Thursday, 29 Jun 2017

Written Answers Nos. 194-213

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (194)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

194. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time podiatrists in each county; the number of vacancies in each such area; the number of such persons on leave; the cost of replacing such persons on a temporary basis, by county; if no such arrangement has been made, the reason therefor; the waiting list in each county by period (details supplied); the waiting list for podiatry therapy services for each area in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30609/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Questions (195)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

195. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time speech and language therapists in each county; the number of vacancies in each such area; the number of such persons on leave; the cost of replacing such persons on a temporary basis, by county; if no such arrangement has been made, the reason therefor; the waiting list in each county by period (details supplied); the waiting list for speech and language therapy services for each area in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (196)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

196. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time social care workers in each county; the number of vacancies in each such area; the number of such persons on leave; the cost of replacing such persons on a temporary basis, by county; if no such arrangement has been made, the reason therefor; the waiting list in each county by period (details supplied); the waiting list for social care services for each area in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30611/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Health Services Staff Data

Questions (197)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

197. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time physiotherapists in each county; the number of vacancies in each such area; the number of such persons on leave; the cost of replacing such persons on a temporary basis, by county; if no such arrangement has been made, the reason therefor; the waiting list in each county by period (details supplied); the waiting list for physiotherapy services for each area in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30612/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

HSE Correspondence

Questions (198)

Jack Chambers

Question:

198. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure a number of overdue representations (details supplied) submitted to the HSE are answered without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30614/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive takes its responsibilities to the democratic process and to the timely provision of information to members of the Oireachtas very seriously. To ensure members of the Oireachtas receive as effective a service as possible the HSE has a dedicated Parliamentary Affairs Division (PAD). This is a National Office and is responsible for all communication between the Houses of the Oireachtas, Department of Health and the HSE. The Head of PAD reports directly to the Director General.

The PAD processes a very significant volume of PQs representations and other queries from members of the Oireachtas. In 2017 alone it has received close to 2,000 representations. Every effort is made to have representations answered within 15 working days.

With regard to the specific representations mentioned by the Deputy I understand a reply has issued in respect of one and reminders in respect of the other three.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (199)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a multi functional chair by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30618/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (200)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

200. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a prosthetic leg for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30621/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (201)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30630/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (202)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

202. 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. [30634/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (203)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30636/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Medical Card Administration

Questions (204)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the work of the clinical advisory group on medical card eligibility; his plans to publish the interim reports of the group; the date on which the final report of the group will be submitted to him; the timeframe for the publication of same; the status of the commitment in the programme for Government that the group examine guidelines for the awarding of discretionary medical cards for persons undergoing treatment for cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30641/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) was established by the Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in January 2015 to provide clinical oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. Its establishment followed the completion of the work of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility.

The Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility found that it is not feasible, desirable, or ethically justifiable to list medical conditions for medical card eligibility. However, in an interim report to the HSE in 2015, the CAG recommended that all children under the age of 18 years with a diagnosis of cancer should be awarded a medical card for a period of five years. The HSE gave effect to this recommendation on 1 July 2015.

The CAG is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. As the Group was established by and reports to the HSE, it is a matter for the HSE to consider the publication of its conclusions when the CAG has completed its work.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (205)

John Brassil

Question:

205. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a cataract operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry at South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Ambulance Service Data

Questions (206)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

206. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationwide in April 2017, in tabular form; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than 20 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; and the number that waited longer than 40, 60, 90, 120, 180 and more than 180 minutes for same. [30685/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Beds Data

Questions (207)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

207. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in all public and voluntary acute hospitals that were closed on 23 June 2017, in tabular form. [30686/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Questions (208)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

208. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme; the average waiting time; the number of persons currently awaiting placement under the scheme for each local health area, in tabular form; and the length of time waiting [30687/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (209)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30707/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

HSE Reports

Questions (210)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

210. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to release a report on a person (details supplied). [30719/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (211)

John McGuinness

Question:

211. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is a patient in the orthopaedic trauma unit of Tullamore hospital will be admitted to the Mater hospital spine and back injury unit in view of the fact that their case is urgent; if he will expedite the matter [30721/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

EU Directives

Questions (212)

John McGuinness

Question:

212. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the EU cross border directive relative to health care covers the cost of tests to determine if a person has Lyme disease; if this directive covers treatment for Lyme disease in another EU state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30723/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (Regulation 883/04).

The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. In line with practice in other EU Member States, the HSE, through the National Contact Point (NCP) office, provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/ - and also by phone. The principal function of the NCP is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost and the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements.

The HSE have confirmed that a person may avail of treatment for Lymes disease under the Cross Border Directive. In relation to the issue of the cost of diagnosis I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (213)

John McGuinness

Question:

213. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30724/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.