Written Answers Nos. 420 - 435
420. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of Fampyra and the restrictions that have been placed on covering the cost of the medication by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4592/16]
View answerFampridine (brand name Fampyra®) has been reimbursed under the Long Term Illness Scheme on a conditional, responder-only basis since 1 October 2015.
The HSE has provided all Neurology Centres with details of the protocol which must be satisfied to enable a patient to qualify for reimbursement.
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-monthly intervals. The HSE extends reimbursement in all cases where the criteria meet the requirements of reimbursement protocol.
421. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with medical records, as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4594/16]
View answerThe Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme is operating very well since it was established on 10 November 2014. It was estimated that 350 women would apply to the Scheme, but in fact 578 applications have been accepted by the Scheme and as at 22 January 2016, 347 awards have been made.
Regarding the Deputy's question relating to a person's medical records, each hospital retains medical records on patients and it is up to the person themselves (or a representative for the person) to seek those medical records directly from the hospital.
Judge Maureen Harding Clark, Assessor to the Scheme has informed my officials that a number of applicants had been unable to establish their belief that they had a symphysiotomy because their records were not readily obtainable. This was especially so in a small number of cases where the applicants were in nursing homes or small hospitals which had closed down. In such cases, the applicant should inform Judge Clark and send on correspondence indicating efforts to obtain those birth records. Where this happens, members of the Scheme are assisting the applicants to locate their records. Birth registers have been tracked down, Annual Clinical Reports in some cases have been consulted and contact made with FOI officers in relevant institutions. In some cases the symphysiotomy has been established. If reasonable efforts to locate documentary evidence are not successful, then arrangements are made to have such applicants examined by a gynaecologist for the presence of a surgical symphysiotomy scar and by a radiologist to establish the extent of any pubis symphysis widening.
422. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health to re-affirm the commitment given to the proposed medical centre in Rhode village in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4604/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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 the Executive.
423. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly for additional respite hours and day care service with the Midlands HSE; when the person will receive a decision. [4605/16]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
424. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the medical card scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4606/16]
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.
425. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the medical card scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4607/16]
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.
426. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive an appointment with a consultant at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly. [4608/16]
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.
427. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly under the medical card scheme, including when the person will receive a decision. [4609/16]
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.
428. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the details of appointments to State boards, by name of appointee, date of appointment and appointment through a public application process or otherwise, from 7 March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4619/16]
View answerThe nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. I also appoint members on the nomination of various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislation.
There have been over 600 appointments made under the aegis of my Department since 2011, and my officials had complied a list of all such appointments, with the date of appointment and details of whether the person came through the appointment process or not, in a reply to Parliamentary Question No 37364 of 3 November 2015 to the Deputy. I will update this information to the current date and forward this to the Deputy as soon as possible.
In relation to current vacancies on boards the situation is detailed in the table below
|
Board |
Number of Vacancies |
|
Dublin Dental Hospital Board |
1 |
|
Food Safety Authority of Ireland |
1 |
|
Health and Social Care Professionals Council |
1 |
|
Health Insurance Authority |
4 |
|
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board |
2 |
|
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council |
2 |
|
St. James's Hospital |
1 |
|
Radiographers Registration Board |
3 |
429. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to advise why surgery has been cancelled on six occasions to date for a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan with Down Syndrome; to ensure no further cancellation or delay occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4627/16]
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.
430. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to Saint Joseph's Community Hospital in Stranorlar in County Donegal in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4629/16]
View answer431. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to Lifford Community Hospital in County Donegal, in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4630/16]
View answer432. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the operating costs at Saint Joseph's Community Hospital in Stranorlar in County Donegal, in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4631/16]
View answer433. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the operating costs at Lifford Community Hospital in County Donegal in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4632/16]
View answer434. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the subcontracted services provided at Lifford Community Hospital in County Donegal, by expense per service, in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4633/16]
View answer435. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the subcontracted services, provided at Saint Joseph's Community Hospital in Stranorlar in County Donegal, by expense per service, in each of the years 2013 to 2015 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4634/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 to 435, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
