Tom Fleming
Question:71. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35887/15]
View answerHospital Appointments Delays
Questions (71)
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.
HSE Funding
Questions (72)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:72. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a supplementary budget to provide money to the Health Service Executive to enable arrears due to social care workers in the Brothers of Charity and Ability West - twilight premium time payments - to receive their payments; when this estimate is likely to be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35902/15]
View answerWritten answers
Whilst it is too early to be definitive on the requirement for Vote 38 in 2015, it is clear that the health sector will require a Supplementary Estimate. The HSE is pro-actively engaged in internal efforts to maximise savings and to ensure that additional measures are identified and safely implemented to mitigate any projected deficits which are within HSE direct control. My Department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the greatest degree of budgetary control is exercised.
The amount of supplementary funding required is currently under discussion between my Department, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Health Services Staff Recruitment
Questions (73)
Gabrielle McFadden
Question:73. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health if additional staff will be provided at a health centre (details supplied) in County Westmeath in order to relieve pressure on existing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35911/15]
View answerWritten answers
As 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (74)
Pearse Doherty
Question:74. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment from Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35913/15]
View answerWritten 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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, 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.