Written Answers Nos. 391 - 399
391. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Information and Quality Authority recommendations contained in its review of pre-hospital emergency care services to ensure high quality in the assessment, diagnosis, clinical management and transport of acutely ill patients to appropriate health care facilities which have been implemented. [39145/15]
View answerAs 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 please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
392. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is not in receipt of home help hours; his plans to make provision for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39151/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has 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.
393. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be urgently granted on discretionary grounds to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39163/15]
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 who will follow up the matter with them.
394. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of general practitioner training places from 157 to 180; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39169/15]
View answerOn 1 July 2010, the GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 places per year. After discussions earlier this year between the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners, the annual number of training places increased to 161.
Currently, GP Trainees are paid an average annual salary of €76,000, whilst the average annual training cost per Trainee is €33,000. Based on these figures, increasing the annual trainee intake by a further 23 places would cost in the region of an additional €2.5 million per annum.
395. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive a much needed grommets operation in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin 2. [39171/15]
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 please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
396. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the number of junior doctors working in Mullingar Regional Hospital in County Westmeath for each of the years from 2011 to 2014. [39173/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If he has 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.
397. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided to St. Christopher's day centre in County Longford for each of the years from 2011 to 2014. [39174/15]
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.
398. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the status of the multiple sclerosis drug Fampyra in the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39176/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has confirmed that Fampridine (brand name Fampyra®) is being reimbursed under the Long Term Illness Scheme from 1st October 2015.
Reimbursement will be extended where a demonstration of clinical response (based on objective criteria agreed with clinical experts) is recorded and where that clinical response is shown to persist, based on objective measurement at six-month intervals.
399. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason was not provided between two hospitals within the Saolta group in advance of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if the Saolta group will provide a full explanation as to what occurred; when it will issue another appointment to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39188/15]
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 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 please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
