Written Answers Nos. 274 - 292
274. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health when the gratuity payment due to certain home help workers will be made in lieu of pension payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7329/16]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to those Home Help workers who are employed by voluntary providers of home help services which are funded under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. As these home help workers are not employed by the HSE, the HSE and the Department has no role in determining the salaries or other terms and conditions applying to these staff including any pension arrangements.
As the Deputy is aware a joint working group has been established, as agreed as part of the Lansdowne Road talks, to consider a number issues in relation to section 39 organisations. It is expected that the work of the group should conclude by 31 May 2016.
275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted all documentation required in their case; the grounds the documentation submitted was deemed not sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7336/16]
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 recently issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when determination of eligibility for a medical card will be complete in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the documentation still outstanding in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7341/16]
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 recently issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter.
277. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person with (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7347/16]
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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
278. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if efforts have been made to move a person (details supplied) in County Dublin or alter the continued residential treatment for the person as per the person's and family's request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7348/16]
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.
279. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7352/16]
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 recently issued to Oireachtas members. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter.
280. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the criteria a person must meet in order to become a home carer through either the Health Service Executive or the commercial sector; if, apart from Garda vetting, there are regulations in place to ensure that the successful candidate is suitable and qualified for such an important post, including the specific placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7364/16]
View answerThe HSE requires that new directly-employed home help staff have Fetac/QQI level 5 in health-care modules ‘Care Skills’ and ‘Care of the Older Person’ or equivalent qualifications and a minimum of one year’s relevant experience providing care.
The HSE uses private and voluntary providers where direct HSE services are not available. In 2012, the HSE introduced a procurement framework for external providers. This included quality standards for governance and accountability; person-centred care; complaints management; and that personnel involved in the provision of services receive appropriate orientation and induction, and proper and sufficient training and instruction in the execution of their duties.
The HSE is currently running a new tender for externally-provided home-care which requires staff working on HSE contracts to have the following:
home care workers with less than 1 year experience must have a minimum of 2 QQI level 5 modules completed, specifically Care Skills and Care of Older People, and have received appropriate induction prior to working on HSE contracts;
unqualified staff with more than 1 year's experience in the last 3 years must commit to obtaining the above modules within 11 months of commencing work on HSE contracts; and
existing staff working on HSE contracts, with more than one year experience in the last 3 years must have a minimum of 2 QQI level 5 modules specifically Care Skills and Care of Older People.
In addition, all of the above staff employed by external providers must have an assessment of their competency on file, a plan to address any identified training needs, an up to date Patient Handling Certificate including hoist training, and Garda clearance.
These requirements relate to publicly funded care and are not applicable to care funded by clients' own resources.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when required surgery will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7365/16]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
282. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive a decision on an application for transport from the Brothers of Charity. [7367/16]
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.
283. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if school leaver Camphill funding for full-time residential care will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly through the Health Service Executive, as day care services do not meet the person's needs at this time. [7368/16]
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.
284. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for speech and language therapy in County Wexford; the number of these who have been on the waiting list for over a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7369/16]
View answer285. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for speech and language therapy across the country; the number of these who have been on the waiting list for over a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7370/16]
View answer368. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the funding currently allocated and the additional funding allocated in budget 2016 to speech and language therapy; the expenditure on speech and language therapy in 2014 and in 2015, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7808/16]
View answer369. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for speech and language therapy in primary care by age category, by area, and by time waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7809/16]
View answer371. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the urgent waiting list for speech and language therapy; the length of time they are waiting in County Wexford and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7811/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284, 285, 368, 369 and 371 together.
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter.
286. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to schedule a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [7375/16]
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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
287. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if financial assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 to travel to the United Kingdom to recieve treatment which is not available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7380/16]
View answerThe Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) as provided for in EU Regulations and Department of Health Guidelines, does not include a provision for travel and subsistence expenses for patients or their relatives travelling abroad to avail of approved treatments. However the HSE, subject to available funding, under the Treatment Abroad Scheme Travel Policy, may provide assistance towards reasonable economic air or sea travel fares for patients, and a travelling companion where appropriate or where the referring consultant identifies a necessity. The HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme National Travel Policy was implemented in November 2009 to standardise and provide equity to the provision of entitlements relating to travel expenses. Expenses other than air/sea fares are not admissible. However, patients who experience difficulty funding any additional costs may apply to the Department of Social Protection for assistance as an exceptional needs payment. It should be noted that, in general, patients do not incur subsistence costs when undergoing treatment abroad as such costs are included in the cost of the care that the patient is receiving.
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. As regards the issues with the welfare officer and bus pass, these are a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
288. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours budgeted for in 2016 by county, in tabular form; the number of home help hours budgeted for in 2015 by county; the number of actual home help hours provided in 2015; the number of home help hours provided in 2016, per month for the first three months of the year; the number of home help hours provided in 2015, per month, for the first three months months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7381/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter.
289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter.
290. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (detail supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7389/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter.
291. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the total number of public hospital beds in operation. [7390/16]
View answer292. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of public hospital beds broken down by hospital and by category of bed, in tabular form. [7391/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
