Written Answers Nos. 170-176
170. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a claim that some general practitioners are charging medical card holders for sick certificates; if this is permissible and on what grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13863/16]
View answerUnder the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP.
Under the contract the GP is required to furnish to a person whom he/she has examined, and for whom he/she is obliged to provide services, a certificate in relation to any illness noticed during the examination which is reasonably required by the patient.
The contract between the HSE and the GP under the GMS Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences".
171. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the average timeframe for reimbursing medical costs under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13864/16]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drugs schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and 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.
172. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the information and supports the Health Service Executive is providing to a person (details supplied); how it is addressing issues arising from two of its related inquiries; if he will publish these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13865/16]
View answerThe inquiries referred to by the Deputy relate to allegations of abuse in a foster home in the South- East which are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Gardaí.
In view of the serious issues raised regarding the standard of care provided by the foster family, the HSE commissioned an inquiry into the matter, undertaken by Conal Devine and Associates. The inquiry concluded in 2012 but for legal reasons the full report was not published. Subsequent to that, the HSE commissioned Resilience Ireland to undertake a review/look-back exercise into other foster care placements with the family concerned. This review was completed in early 2015. Due to its ongoing inquiries, the Gardaí wrote to the HSE asking them not to publish the Devine report or the Resilience Ireland report while the matter was under investigation.
However the HSE has emphasised that it has not waited for the publication of the Devine report to act on its recommendations, and that it has put in place a number of changes to take account of the service and management deficiencies identified. This includes the publication, in December 2014, of its national policy: Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse- National Policy and Procedures. The matter was raised by the Committee on Public Accounts in 2015 in the context of the procurement process for the two reports and the extended period of time during which it has not been possible to publish them. In response to these concerns Minister of State Kathleen Lynch appointed Conor Dignam S.C. to undertake a review of these matters, taking account of the ongoing Garda investigation.
In view of the seriousness of the issues raised and the need to establish the facts, on 2 February last the previous Government approved, in principle, the establishment of a statutory Commission of Investigation into the care of individuals in the foster home in question. The approval is subject to the agreement of Terms of Reference for the Commission by the Government and approval of the Oireachtas, with the Terms of Reference to be informed by the review being undertaken by Mr. Dignam.
As the remainder of the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
173. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health how he will ensure a person (details supplied) is admitted to a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/16]
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.
174. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his proposals to enable persons employed by the Health Service Executive at clerical officer and other grades to continue employment beyond 65 years of age if they so desire; if he is considering amending the statutory framework to allow persons who express this desire to do so, particularly in the context of other changes in recent years in the welfare area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13868/16]
View answerThe Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 among other things removed the compulsory age for certain categories of new entrants to the public service who joined on or after 1 April 2004. These employees are generally referred to as "new entrants" and under the Act new entrants are not required to retire on age grounds.
Those public servants that were serving in the public service prior to 1 April 2004 are generally referred to as "non new entrants" who are in the main required to retire at the age of 65 years.
The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and other Provisions Act 2012, provides that members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which commenced for new entrants to the public service on or after 1 January 2013, may retire from State Pension Age (currently 66 rising to 68 in 2028).
A Private Members Bill, The Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015, passed Second Stage in the Seanad on the 30 September 2015. The Bill aims to ensure that all those who are employees of the Department of Health, and all those who are employed by bodies directly funded by the Department of Health, may, if they wish, postpone their retirement where they would otherwise have been forced to retire at a particular age that is stipulated in their employment contract, subject to their continuing capacity to fulfil the duties of their employment in a safe fashion. Consideration of the issue of retirement age will therefore arise as The Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015 progresses through the legislative process.
175. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he will transfer a person (details supplied) to the National Rehabilitation Unit in Dún Laoghaire; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
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.
176. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine and review the case of a person (details supplied) and to expedite the nursing hours which have been granted. [13942/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
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.
