John McGuinness
Question:150. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a date for an operation will be arranged as a matter of urgency in the case of a person (details supplied). [14642/17]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (150)
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.
European Health Insurance Card
Questions (151)
Eamon Scanlon
Question:151. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if an Irish citizen currently working in the UK can use their European health insurance card, EHIC, for medical treatment in the UK; if an Irish citizen's EHIC covers medicines post treatment here and in the UK; if the same criteria and rules will apply under the scheme post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14660/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under EU Regulations, all persons ordinarily resident in the EU are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC certifies that the holder has the right to receive emergency healthcare during a temporary stay in any EU country as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. This right is guaranteed to all persons who are covered by the public healthcare system of these countries. The EHIC holder has the right to receive necessary treatment on the host Member State's public healthcare system on the same terms and at the same cost as nationals of the State concerned.
My Department is currently examining the potential consequences of the UK's decision to leave the EU for healthcare in Ireland and for Irish citizens.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (152)
Clare Daly
Question:152. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the content of an anti-vaccine propaganda film (details supplied); and the steps his Department will take to counter any inaccurate information regarding vaccinations that feature in this film. [14689/17]
View answerWritten answers
Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of health care interventions. The importance of immunisation is acknowledged by all the major international health organisations, particularly the World Health Organisation (WHO). The immunisation programmes in Ireland are based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice. The Health Products Regulatory Authority and the European Medicines Agency continually monitor adverse events to vaccination. All relevant and appropriate information is taken into account when deciding to make changes to the State's immunisation programmes.
It is important to counter misinformation in relation to the safety of vaccines, and to increase the uptake rates of all vaccines in the State’s immunisation programmes. The safety of vaccines, as with all medicines, will continue to be carefully monitored and any future new evidence of side effects that becomes available will take into account. The benefits of vaccines significantly outweigh any known side effects.
Health Services Provision
Questions (153)
Brendan Smith
Question:153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14700/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Services
Questions (154)
Michael Moynihan
Question:154. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed refurbishment works due to be carried out to Kanturk Community Hospital, Kanturk, County Cork; the expected timeframe for the completion of these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14708/17]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (155)
Michael McGrath
Question:155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will have a medical procedure carried out. [14711/17]
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.
Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 136.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (157)
Jack Chambers
Question:157. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the details of any payments made by his Department, its agencies or any bodies under his aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14725/17]
View answerWritten answers
Where is it necessary for the Department to place advertisements, generally in relation to health promotion messages, they are done through a media or PR company rather than the broadcaster itself. However, I will survey the Department to ascertain if any payments were made to any broadcasters during the years in question and revert to you in due course.
I have also forwarded your question on to the HSE for direct reply. Details for other bodies under the aegis of the Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
Question No. 158 answered with Question No. 136.