Jack Chambers
Question:329. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8386/16]
View answerMedical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (329)
Written answers
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 Funding
Questions (330)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:330. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that money ring-fenced for mental health services is not being diverted to other areas within the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8387/16]
View answerWritten answers
Mental health funding for 2016 was set out in the 2016 HSE Service Plan. The plan was subsequently published and made available to all interested parties.
Funding for mental health services will increase this year, no matter what developments take place during the year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 NSP, an increase of €41m or 5.2%, which includes the €35m ring-fenced for mental health.
The last Government increased the ring-fenced mental health funding by a total of €160 million over 2012-6, inclusive. The €12 million in 2016 is being transferred temporarily to social care including home care packages for older people and step-down beds.
€35m additional funding has been ring fenced for mental health as part of an additional €97m that has been earmarked for new developments in the HSE's 2016 Service Plan. €58.5m of that is held by the Department of Health, comprising the €35m for mental health services, €13.5m for primary care, €8m for therapy services for young people and €2m for the nursing taskforce pilot implementation.
Some of these proposals for the €35m allocation for mental health involve the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments. As staff recruitment takes time, the Service Plan provides that time related savings of approximately €12m from this, as well as other funding from primary care therapy services for young people and nursing task force pilot implementation would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds, and for vaccine procurement. As the initiatives planned for mental health and these other areas identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan.
In line with the provisions of the Service Plan which was agreed and published last December, additional funding for specific initiatives in mental health will be allocated as specific implementation plans are agreed. The Department of Health is examining detailed proposals from the HSE for the redevelopment monies.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (331)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:331. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for Health Service Executive equipment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8392/16]
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 (332)
Bríd Smith
Question:332. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres that are fully operational; the number that are under construction or nearing completion; and the number that are planned but have not yet commenced construction. [8403/16]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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
Questions (333)
Bríd Smith
Question:333. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care networks currently operational; and the annual cost of operating a primary care network. [8404/16]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has responsibility for the provision and operation of Primary Care Networks. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (334)
Willie Penrose
Question:334. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to have a person (details supplied) immediately admitted for a hip replacement operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8416/16]
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.
Medical Card Appeals
Questions (335)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:335. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card review for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8418/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Health Services
Questions (336)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:336. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who paid privately for an occupational therapist report for their child can be given a refund of the cost of the report. [8430/16]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to extend my sympathy to the family concerned.
My Department is not aware of any payment or support available to reimburse the individual for the cost of private therapy. However, having regard to the circumstances outlined in the question I would recommend that the Deputy or the individual concerned contact their local citizen information centre to ensure that they are availing of all their entitlements. The local centre is at the Ballyfermot Citizen Information Centre, Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre, Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 Tel: 0761 07 5000 or email: ballyfermot@citinfo.ie.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (337)
Seán Haughey
Question:337. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the flu injection will be made available to carers free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8436/16]
View answerWritten answers
Each year the HSE prepares for the influenza season by procuring seasonal influenza vaccine which is provided free of charge to all individuals at risk of influenza and complications. Annual seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) and the HSE to individuals at risk of severe influenza disease (those aged 65 and older, those with specified chronic medical conditions requiring regular follow up, pregnancy, morbid obesity), to certain occupational groups (those working with poultry, wild fowl and pigs, health care workers (HCWs) and those likely to transmit influenza to those at high risk of influenza complications).
Protecting those who are at risk of severe outcomes of influenza remains the priority of vaccination programmes, particularly the elderly and those vulnerable due to pre-existing illnesses or risk factors. Seasonal flu vaccination forms part of the Adult Immunisation Programme. The vaccine is available free of charge from GPs for all people in at risk groups, and from pharmacists for people in at risk groups aged 18 and over. An administration charge may apply to people who don’t hold medical cards or GP visit cards.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Questions (338)
Seán Haughey
Question:338. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the reason BreastCheck and BowelScreen finish at the age of 69 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8437/16]
View answerWritten answers
The implementation of the age extension of BreastCheck to 65-69 year olds commenced in Quarter 4 of 2015. Previously, this service was available to women aged 50-64 years. This is in keeping with EU Guidelines that recommend mammography screening for breast cancer in women aged 50 to 69.
BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, commenced offering free bowel screening nationwide to men and women aged 60 to 69 years in late 2012. The programme is focusing on this age group in the initial phase because, from a population perspective, this cohort will benefit most from bowel screening. This year BowelScreen is moving from the current 3 year round to screening every 2 years, in line with international best practice.
Hospital Beds Data
Questions (339)
Seán Haughey
Question:339. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if more dedicated beds will be made available for those persons with cystic fibrosis who are currently in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8439/16]
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.
Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme
Questions (340)
Seán Haughey
Question:340. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a vaccine damage compensation scheme for those persons who suffered an intellectual disability as a result of receiving the whooping cough vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8440/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Vaccine Damage Steering Group was established in 2007. The report from this Group was published on my Department's website in June 2009. There are no plans to introduce a vaccine damage compensation scheme at this time.
Long-Term Illness Scheme
Questions (341)
Seán Haughey
Question:341. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will make nephrotic syndrome a long-term illness, with a view to making the drug trednefol available to suffers of this syndrome free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8442/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (342)
Seán Haughey
Question:342. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the reason the income threshold for a person applying for a medical card who is over 70 years of age is €500 in the case of a single person but is €900 in the case of a married couple; if he considers this discrimination in the case of a married couple; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8448/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013 sets out that, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple.
The Government recognised that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and that expenditure does not necessarily diminish relative to the number of people in the household. This is recognised, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Allowance increase and differential income thresholds for medical cards for persons aged under 70 between individuals and couples.
In that context, the over 70s' income limit for a single person was reduced proportionately less that the income limit for a couple. There are no proposals to change this assessment process and it is not seen to constitute discrimination under equality legislation.
Hospital Beds Data
Questions (343)
Catherine Connolly
Question:343. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 20 April 2016, the steps which will be taken to deal with the lack of beds in the intensive care unit in University College Hospital Galway. [8454/16]
View answerWritten answers
As part of the winter planning additional capacity as agreed in July 2015, additional beds were proposed for Galway University Hospital (GUH) and these have now all been opened. These comprise a new 30 bed emergency ward and 14 new rehabilitation beds at Merlin Park Hospital. In the context of ongoing improvements in GUH, this results in a current net gain to the Galway hospital system of 27.
The HSE Capital Plan 2016 includes funding for a full option appraisal and Cost Benefit Analysis to inform planning and funding requirements for a new ED at GUH. A cost benefit analysis in relation to a new ED in GUH is currently underway and it is anticipated that this will be completed in spring 2016. If favourable, this will go to design phase later in 2016.
Construction work is also ongoing on the new 75 bed ward block which will provide single room in-patient accommodation and aid in relieving congestion. The building works are due to be finished in December 2016, with wards equipped and staffed in spring 2017.
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.