Written Answers Nos. 827-843
827. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the initiatives to facilitate referrals for pelvic and abdominal ultrasound by general practitioners in County Kerry; the current waiting time for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38168/15]
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.
828. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he will sign off on regulations to regulate the profession of psychotherapists and psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38176/15]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to the profession of psychotherapist and counsellor.
Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, by regulation, designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
In accordance with the Act, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council has been consulted on the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists. Its detailed report on the matter is being examined carefully in my Department with a view to deciding the next steps before the end of the year. These steps will, I envisage, include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.
The Deputy may also wish to know that the profession of psychologist is already designated under the Act and that I hope to be in a position to establish the Psychologists Registration Board early in the new year.
829. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Alzheimer's ward, unit 1, in St. Stephen's Hospital, Glanmire, County Cork, has been included in the quality improvement plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38185/15]
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.
830. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a review of a medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38187/15]
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 which will follow up the matter with it.
831. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time self-harm liaison nurses allocated to Temple Street Children's University Hospital and Crumlin children's hospital; his plans to increase these numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38197/15]
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.
832. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will add ichthyosis to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38198/15]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. The conditions covered by the LTI Scheme are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
833. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of speech and language therapy for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38236/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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.
834. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of getting a developmental assessment for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38237/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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.
835. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age in Cork city and county who are currently on a waiting list for an ophthalmology procedure and surgery to be carried out; and who are waiting for up to six months, six months to one year, one year to two years, and more than two years; what steps are being taken to address the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38245/15]
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 up the matter.
836. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if funding is available to provide aftercare services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38248/15]
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.
837. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an adult with special needs in County Cork (details supplied) is provided with required services, which have been the subject of cuts at a service provider in Cork, due to funding constraints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38250/15]
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.
838. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the waiting time in County Wicklow for an appointment with the community audiology service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38254/15]
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.
839. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health to deal with a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38262/15]
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.
840. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38264/15]
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.
841. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38267/15]
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.
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.
842. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that travel claims under the treatment abroad scheme are currently on hold due to staff shortages in the relevant section of the Health Service Executive; if he is further aware that the executive is unable to provide applicants with a timeframe for when their claim will be processed; the number of claims that currently await processing; if he is aware of the immense distress and trauma along with massive financial pressure this is causing to patients who have to travel abroad for treatment and to their families; if he will make an urgent intervention to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38270/15]
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 who will follow up the matter with them.
843. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health if the tradition of feeding pigeons with food scraps is deemed to be a potential hazard which may attract vermin such as rats; if there are any guidelines from environmental health officers for dealing with complaints regarding such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38283/15]
View answerThis is a matter for the HSE, therefore I have referred the question to the 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.
