Written Answers Nos. 232-239
232. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the long-term illness scheme will include Crohn's disease on the list of approved conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23510/17]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
233. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 560 of 4 April 2017, if the 2,786 persons waiting more than 12 months for cataract surgery can avail of the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23522/17]
View answerReducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding in the region of €5m for a waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that in excess of 2000 patients waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure will have received an appointment for their procedure by 30 June 2017. The NTPF has advised that the Initiative has commenced and patients are currently receiving their appointments. Specifically, over 350 patients awaiting cataract procedures who would have been waiting for longer than 18 months by the end of June have been identified as appropriate to test the first clinical pathway for this outsourcing initiative.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly.
234. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will include persons with asthma in the long-term illness scheme or in a targeted scheme such as a chronic disease card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23523/17]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
235. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the commitment in the national clinical programme for asthma to a free structural asthma management programme for every person with asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23524/17]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
236. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide core funding for supporting educational programmes by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23525/17]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
237. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for hip surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23526/17]
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 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.
238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount of the €632,117,844 income raised by private charges (details supplied) by hospitals in 2016 which was charged following emergency admissions; and the amount which was charged following elective admission in each of the years from 2014 to 2016, in tabular form. [23527/17]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
239. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to include asthma in the long-term illness scheme or on another targeted scheme such as a chronic disease card (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23545/17]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
