Wednesday, 25 Nov 2015

Written Answers Nos. 170 to 176

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (170)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

170. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 774 of 3 November 2015, where the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland replied showing that 10,597 persons are on waiting lists for procedures at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, 3,280 of these for up to three months, 2,203 from three months plus to six months, 991 from six months plus to eight months, 1,771 from eight months plus to 12 months, 1,080 from 12 months plus to 15 months, 773 from 15 months plus to 18 months, and 499 for 18 months plus, and where just 1,030 of these had dates for treatment, if he will provide a breakdown of these waiting lists, by hospital department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41868/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (171)

James Bannon

Question:

171. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a number of staff have left services (details supplied) in County Longford due to financial uncertainty by his Department and the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Medical Card Data

Questions (172)

Willie Penrose

Question:

172. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Westmeath and in County Longford who hold full medical cards; the number of these which are discretionary in nature; the number of persons in County Westmeath and in County Longford who hold over 70s medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41898/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Question No. 173 answered with Question No. 167.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (174)

Tom Fleming

Question:

174. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card by persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41930/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (175)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

175. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to have a new minor injury unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41935/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Questions (176)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

176. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will permit payment directly to healthcare providers, as allowed by the 2011/24/EU Healthcare Directive Art 7(4), when it is in the patient's interest to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41938/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The EU Directive 2011/24/EU on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare aims to ensure EU citizens may access safe and good quality healthcare across EU borders. Under the Directive, known as the Cross Border Healthcare Directive (CBD), insured patients are entitled to have costs of cross-border healthcare reimbursed if the healthcare in question is among the benefits to which they are entitled in their Member State of affiliation. The HSE endeavours to reimburse the cost of treatment incurred or the cost of providing such healthcare in the State, whichever is the lesser, to the applicant within 30 days of receipt of a claim for reimbursement, in line with Prompt Payment legislation.

Each Member State is free to set its own payment policy for cross-border healthcare; by means of reimbursement to the patient or by direct payment to the healthcare provider. That policy decision is a discretionary matter for each Member State under the Directive and, similar to the majority of Member States, Ireland has no plan to introduce a policy of direct payment to healthcare providers for healthcare provided in other Member States.