Written Answers Nos 203-222
203. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children eligible for the free under six years of age general practitioners scheme by county; the number of general practitioners that are signed up to the scheme, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24825/17]
View answerThe introduction of GP care without fees to children under 6 years of age in July 2015 represents a major step forward in improving access, quality and affordability of health care in Ireland. The under-6s GP service contract, which includes age-based preventive checks focused on health and well-being and a cycle of care for children with asthma, underlines the Government’s commitment to enhancing primary care and keeping people well in their own community.
2,353 GPs hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of general practitioner services to children under 6 and 363,377 children under 6 have access to GP care without fees through a medical card or GP visit card as at 1 May 2017. This represents approximately 90% of the under 6 population, according to the latest census information available from the CSO for this age cohort.
As a breakdown of the information requested by county is not routinely collected by my Department, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
204. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff working in the counties Kildare and Wicklow mental health team; the per capita spend on mental health in County Kildare in each of the years 2012 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24826/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
205. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the uptake in the HPV vaccine by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24827/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
206. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the uptake in MMR booster vaccines in junior infants by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24828/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
207. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the uptake in four-in-one booster vaccines in junior infants by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24829/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
208. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that estimated cost of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and premature deaths here is in the region of €4 billion annually; if the cost of treatments such as gastric surgery for obese patients with diabetes, approximately €10,000 per patient, are recouped within three years of surgery from a reduction in direct healthcare costs; his plans for the provision of services in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24851/17]
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.
209. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost to the health care system in terms of hospital care and medications of those living with obesity; and if his Department have carried out a cost benefit analysis of the wider implementation of obesity treatment programmes versus current long term spending on obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity-related cancers and heart disease. [24852/17]
View answerThe annual cost of adult obesity has been estimated at €1.13 billion by a safefood study carried out in 2009. A study on childhood obesity costs is underway by Safefood and we await the results of this study.
210. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of non-specialist doctors not on the Medical Council’s specialist register appointed to consultant positions, temporary or otherwise; the duration for which they have been operating in that consultancy position; and the number of times they have been appointed to such a post in tabular form. [24853/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
211. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the person or body that was responsible for the transfer of hospital car parks to private parking management companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24854/17]
View answer212. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the person or body that is responsible for the service level agreements between private parking management companies and public hospitals for the maintenance and upkeep of hospital carparks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24855/17]
View answer213. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will supply a copy of the service level agreements between private parking management companies and public hospitals for the maintenance and upkeep of hospital carparks. [24856/17]
View answer214. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue collected from charging for parking in public hospital carparks; and the amount of that revenue that goes to the hospital, in tabular form. [24857/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 214, inclusive, together.
There is a significant demand for car parking at all hospitals. Consequently, the efficient management of parking spaces and traffic flow on hospital campuses is of crucial importance. This is to ensure on-going availability of parking spaces; free flow of traffic on campus; unobstructed access for emergency vehicles at all times; proper use of spaces designated for drivers with disabled permits; and proper use of spaces designated as drop off points near the hospital entrance.
The HSE (Health Service Executive) has advised that it does not have one single contract to provide parking services at all hospitals. Instead each hospital has a unique arrangement which reflects its specific circumstances.
Arrangements for car parking generally is an operational matter for the HSE. The HSE has advised that it does not provide guidelines on hospital parking and each hospital/hospital group implements their own guidelines.
Hospitals which charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families particularly those with long-term illnesses. Consequently, a maximum daily fixed parking charge has been introduced in some hospitals, thus capping this expense. I understand that some hospitals also provide reduced rate parking rates for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship. The HSE has advised me that it keeps hospital parking charges under review.
In response to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
215. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the HSE in County Kerry plan to recruit additional community nurses in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24858/17]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
216. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the dates of death and ages of all deceased persons in a community hospital (details supplied) for whom the former health board and HSE have purchased graves and arranged burials in a cemetery since it opened. [24861/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review a fair deal scheme application for a person (details supplied). [24866/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
218. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24867/17]
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 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.
219. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of the satellite dialysis unit in County Wexford; and when the unit will be completed and operational. [24868/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the proportion of all medical outpatient activity which related to the care of skin disease (details supplied) in each of the years 2006 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24886/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
221. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant dermatologists per head of population here; the way this figure compares with Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24887/17]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) National Clinical Programme for Dermatology have advised that there are currently 43 WTE Dermatologists.
The Deputy may wish to note that the National Clinical Programme for Dermatology has been established. The aim of the programme is to support high quality, efficient and evidenced based dermatology services delivered in a timely manner and close to, those who need it. The programme is collaborating with the Out-Patient Service Performance Improvement Programme to develop pathways and support sustainable solutions to waiting list for dermatology services. The National Clinical Programme for Dermatology is currently working towards the development of a Model of Care for Dermatology.
222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals and the number of persons referred to a consultant dermatologist in each of the years 2006 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24888/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
