Written Answers Nos. 1014-1032
1015. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to set out his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the closure of a day centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31463/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred 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.
1016. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health to explain the reason the provision of night-time nappies has been discontinued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31472/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive (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.
1017. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a determination will be made under the fair deal scheme in regard to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if, in the meantime, some temporary respite is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31473/15]
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.
1018. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health when the new investigation team will be put in place to deal with reports of abuse on residents and clients in Health Service Executive homes by members of staff, in order that all incidents are investigated in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31481/15]
View answerThe Government is very committed to the protection and safety of our most vulnerable citizens and placed regulation and inspection of residential disability centres on a statutory footing in November 2013. Every person who uses disability services is entitled to expect and receive care of the highest standard and to live in dignity and safety. People with a disability should be able to maximise their potential and live rich and fulfilling lives.
The HSE is implementing a comprehensive change programme of measures to improve the quality and safety of residential services for people with disabilities. The implementation of the new National Policy on Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse, launched in December 2014, is being proactively rolled out across the 900 designated centres in both statutory and voluntary services.
The policy will ensure a consistent approach to protecting vulnerable people from abuse and neglect. The HSE has taken a number of actions to support this initiative, including putting 9 safeguarding teams in place in each new community health care organisations. 12 additional social workers and 9 additional principal social workers have been appointed. In addition, designated officers are in place and training programmes commenced in August for all residential services.
The Department of Health will continue to monitor developments on this initiative.
1020. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will be seen by a neuropsychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31504/15]
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.
1021. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health to set down the waiting times for orthodontic treatment currently being experienced by school children in the Health Service Executive west regions; the steps that are being taken to alleviate these excessive waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31505/15]
View answerThe 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. The information on waiting times for treatment for Quarter 2 of 2015 in the HSE West region 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 |
|
No. of Patients |
582 |
1,051 |
2,158 |
1,296 |
46 |
5,133 |
The HSE has established a pilot scheme in Dublin North East which will involve the use of orthodontic therapists in the treatment of a number of eligible children. Consideration will be given to expanding this Scheme to other HSE areas in the future. In addition, a national procurement process is currently under way to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE over the next three years, with consideration of an extension to four years. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for four years or longer. It is expected that this initiative will commence later this year and will have a positive impact on waiting times.
1022. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to provide details on the number of people who pay for private health insurance policies; and the average price of their policies. [31511/15]
View answerThe latest available figure from the Health Insurance Authority shows that the number insured with in-patient policies at end-June 2015 was 2.118 million, or 46% of the Irish population.
The average health insurance premium for in-patient cover paid to the insurers in 2014 was €1,200.
1023. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to set out the average annual out-of-pocket spend on health care per adult and per household. [31512/15]
View answerAccording to OECD data, current expenditure on privately funded health care in the State per capita in 2012, which is the latest year for which data is available, was €960.57 at current prices. This includes out-of-pocket payments (both over-the-counter and cost-sharing), private insurance programmes, charities and occupational health care. A breakdown per household is not provided.
1024. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of PAYE workers in receipt of a medical card. [31513/15]
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.
1025. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to set out the position regarding an application for nursing registration by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay with processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31528/15]
View answer1026. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to set out the position regarding an application for nursing registration by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay with processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31529/15]
View answer1032. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health to set out the position regarding an application for nursing registration by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31554/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1025, 1026 and 1032 together.
I 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 NMBI. 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.
1029. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on treatments available here for Dravet syndrome; the number of persons diagnosed with Dravet syndrome in 2014 and to date in 2015; if alternative international treatments are being assessed to address some of the symptoms of this rare condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31534/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
1030. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of a full medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Cork given the medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31542/15]
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.
1031. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to provide more ambulance services in County Longford to ensure the county's needs are met and persons are not left without emergency assistance. [31553/15]
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.
