Robert Troy
Question:269. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [8038/16]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (269)
Written answers
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.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (270)
Michael Moynihan
Question:270. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the intermediate care vehicle allocated to Mallow, County Cork is not moved to Cork city; if he will acknowledge the crucial service this provides to the north County Cork area and the impact on the area of the removal of this service from Mallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8062/16]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, 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 (271)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:271. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8067/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 (272)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8069/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Registration of Nurses
Questions (273)
Michael Creed
Question:273. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the registration of a person (details supplied) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8074/16]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to advise the Deputy that the person he made enquiries about has been registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Home Help Service Eligibility
Questions (274)
Bernard Durkan
Question:274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently carry out an assessment for eligibility for home help for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8077/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Speech and Language Therapy Provision
Questions (275)
John McGuinness
Question:275. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange immediately speech and language therapy for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [8085/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly 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.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (276)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of equipment by the Health Service Executive to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8088/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for 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.
Primary Care Centres Data
Questions (277)
John McGuinness
Question:277. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if funding is in place to roll out further primary medical care centres in County Kilkenny; the list of locations being considered throughout the country; and if he has a priority list in respect of the centres. [8141/16]
View answerWritten answers
While the Government's objective is to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system the mechanism and timescale for delivery of primary care infrastructure in County Kilkenny 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. In addition the operational lease mechanism is subject to market pressures such as the developers' access to adequate financing. Delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process, constantly evolving to take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementation.
There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. As with all capital projects, the further development of the primary care infrastructure, including facilities in County Kilkenny, must be prioritised and considered within the context of the overall capital envelope available to the health service. The HSE will continue to apply the available funding for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs.
As the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you with the national priority list of locations for primary care centres. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
Health Services Staff Data
Questions (278)
John McGuinness
Question:278. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses employed by the Health Service Executive to serve Kilkenny city; if public health nurses are available to cover weekend duty; the level of service being provided by public health nurses in the eastern environs of Kilkenny city given the demographics of this part of the city; the criteria to access the services of a community nurse; the locations of such a service in Kilkenny city; if a public health centre will be provided in the eastern environs of Kilkenny city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8142/16]
View answerWritten answers
I 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.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (279)
John McGuinness
Question:279. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be arranged for a person (details supplied). [8143/16]
View answerWritten answers
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 Staff Recruitment
Questions (280)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:280. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when the position for the paediatrics diabetes specialist in University College Hospital Galway will be filled (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8147/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Motorised Transport Grant Closure
Questions (281)
Brendan Griffin
Question:281. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the alternative scheme to the motorised transport grant will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8152/16]
View answerWritten answers
Conscious 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.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (282)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:282. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a hospital appointment will be finalised for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8134/16]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Medical Card Administration
Questions (283)
James Lawless
Question:283. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to update the medical card application form to include payment of local property tax or water charges as outgoings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8096/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 1970, as amended, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for assessing an individual's entitlement to a medical card and a GP visit card. Section 45 of the Act provides that adult persons who, in the opinion of the HSE are unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependents are deemed to be persons with full eligibility.
The HSE has set out National Assessment Guidelines outlining what is included in the assessment process and the Local Property Tax or the Water Charges are not included. There are no proposals at present to include either as deductible expenses in determining eligibility for medical cards.