Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 14 Jul 2015

Written Answers Nos. 625-636

Sick Pay Scheme Reform

Questions (625)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

625. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health regarding the implementation of new public service sick leave arrangements in the health services in 2014, the amount saved as a result of these measures; if the lost time rate was reduced as a result; if there has been a reduction in the average days lost per whole-time equivalent employee; the expected savings in 2015, in terms of money and time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28824/15]

View answer

Written answers

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. 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.

Carer's Allowance Payments

Questions (626)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

626. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the numbers of persons in receipt of a carer's allowance; the number of these persons who are in receipt of a general practitioner card; the additional entitlements that a carer may be able to receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28830/15]

View answer

Written answers

I understand that the questions in respect of the numbers in receipt of Carer's Allowance and the additional entitlements that a carer may be able to receive are being answered by the Department of Social Protection.

As of end June 2015, there are 244,171 persons in receipt of a general practitioner card. Eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card is determined by the HSE mainly by reference to income limits. Carer's Allowance is one of the income sources which are disregarded by the HSE in assessing an applicant's income. While the HSE seek an applicant to detail in the application form any social welfare payments being received, the identification of the number of GP visit card holders by payment type is not readily available.

Psychological Services

Questions (627)

Clare Daly

Question:

627. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 442 of 30 June 2015 and 667 of 26 May 2015, the reason the recommendation of a psychologist at a meeting on 11 March 2015 that a cognitive assessment of a person (details supplied) should take place was not acted upon; the basis for the head of safety and quality's assurance as to decision-making capacity used as grounds by the latter for over-ruling that recommendation. [28839/15]

View answer

Written answers

In light of previous correspondence between the Health Service Executive and the Deputy regarding this individual case, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (628)

Robert Troy

Question:

628. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a medical appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be facilitated as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28842/15]

View answer

Written answers

Under 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.

HIQA Issues

Questions (629)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

629. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding correspondence issued to private nursing homes by the Health Information and Quality Authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28850/15]

View answer

Written answers

The Health Information and Quality Authority is the independent authority established under the Health Act 2007 to drive continuous improvement and to monitor safety and quality in Ireland’s health and personal social care services. Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary and private have been registered and inspected by HIQA. Under Section 8 of the Act HIQA has statutory responsibility for setting standards on safety and quality, which are subject to approval by the Minister for Health under Section 10(2) of the Act.

All nursing homes are registered with HIQA for a period of three years, and for many, re-registration for the next three-year cycle is due in 2015.

The Department of Health is not and cannot be involved in the dialogue between HIQA and individual private nursing homes with regard to conditions of re-registration.

Home Help Service Data

Questions (630)

Jack Wall

Question:

630. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the budget for home help hours and for home care packages in counties Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Donegal for the years 2013 and 2014 and for 2015 to date; the number of persons availing of this service in each of these counties in the same periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28851/15]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Community Alert Programme

Questions (631)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

631. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 309 of 7 July 2015, if he is aware that Muintir na Tíre receives annual funding for the community alert programme from the Health Service Executive; the amount provided since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28865/15]

View answer

Written answers

I have asked the Health Service Executive to consider this matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.

Dental Services

Questions (632)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

632. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for dental treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28875/15]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (633)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

633. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form and by local health office area for those up to 16 years of age and those over 16 years of age, details of the numbers waiting for orthodontic treatment at the end of March 2015. [28877/15]

View answer

Written answers

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE.

Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region and for the intervals as shown below only. The information is not collated by age. In general, those waiting over 4 years would be expected to be 16 years or over since they are usually referred at 12-13 years of age approximately. The information on waiting times for treatment for Quarter 1 of 2015 is as follows:

Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment

1 - 6 months

7 - 12 months

13 - 24 months

25-48 months

Over 48 months

TOTAL

HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster

1,140

875

1,432

1,208

199

4,854

HSE Dublin North East

258

483

1,010

1,546

672

3,969

HSE South

783

740

758

1,488

66

3,835

HSE West

839

1,152

2,103

1,209

64

5,367

Total

3,020

3,250

5,303

5,451

1,001

18,025

Health Services Funding

Questions (634)

Gerry Adams

Question:

634. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28894/15]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Health Services Funding

Questions (635)

Gerry Adams

Question:

635. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties faced by an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth regarding cuts to funding, as well as the significant shortfall in funding needed to bring the proposed new build to fruition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28895/15]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Hospital Beds Data

Questions (636)

Gerry Adams

Question:

636. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds available by county for providing specialist care to those suffering with Alzheimer's disease or dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28896/15]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Top
Share