Tuesday, 19 Jul 2016

Written Answers Nos. 638 - 651

Health Services Data

Questions (638)

John McGuinness

Question:

638. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the services and supports that have been put in place for persons who suffer side effects after having their tonsils removed; the number of such cases reported relative to County Cork hospitals and Waterford Regional Hospital; the number of such operations carried out in each of the hospitals; the criteria used by the HSE to select patients and refer them to each hospital; the cost of such operations in each of the hospitals; the way in which complaints of side effects from such operations are dealt with and prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22361/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (639)

John McGuinness

Question:

639. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an appointment with a psychologist will be arranged for a person (details supplied); and if a care and education plan will be put in place relative to this report with all other services required by the person. [22363/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Health Services Charges

Questions (640)

Mick Barry

Question:

640. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is a recipient of a jobs initiative payment can have their bill for treatment in Beaumont Hospital waived in view of the circumstances. [22364/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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.

The HSE makes in-patient services available to specific categories of persons under Section 52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended. In accordance with Section 53 of the Act, the charge in respect of in-patient services is set out in the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations 1987 (S.I. No. 116/1987). Regulation 4(1) provides the list of persons exempted from any charge made in respect of in-patient services provided under Section 52 of the Health Act, including those who hold a medical card.

As the HSE is responsible under law to levy appropriate in-patient charges where applicable, you'll appreciate that it is contrary to the HSE Governance Act of 2013 for me to make a direction to the HSE or a hospital regarding this issue.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (641)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

641. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health to report on the surgical theatre space operational at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, on a monthly basis for each of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22367/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 they will follow the matter up with them.

Questions Nos. 642 and 643 answered with Question No. 554.

Departmental Properties

Questions (644)

James Lawless

Question:

644. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm the HSE purchase of a premises (details supplied); the purpose and primary use of this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22373/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE is responsible for the management of the health care estate the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.

Prescriptions Charges

Questions (645)

Shane Cassells

Question:

645. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health to abolish prescription charges for persons with intellectual disabilities as this cost is a burden on their already small incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22386/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The prescription charge is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (646)

Shane Cassells

Question:

646. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health to provide further funding for sufferers of agoraphobia who require psychiatric counselling in their home as many sufferers are not receiving the support they require for this condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22387/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (647)

Shane Cassells

Question:

647. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health if sufferers of agoraphobia can receive funding support from the HSE for private psychiatric counselling as many sufferers require more counselling hours than are provided by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22388/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Disability Support Services Provision

Questions (648)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

648. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide personalised funding in respect of the two hours speech and language therapy allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22395/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (649)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

649. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to schedule an appointment for a person (details supplied); his views on measures which can be taken to ensure persons get seen in primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22396/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been 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.

Suicide Bereavement Support

Questions (650)

Robert Troy

Question:

650. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) in light of the proposed closure of the Console charity. [22423/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

On 14 July 2016, the HSE confirmed that, as part of a contingency plan drawn up by the Department of Health, the HSE, Pieta House and David Hall, who had been acting as interim CEO of Console, Pieta House will commence providing the services previously provided by Console with immediate effect. These services comprise the 24/7 Suicide Helpline, the Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service and the Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (651)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

651. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan 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. [22443/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.