Written Answers Nos. 590-603
590. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when he will provide a new primary care centre at a location (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7024/16]
View answerThe development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system. Primary care centres procured through a combination of public and private investment, will facilitate the delivery of multi-disciplinary primary health care. The mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure is dependent on a number of factors. Regardless of the delivery mechanism, all potential primary care infrastructure is subject to suitable locations being offered/provided/available, to successful planning processes and GP commitment to sharing accommodation and delivering health care services with HSE staff.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care estate it has been requested to reply directly to you on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
591. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages approved for County Kildare for the first three months of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7043/16]
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.
592. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgical appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary at Croom Hospital, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7052/16]
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 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.
593. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of a medication called Charlotte's Web which is used in the treatment of a condition called West syndrome or Travis syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7053/16]
View answerCharlotte's Web is a cannabis based product. Cannabis and certain cannabis-related compounds are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2015 and are listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988, as amended.
Charlotte's Web is not an authorised medicinal product in Ireland. Under European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market, the manufacturer must seek an authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or, in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicine is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against the criteria of safety, quality, efficacy, legal and regulatory requirements. I have no role in the process of authorising medicinal products.
594. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health why there is a three-month waiting list for the mid-western community neuro-rehabilitation team, as the waiting time seriously compromises the benefits of this service due to the nature of brain damage; if the speech and language therapist at the mid-west team will be replaced during a maternity leave period which commences in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7058/16]
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.
595. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if it is a policy decision or a local financial decision not to allow parents of children over three years of age who are confirmed as having a medical need for nappy products to avail of these products by way of their local health services; the counties which provide this service; the counties which do not provide this service to families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7073/16]
View answerAs 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.
596. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Longford, who is classified as a multi-task attendant, has not been receiving the appropriate wage rate, notwithstanding the fact that the person became aware some two and a half years ago of only being paid as an attendant; if he will immediately address this issue and pay the appropriate arrears to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7076/16]
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.
597. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his proposals to extend the provision and duration of services on a daily basis at a hospital (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7083/16]
View answerAs 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.
598. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the status of replacing the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant which were closed to new applicants in 2013; his progress in finding a solution to this issue; the date for finalising proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7110/16]
View answerConscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. Both schemes remain closed.
However, the Government also decided that monthly payments will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed, on the basis that this would prevent hardship and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with the greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and it is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
599. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7114/16]
View answerThe Health Act 1970, as amended, provides for two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Medical card holders are entitled to access all public hospital services without charge. When a patient in a public hospital elects to be treated privately by a consultant, the hospital must treat that patient as a private patient. Persons who opt to be private on admission to hospital are liable for the fees of all consultants involved in his or her care, and for hospital charges under Section 55 of the Health Act, for that episode of care.
With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, a formal complaints process entitled “our Service Your Say” is in place. Details are available on the HSE website, at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/. In line with this procedure, a complaint regarding a particular hospital service must be made in the first instance to the hospital concerned. 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.
With regard 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.
600. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his proposals to provide additional orthopaedic services for patients in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he is aware of the widespread concerns in relation to delays in patients accessing orthopaedic assessments and procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7130/16]
View answerAs 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.
601. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for an operation in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7141/16]
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 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.
602. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards; the number of general practitioner cards; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis as of 1 March 2016. [7143/16]
View answer603. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of over 70s medical cards; the number of over 70s general practitioner cards; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis as of 1 March 2016. [7144/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.
The following are Medical Card and General Practitioner Visit Card figures as of 1 March 2016, as requested by the Deputy:
|
Card Type |
Total Cards |
Of Which Over 70's |
|
Medical cards |
1,732,749 |
332,967 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
102,118 |
8,443 |
|
GP Visit cards |
441,054 |
82,471 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
41,973 |
43 |
