Written Answers Nos. 653-666
653. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the emergency home care package in place to help a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who requires home help as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1131/16]
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 they will follow up the matter with them.
654. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a primary care certificate by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1137/16]
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.
655. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will sign off the relevant forms for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1141/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
656. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied) and their treatment in a hospital. [1145/16]
View answerI fully recognise and acknowledge the stress and discomfort to patients and their families, having to wait for treatment in conditions that don't provide comfort, privacy or dignity. This is not the standard of care that anyone aspires to.
With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, entitled “Your Service Your Say”, details of which are on the HSE website, at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.
In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.
If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.
HSE Director of Advocacy
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel 1890 424 555.
Office of the Ombudsman
18, Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel 1890 223 030
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie.
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.
657. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the immediate restoration of home help support to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1172/16]
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 they will follow up the matter with them.
658. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently examine and expedite an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry given that the person has submitted all information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1180/16]
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.
659. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1132 of 22 September 2015, if the benefit of the fair deal scheme has at any time applied to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1207/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has again 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 they will follow up the matter with them.
660. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if approval has been granted for the recruitment of a permanent replacement consultant obstetrician to fill a vacant post for the antenatal and gynaecology outpatient clinic at Dungloe Community Hospital, County Donegal; if not, the reason why; the number of days for which this post has been vacant; when this post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.
661. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of district nurses (details supplied) and funding for home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1226/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up on the matter with them.
663. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons waiting for appointments in the child and adolescent mental health services in County Cavan and in County Monaghan for up to six months, from six to 12 months, 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months, and 24 plus months, in tabular form. [1240/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
664. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the regulations in place for the start-up of a private salting parlour for home cured bacon. [1242/16]
View answerThe food regulations that apply depend on the particulars of the food business activity undertaken.
If the activity is intended to produce home-cured bacon for supply to others outside the home, then this food business will be subject to food hygiene and food safety legislation. Ultimately, it is the food business operator who is responsible for ensuring that the food produced is safe.
All food business operators must register with a competent authority, even if operating from home. Competent authorities include the local environmental health office (of the Health Service Executive); the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Local Authority; or the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
The competent authority to be contacted is dependent on the nature of the food business, for example whether the foods are of animal origin, whether they are handled or processed and the quantity of foods being produced.
The food business operator in question can contact the FSAI advice line on 1890 33 66 77 or, alternatively, by email at: info@fsai.ie. for further information.
666. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the amount the Health Service Executive and his Department spent on the drug Ritaline and on all psychoactive medication used by children, by generic drug and brand name in each year of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1270/16]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; 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.
