Written Answers Nos. 128-135
128. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied); his plans to address the major concerns raised; to meet the representative group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34749/15]
View answerThe Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. This delivers on a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer’s and other dementias strategy to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and develop enhanced community based services.
The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme will represent a combined investment of €27.5m, with Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12 million, and the HSE contributing €15.5 million.
This programme will promote a greater focus on timely diagnosis of dementia and on the value of early intervention, along with the long-term objective of making people in Ireland generally more aware and understanding of the needs of people with dementia, and of the contribution that those with dementia continue to make to our society.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the rollout of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Homecare Packages for people with dementia;
- the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia. The resource material will include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points, etc.;
- measures to raise public awareness, address stigma, and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia.
A Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health, has been established to assist with and advise on implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, including the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme. This Group includes health professionals, administrators, researchers, and advocates. The Group also includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia. The most recent meeting of this Monitoring Group was held on 24 September 2015.
The question of funding for dementia services next year is being considered as part of the Estimates Process 2016 which is currently underway, and the recommendations received have been noted in this context.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when medical cards will be restored to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34751/15]
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 he should contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
130. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will be issued new dentures by a dentist. [34766/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter.
131. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for hip surgery will be scheduled without further delay for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [34767/15]
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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
132. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Health given that the Health Service Executive has committed to providing a new modern primary care centre in Tubbercurry in County Sligo, if he will provide an up-to-date position on its provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34770/15]
View answerThe HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter.
133. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the services available to a person (details supplied) who is severely disabled following a stroke but who wishes to return home as soon as possible. [34778/15]
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.
134. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the 100 bed community nursing unit in St. Patrick's Hospital in County Waterford; if he will confirm that a design team has been appointed; the names of the persons on the design team; when the planning application will be made; whether money for the unit has been ring-fenced as is indicated in the capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34780/15]
View answerThe design team for the new community nursing home to replace St. Patrick's Hospital in Waterford City, was appointed in Q1 2015. The design team comprises
- Architects – Coady Partnership Architects,
- Civil and Structural Engineers – O’Connor Sutton Cronin and Associates,
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineers – Varming Consulting Engineers,
- Quantity Surveyors – O’Reilly Hyland Tierney and Associates.
As this is a major development on a campus with listed/protected buildings the HSE has had extensive consultations with the planning authorities about the new facility and the treatment of the listed/protected buildings. The purpose of the consultation process is to ensure a successful planning application in so far as in possible. A design review has been completed recently. At this stage it is expected that the planning application could be submitted before year end 2015.
The HSE has identified this Waterford city location as a priority location for a new community nursing home. Nevertheless as with all capital projects, the CNU infrastructure programme which includes this project, must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. Therefore the reason capital funding is not ring-fenced by project is to ensure that the HSE has flexibility to manage within its voted capital allocation in the event that one or more of the hundreds of construction projects underway at any time do not progress as scheduled. This enables the HSE, to leverage its capital allocation more efficiently, so that it delivers the maximum number of priority projects for the funding available.
135. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the reason medical cards and general practitioner visit cards are not issued from date of receipt of application instead of from date of completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34788/15]
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 she should contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
