Written Answers Nos. 370-380
370. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed with autism in the Health Service Executive community care organisation 7 area who are on waiting lists for the early bird programme, Beechpark services, speech and language therapy, psychology and occupational therapy; and the average length of time these children will be waiting. [39084/15]
View answer371. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed with autism who are on waiting lists at the Rosse Court Care Centre in Lucan, County Dublin for the early bird programme, Beechpark services, speech and language therapy, psychology and occupational therapy; and the average length of time these children must wait. [39085/15]
View answer372. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the plans for increased investment in support services for children with autism and their families in the Health Service Executive community care organisation area 7; and his plans to increase investment in staff and supports at the Rosse Court Resource Centre in Lucan, County Dublin. [39086/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 370 to 372, inclusive, together.
As 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 she has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
373. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will be provided with the early bird programme, Beechpark services, speech and language therapy, psychology and occupational therapy. [39087/15]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. If she has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
375. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if it is possible to seek a refund for prescriptions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39105/15]
View answerThe General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) are separate schemes with separate qualifying criteria. There is no provision for a family in the circumstances mentioned by the Deputy to claim a refund of the GMS prescription charge from the DPS.
376. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39108/15]
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 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 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.
377. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the value of outstanding health insurance claims in each acute hospital; the steps he will take to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39109/15]
View answerNegotiations are taking place between the HSE and the four main PHIs (VHI, Laya, Aviva, and GloHealth) to address outstanding debt issues by introducing better payment terms and improved cash collection.
The current focus of the negotiations is on securing a deal with VHI prior to year end. The proposed deal would improve cashflow in the HSE while improving the PHIs reserve position by providing greater certainty as regards their potential liability. Crucially the deal also includes a single one-off payment to deal with current payment arrears.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with details of the outstanding health insurance claims in each acute hospital.
378. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting to be seen in the South Infirmary Hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39117/15]
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.
379. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a child (details supplied) in County Meath who is awaiting a scan to determine whether the child is suffering from long QT syndrome; that the child's parents have been informed that there is a six-week waiting time for this scan; if this will be expedited, given the dangers posed by long QT syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39119/15]
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 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 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.
380. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in intensive care units, by hospital, in each of the years from 2011 to 2015 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39122/15]
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.
