Willie Penrose
Question:199. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure a person (details supplied) is given a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27841/16]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (199)
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 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.
Question No. 200 answered with Question No. 186.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (201)
Bernard Durkan
Question:201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated in respect of their pending medical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27855/16]
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (202)
Gerry Adams
Question:202. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide more details of an initiative (details supplied) in County Louth, specifically the amount of HSE funding allocated to the project; the number of persons with disabilities currently being supported by the project; the training offered to host families and the safeguarding measures in place for participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27857/16]
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (203)
Bernard Durkan
Question:203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when transport may be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27861/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act, 2013 I am precluded from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual, and as such I am sure you will understand that it is not possible for me to get involved in individual cases.
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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (204, 227, 229)
Bernard Durkan
Question:204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be approved in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/16]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be issued in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27991/16]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27994/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 227 and 229 together.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine these matters and to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The HSE operates the General Medical 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 been forwarded to Oireachtas members.
Question No. 205 answered with Question No. 186.
Home Care Packages
Questions (206)
Bernard Durkan
Question:206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a home care package will be approved for evening time assistance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27874/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Question No. 207 answered with Question No. 186.
HSE Properties
Questions (208)
Catherine Murphy
Question:208. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if plans and specific proposals for upgrade works to a health centre (details supplied) have been finalised and if funding has been sought; when the improvement works will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27888/16]
View answerWritten answers
The facility in question is maintained as part of the HSE's ongoing structural maintenance programme for all facilities in the Kildare West Wicklow area. In 2009, various works including improvements to security, lighting, decor and replacement of furniture were completed. Currently, there are no specific proposals for this facility.
Health Services Provision
Questions (209)
Catherine Murphy
Question:209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on specific operational and deployment proposals for the enhancement and augmentation of medical provision services and on the recruitment process for an on-site general practitioner at a health centre (details supplied); if funding for the deployment of enhanced services has been sought and awarded or considered for awarding; if there is a timescale to roll out the enhanced services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27889/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this 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.
HSE Board Membership
Questions (210, 211)
Billy Kelleher
Question:210. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the names of the persons who currently serve on the HSE directorate; the duration of their term of office and when this is due to expire; if a new directorate is to be appointed in the near future; and, if so, the persons who will serve on it. [27890/16]
View answerBilly Kelleher
Question:211. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has extended or approved the extension of the contracts of any national directors in the HSE since he took office and, if so, the details. [27891/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.
The Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 came into effect on 25 July, 2013. Section 16A(2) of the Health Act 2004 (as amended) specifies that the number of persons appointed by the Minister for Health to the Directorate as "appointed Directors" at any time shall not be fewer than 2 and not be greater than 8. Mr Tony O’Brien, as Director General is an ex officio member of the Directorate and is Chairperson of the Directorate. Mr O'Brien was appointed Director General for a five year term in accordance with Section 16E of the Health Act 2004, as amended when the Act was commenced on 25 July, 2013.
The following persons currently serve on the HSE Directorate: Mr Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE; Mr Stephen Mulvany, Chief Financial Officer & Interim Deputy Director General; Mr Pat Healy, National Director of Social Care; Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director of Health & Well-being; Mr John Hennessy, National Director of Primary Care; Ms Anne O'Connor, National Director of Mental Health; Mr Liam Woods, Interim National Director of Acute Hospitals; and Dr Philip Crowley, National Director Quality Improvement.
Ms Anne O’Connor was appointed as Acting National Director for Mental Health in accordance with Section 16A of the Health Act 2004, as amended in a letter of 11 July, 2014 for as long as her appointment subsisted.
Mr Liam Woods, Interim National Director of Acute Hospitals, was appointed as a member of the Directorate, until the appointment of a permanent National Director for Acute Hospitals also with effect from 1 February, 2015. On appointment of a permanent National Director for Acute Hospitals he would be expected to vacate the position.
Dr Philip Crowley, National Director Quality Improvement, was appointed as a member of the Directorate in accordance with the HSE (Governance) Act 2013, for a period of three years with effect from 1 February, 2015.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Health Act 2004, as amended, the following were appointed members of the HSE Directorate for a period of three years and were still members at the expiry of their three year term on 25 July, 2016: Mr Pat Healy, National Director of Social Care; Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, National Director of Health & Well-being; Mr John Hennessy, National Director of Primary Care; and Mr Stephen Mulvany, Chief Financial Officer & Interim Deputy Director General.
It was at the discretion of the Minister to re-appoint them as Directors under section 16B(2) of the Health Act 2004 (as inserted by section 7 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013) and all four Directors were re-appointed as members of the HSE Directorate until 31 December, 2016.
My officials are currently engaging with the Director General in relation to the composition and roles of the HSE senior management team including the implications any reorganisation has for the future membership of the Directorate in the context of the overall Health Reform Programme and mindful of the work of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare.