Michael Healy-Rae
Question:564. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4206/17]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (564)
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (565)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:565. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called to Cork University Hospital for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4207/17]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (566)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an operation in Kerry University Hospital will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4208/17]
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.
Hospital Charges
Questions (567)
Jack Chambers
Question:567. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of a hospital bed per night in a public hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4224/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Health Care Policy
Questions (568)
Jack Chambers
Question:568. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the effect of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013 is double taxation for persons who have health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4225/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services and to public out-patient hospital services. Section 55 provides that the HSE may provide private in-patient services to persons who are not entitled to, or who do not have or have waived eligibility to public in-patient services. An essential element of the eligibility arrangements is that the "public" or "private" status of a patient must be specified on admission to hospital. The holding of private health insurance is optional and has no effect on people's statutory entitlements or obligations. These arrangements have operated under successive Governments and over several decades.
Where a patient elects to be treated privately by a consultant, he or she is liable for the fees of all consultants involved in his or her care and for statutory hospital charges under Section 55 for that episode of care. The application of a charge by a hospital for private in-patient services is obligatory and Government policy has been to move towards recovery of the full economic cost of the services provided by the hospital. Where private in-patient services are provided, the daily charges that apply depend on the category of hospital (Schedule 5 or 6 of the Health Act) and whether the overnight accommodation was in a single or multi-occupancy room.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (569)
Jack Chambers
Question:569. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of elective surgeries performed per month, per hospital, for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospitals Capital Programme
Questions (570)
Bobby Aylward
Question:570. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive Capital Plan for 2017 will provide funding for completion of phase two of the current developments at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, including the Susie Long Hospice, which is an integral part of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4241/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (571)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:571. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to reduce the cost of medical examinations for persons over 70 years of age who require a medical assessment for renewal of a driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4282/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Safety Authority has responsibility for driver licensing including the rules for applying for or renewing a drivers license. Individuals over the age of 70, can get their drivers licence renewed free of charge. Motorists over 70 will need a certificate of fitness to drive by their doctor in order to apply for a three year or a one year licence. Since August 2015, persons over the age of 70 automatically qualify for a free GP visit card. However certain medical reports, including a report for the renewal of a drivers licence, are not covered under this scheme.
Prescriptions Charges
Questions (572)
Ruth Coppinger
Question:572. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will abolish prescription charges for pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4283/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme and reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
Budget 2017 provides for a reduction in the prescription charge for over 70s medical card holders. I intend to implement this initiative by reducing the per item charge by 50c, from €2.50 to €2.00, and reducing the monthly cap by €5, from €25 to €20. This initiative will require changes in primary legislation and pharmacy payments systems. Subject to the enactment of the necessary legislation, the Government expects that the reductions will take effect on 1 March 2017.
I will continue to examine opportunities to address the cost of the charge to patients, having regard to the funding available.
Mental Health Services
Questions (573)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:573. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Letterkenny Hospital mental health unit has on at least two occasions turned away a suicidal person, one of them resulting in the person taking their own life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Mental Health Services
Questions (574)
Micheál Martin
Question:574. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the role of his Department on the commitment in the confidence and supply arrangement on fully implementing A Vision for Change in the area of mental health. [38670/16]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2012, the Government has added around €115 million to the HSE Mental Health Budget; an increase of around 16% up to end 2016. The Programme for Partnership Government gives a clear commitment to increasing our mental health budget annually, as resources allow, to expand existing services. In 2014 and 2015 funding was directed to reconfiguration of general adult teams, including psychiatry of later life, and also child and adolescent community mental health services and the strengthening of community teams. In 2016 it was directed towards improvement of counselling services; enhanced Community Mental Health teams; improved 7/7 response and Liaison Services; Psychiatry-of-Later-Life; and Perinatal Mental Health. Two new mental health clinical programmes have been introduced - ADHD in Adults and Children, and Dual Diagnosis of those with Mental Illness and Substance Misuse.
Budget 2017 made allowance for an additional €35 million for services to be initiated in 2017. Key priorities to be addressed in the HSE's 2017 Service Plan include youth mental health, further improvement to child & adolescent (CAMHS) and adult services, older people's services and further enhanced out of hours response for those in need of urgent services. Recognising the time lag in new staff taking up posts and the completion of preparations for the introduction of these services, it is estimated that the revenue spend in 2017 associated with this increased allocation will be some €15 million. There will also be a further additional spend of €9.5 million in mental health associated with increased pay rates. This additional €24.7 million for 2017 will see the Mental Health Budget increase to €851 million. With other minor adjustments, the National Service Plan Budget for Mental Health for 2017 totals €853.1m.
The Department has also given the go-ahead to the HSE for the construction of a new National Forensic Hospital at Portrane. This major health infrastructure project will benefit from significant capital investment in 2017 with spending on the new hospital and other, more minor, mental health projects planned to exceed €50 million next year.
In addition to the substantial ongoing financial commitment to service development, the Department recently commissioned an evidence-based expert review which will focus on the progress made to date in the implementation of A Vision For Change, including a review of current delivery of services in Ireland. The review will also take account of international best practice and will inform the next steps in the development of our mental health policy, having regard to both human rights and health and wellbeing objectives. The review will provide a solid evidence base to determine the policy direction for a revision of A Vision for Change, provide a basis for further service development in this area, and shape our future mental health policy.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (575)
Micheál Martin
Question:575. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if any decision has been made in relation to the reimbursement of Respreeza; if he or his Department or HSE officials have plans to meet the patients impacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4319/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (576)
Gerry Adams
Question:576. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will review the decision by the HSE Dublin north east appeals officer dated 4 January 2017 which states that persons (details supplied) do not qualify for the retention of their medical cards which were valid until 4 January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/17]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (577)
Niamh Smyth
Question:577. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received an appointment for surgery. [4352/17]
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.