Written Answers Nos. 161-167
161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment from University Hospital Galway, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10986/16]
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 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.
162. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide speech and language therapy to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10989/16]
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.
163. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate allegations that a general practitioner surgery (details supplied) is charging medical cardholders for phlebotomy services, given his Department has repeatedly stated that persons covered by the general medical services scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their general practitioner or by the practice nurse on behalf of the general practitioner, which are required to assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition. [11000/16]
View answerPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
The Department of Health and the HSE are cognisant of the need for a new contract with GPs that will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector and negotiations are underway with the Irish Medical Organisation in this regard. The development of appropriate contractual arrangements in relation to the management of chronic conditions and issues such as phlebotomy services are amongst the significant issues to be considered during the contractual talks.
As this is a service matter, 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.
164. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of international public funding models for fertility treatment; when he will introduce legislation on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11003/16]
View answer165. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing fertility treatment through the public health system; the cost of funding one, two and three cycles of in vitro fertilisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11004/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
On Monday 1 February 2016, the then Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, announced his intention to provide public funding for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment in conjunction with the planned introduction of legislation in this area. It is important that consideration be given to how best to provide public funding for fertility treatment. To that end, Minister Varadkar commissioned an evidence review of international public funding models. This review will provide us with a comprehensive report of the existing evidence using a systematic approach, which will be invaluable in determining the most appropriate funding model for AHR in the State. It is expected that the evidence review will be completed before the end of 2016.
Separately to this evidence review, my officials are currently drafting a General Scheme of legislative provisions dealing with AHR, with a view to closing the legislative gap in this area of healthcare. Once the General Scheme is completed and the AHR legislation is subsequently enacted, the Government will be in a position to provide fertility treatments based on the best model of funding for Ireland.
It is important to note that while in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
166. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health to initiate the recruitment of a community-based diabetes nurse specialist, which his Department has already sanctioned, to cater for the obvious and growing needs of the local diabetes community in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11005/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply 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.
167. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a person (details supplied) who suffers from an illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11015/16]
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.
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.
