Written Answers Nos. 148-153
148. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 10 November 2015, the financial assistance available to encourage a qualified nurse (details supplied) to return and take up a position here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40865/15]
View answerIn July the HSE launched an International Staff Nurse/Midwife Recruitment Campaign which focused on the UK to attract staff nurses and midwives to jobs in Ireland. The current relocation package is up to €1500 in vouched removal/relocation expenses including the cost of flights. In addition, the Nursing Midwifery Board of Ireland registration costs will be paid on behalf of nurses relocating. At present there is no closing date for this campaign, as the HSE welcomes applications from nurses and midwives who are interested in joining the HSE from abroad on an ongoing basis. The HSE is making arrangements to specifically extend the campaign to locations that are further afield and in this context has sought sanction for an improved relocation package given the additional travel costs that would be involved.
149. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health when a cataract operation will be performed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he is aware of delays in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40869/15]
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.
150. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health his views on the ambulance service's response time in a recent case of an emergency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40874/15]
View answerFirstly I would like to express my sympathy to the family of the person concerned.
The Government is committed to the improvement of our ambulance services. A significant reform programme is underway to reconfigure the way pre-hospital care services are managed and delivered. To this end, the NAS received an increase of €5.4m in funding in 2015, to improve technology and clinical audit and address gaps in service. Further additional funding will be provided to the NAS in 2016.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the specific matter raised by him. 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.
151. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the work undertaken by the National Task Force on Prescribing and Dispensing, since it was first established in 2012 [40879/15]
View answerThe HSE's Medicines Management Programme (MMP) was established in 2013 to provide national leadership relating to issues such as the quality of the medicines management process, access to medicines and overall expenditure on medicines. The MMP has a wide range of activities ongoing including:
- The ‘preferred drugs’ initiative;
- Encouragement of generic prescribing;
- Prescribing guidance to enhance safety and efficacy of medicines
- Assessment of high cost medicines already reimbursed; and
- Dissemination of information to enhance safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing.
Further information on the MMP's activities can be found on the HSE's website: http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/medicinemanagementprogramme/yourmedicines/
152. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 231 of 12 March 2015, the delay in a payment being issued to a person ( details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40882/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, 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.
153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a child (details supplied) in County Kerry in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40889/15]
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 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.
