provided for patients who are discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27250/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
349. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason a patient must fill a prescription within 24 hours of leaving a hospital or pay a doctor for a new prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27251/15]
View answerThe Medical Council’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics states that “it is in the best interests of the patient that a general practitioner supervises and guides the overall management of their health”.
Medical card holders who are given a prescription by a hospital or clinic must request their GP to transcribe the details onto a GMS prescription form in order for them to receive their medication free of charge, subject to any applicable prescription charges. There is no additional charge to medical card holders for this service.
There is an arrangement under the GMS Scheme for the emergency supply (i.e. within 24 hours) of medicines for medical card holders on discharge from hospital. Community pharmacists are authorised to dispense a maximum of seven days supply of medicines prescribed for persons who have been in-patients in a hospital or who have attended an Emergency Department and because of the circumstances of their discharge and/or the urgency of the prescribed medication it would not be possible to attend their GP to have the hospital prescription transcribed to a GMS prescription form. This arrangement relieves any difficulties that patients might encounter due to being discharged from hospital late in the evening or at weekends.
I wish to assure the Deputy that it is best clinical practice that a person in need of treatment should regularly attend their GP and that the GP is fully aware of the medications that any patient may be prescribed. This is entirely consistent with the gatekeeper role played by the GP in the delivery of primary care. As GPs receive an annual capitation fee per GMS patient, there are no extra costs incurred by such patients.
350. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive medical card division to immediately issue a medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27257/15]
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.
351. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 670 of 26 May 2015, if a review of eligibility to a medical card has been arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27263/15]
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.
352. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will receive a hospital appointment as soon as possible [27269/15]
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.
354. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who retired in each of the past three years [27275/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
355. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review eligibility for a medical card on discretionary grounds, in view of age and ongoing ill health, in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/15]
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.
356. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health when a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be performed; if he is aware of delays in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27297/15]
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 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.
357. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain from the Health Service Executive when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for an inpatient procedure, considering that the procedure was deemed necessary on 26 September 2014 under the waiting list initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27298/15]
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 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.
358. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the Health Service Executive west region who have been placed on the waiting list initiative for outpatient appointments and-or for inpatient procedures; if he will provide details for each medical speciality such as ear, nose and throat, orthopaedic, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/15]
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.
359. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the progress being made for ear, nose and throat surgery under the waiting list initiative for persons from County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27300/15]
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.
360. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a potential phishing scam that is taking place in regards to the European health card, where persons who have re-applied for their card online are being contacted by a seemingly official source, which is charging them for the privilege; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27301/15]
View answerUnder EU Regulations, all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC certifies that the holder has the right to receive emergency healthcare during a temporary stay in any EU country as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. This right is guaranteed to all persons who are covered by the public healthcare system of these countries. The European Health Insurance Card holder has the right to receive necessary treatment in the host Member State's public healthcare system on the same terms and at the same cost as nationals of the state concerned.
The HSE processes applications for the EHIC and states very clearly on its website that there is no charge for providing the EHIC and that any website attempting to charge for an EHIC is not connected to the HSE or any state services. I understand the HSE has been in contact with the Deputy on this matter.
361. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on home care packages; and on home help hours, in each year since 2008; and the amount allocated for 2015 [27302/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
362. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of their circumstances [27321/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
