Thursday, 14 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 518-531

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (518)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

518. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health where a patient is referred to an alternative hospital due to the referring hospital being unable to provide treatment within the maximum permissible waiting times, and where it subsequently transpires that the hospital to which the person has been referred is also unable to provide treatment, what impact such a scenario would have on the patient's ability to receive care without experiencing even further delays; the process in place to ensure that access to care is expedited for these patients; whether the existing period for which a patient has waited is taken into account and recorded should the patient be placed on another waiting list for treatment at a third and subsequent hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6797/16]

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.

If patients do not avail of appointments offered at other hospitals, then they will retain their current position on the original referring hospital's waiting list.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (519)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

519. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal is referred to another hospital, having reached the maximum permissible waiting time, and the hospital the person has been referred to cannot provide the operation, how long will this patient have to wait to have the required operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6798/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 HSE, 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (520)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

520. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal is being referred to another hospital, having reached the maximum permissible waiting time, and the hospital the person has been referred to cannot provide the operation, how long this will patient have to wait to have the required operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6799/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 HSE, 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (521)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

521. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a hospital appointment. [6800/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (522)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

522. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6801/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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 HSE, 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (523)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

523. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6802/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (524)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

524. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6806/16]

Written answers

Minister for 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 recently 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.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (525)

Gerry Adams

Question:

525. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 850 of 22 September 2015, if only one adult mental health intellectual disability consultant position has been filled out of a recommended four for community health care organisation area 8, which comprises counties Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. [6807/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Staff

Questions (526)

Gerry Adams

Question:

526. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 850 of 22 September 2015, if no child mental health intellectual disability consultant position has been filled out of a recommended two for community health care organisation area eight, which consists of counties Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. [6808/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (527)

Gerry Adams

Question:

527. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by Louth-Meath mental health services in each of the past five years. [6809/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (528)

Gerry Adams

Question:

528. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen outside of normal working hours by Louth-Meath mental health services in each of the past five years. [6810/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (529)

Gerry Adams

Question:

529. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 798 of 22 September 2015, the status of the day hospital model cited, the services it provides, the financial resources that have been allocated to it, and the staff resources it has. [6811/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (530)

Gerry Adams

Question:

530. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 796 of 22 September 2015, the status of the consultant-led rehabilitation team which was due to commence in early 2016, including its remit. [6812/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Mental Health Services Funding

Questions (531)

Gerry Adams

Question:

531. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive budget for mental health for 2015 and 2016. [6813/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE National Service Plan for 2016 states that the closing budget for Mental Health in 2015 was €794.4 m and the budget for 2016 is €791.6 m with an additional €35 m held by the Department of Health.