Written Answers Nos. 739-755
739. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatients' clinics which have operated at Dungloe Community Hospital in County Donegal from 2010 to 2015 date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37768/15]
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.
740. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for ambulances in the west Connemara area primarily served by the ambulance station in Clifden, in County Galway, measuring the time from the time of the request for an ambulance until its arrival at the scene; the steps he will take to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37783/15]
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.
742. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on auditory verbal therapy (details supplied); the level of his Department's engagement with this particular form of therapy; his plans to include it for cochlear implant patients; if his Department will fund the attendance of children at an overseas clinic providing this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37813/15]
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.
743. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to a medical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37820/15]
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 it will follow up the matter with the HSE.
744. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with a compression suit; if he will progress the matter with urgency, in view of the circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37824/15]
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 it will follow up the matter with the HSE.
745. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the status of a nursing registration application by a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37825/15]
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 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 it will follow up the matter with the NMBI.
746. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the total spend in the past 12 month period in each primary community and continuing care area on home nursing care for children with life-limiting conditions; the number of children who availed of the service in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37827/15]
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 it will follow up the matter with the HSE.
747. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the numbers on waiting lists in respect of assessment and treatment for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy by duration on the waiting list, by primary community continuing care area and by age category; if he will provide corresponding figures for whole-time equivalent vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37828/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue, 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 it will follow up the matter with the Executive.
748. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to a refund of the cost of medication for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the Long Term Illness Scheme; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
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.
749. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding alcohol-related harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37831/15]
View answerAlcohol related harm is a major public health concern. Alcohol is causing significant damage across the population, in workplaces and to children in families. It also carries a substantial burden to all in Irish society. The General Scheme of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was approved by Government on the 3 February 2015. The Scheme includes provisions for minimum unit pricing, health labelling on products that contain alcohol, restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol and the regulation of sports sponsorship. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will also provide for the making of regulations to restrict promotions including price based promotions. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, the measures were debated in detail by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. The JOCH report was published in June 2015. The Department of Health is continuing to work on the preparation of the legislation. The Bill is due to be published shortly.
750. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health given the growing waiting lists for colonoscopies, and the high proportion of persons waiting longer than three months for a colonoscopy at public hospitals, the measures that are being taken to improve capacity, and ensure patients have access to a colonoscopy within three months of referral; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37844/15]
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.
751. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health for an update on a long-awaited medical appointment for a person (details supplied) from County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37846/15]
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.
752. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a specialised chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37854/15]
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 it will follow up the matter with the HSE.
753. 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. [37857/15]
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.
754. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is covered by the Health Service Executive to have hip replacement surgery carried out under the cross-Border health initiative; if he will provide details of the entitlement for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37860/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office which will follow up the matter with the HSE.
755. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when respite care will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13, given that hospitals previously providing care for this person, and other persons with similar health care needs, have closed down. [37862/15]
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, please contact my Private Office and it will follow up the matter with the HSE.
