Thursday, 6 Jul 2017

Written Answers Nos. 182-201

Ambulance Service

Questions (182)

Gerry Adams

Question:

182. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the age profile of each ambulance covering Louth County Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and the wider County Louth region. [31909/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Ambulance Service Data

Questions (183)

Gerry Adams

Question:

183. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the mileage on each ambulance that services County Louth; and the date on which each of these ambulances last underwent a full service. [31915/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Ambulance Service Data

Questions (184)

Gerry Adams

Question:

184. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of private ambulances used by Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda annually; and the cost associated with same. [31916/17]

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.

Ambulance Service Data

Questions (185)

Gerry Adams

Question:

185. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of private ambulances used by Louth County Hospital annually; and the cost associated with same. [31917/17]

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.

Medical Card Applications Data

Questions (186)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

186. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the processing times for medical card applications; his plans to allocate additional resources to the section in order to address the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31929/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Medical cards and GP visit cards are processed by the National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) in the HSE. I am aware that the processing times for medical cards increased in recent months. The HSE has informed my Department that this is primarily due to a reduction in the number of processing staff within the NMCU at present.

Processing times for applications/reviews can also be affected where supporting documentation required is not supplied or is incomplete. In such circumstances the HSE will correspond with applicants specifying the additional information required to progress the assessment of their application.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly on the measures being taken to address the current processing times.

The HSE provides weekly statistics on turnaround times on its website: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/schemes/mc.

Emergency Departments

Questions (187)

Seán Fleming

Question:

187. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on the report on the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise accident and emergency department; the timeframe for his response to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31931/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department and the HSE are committed to securing and developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Reports on Portlaoise Hospital in recent years point to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting by specialist staff that can safely meet their needs. The HSE has submitted a draft Action Plan to my Department and it is currently being reviewed in detail.

The most important issue in relation to any changes at Portlaoise Hospital is that patient safety and good quality outcomes must come first. Any changes to services at Portlaoise, once approved, will be undertaken in a planned and orderly manner to further improve services for patients at the hospital and will take account of existing patient flows and demands in other hospitals, as well as the need to develop particular services at Portlaoise in the context of the overall service configuration in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (188)

David Cullinane

Question:

188. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if progress has been made on recruiting staff at Dungarvan Community Hospital; and when beds that were recently closed due to staff shortages will be reopened. [31949/17]

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.

General Practitioner Contracts

Questions (189, 190)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in progressing negotiations on a new general practitioners contract; and if he will undertake to expedite these. [31951/17]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the manner and timeframe for giving effect to the programme for Government commitment to provide for salaried general practitioners; and if he will expedite this matter in view of the shortage of general practitioners. [31952/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.

The aim is to develop a contract which has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion and disease prevention and for the structured ongoing care of chronic conditions. A new contract should be flexible and be able to respond to the changing nature of the GP workforce. It should also include provisions in relation to service quality and standards, performance, accountability and transparency. I think this will be key in making general practice a more attractive career.

Since 2015, negotiations have resulted in a number of service developments including the provision of free GP care to under 6's and over 70's, the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult GMS patients with Type 2 Diabetes and enhanced supports for rural GPs. The next phase of discussions on a new GP contract commenced in January of this year. Officials from my Department and the HSE meet with GP representatives on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues. The option of salaried GPs for areas where it has proven difficult to attract and retain GP services is one of the issues I expect will be considered in this context.

I understand that the discussions taking place are wide ranging and definitely ambitious in their scope. I think it’s important to acknowledge that this will not be a straightforward process. There will no doubt be challenges ahead for all parties involved. I would hope that everyone will remain focused on our common goal of putting suitable new arrangements in place that will work for patients, GPs, and other health care providers in primary care. As with any negotiation-type process, and given the range and complexity of the issues to be discussed, the engagement may take some time. While I am of course anxious to see good progress made, it is not my intention to set a deadline for completion of discussions. I look forward to significant progress being made in the months ahead.

Question No. 191 answered with Question No. 158.

Prescriptions Charges

Questions (192)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

192. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount collected in prescription charges for medical card prescriptions in each of the years 2011 to 2016; and the projected amount to be collected in 2017. [31985/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Questions (193)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

193. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of employees across the health sector earning €100,000 or more, €125,000 or more, €150,000 or more and €200,000 or more, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31986/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (194)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

194. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours funded in each of the years 2010 to 2016, and to date in 2017; the locations in which they were funded; the average number of hours provided by location; his plans to increase funding for additional hours; the reason there is no nationwide structure and no standard approach to allocating hours; the reason the number of hours varies from location to location; if this is being reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31987/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports to people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. The commitment is outlined in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant services available to people with disabilities. In their National Service Plan for 2017, the HSE expects to deliver 1.4 million Personal Assistance hours to 2,357 adults with a physical and/or sensory disability.

As the Deputy's query relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed direct reply to the Deputy.

Drug Treatment Programmes

Questions (195, 196, 197)

Jack Chambers

Question:

195. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that sought drug treatment and rehabilitation services by county or local health area in each of the past five years and to date in 2017 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31990/17]

Jack Chambers

Question:

196. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that accessed drug treatment and rehabilitation services by county or local health area in each of the past five years and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31991/17]

Jack Chambers

Question:

197. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the budget for drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation projects in each of the past five years; the projected budget for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31992/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.

As these are a service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Occupational Therapy

Questions (198)

Seán Crowe

Question:

198. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by parents and children accessing services at a location (details supplied), in particular, accessing an occupational therapist or a speech therapist; the number of persons awaiting these services; the time they are waiting to access these services; and his plans to reduce and address this backlog that is impacting children and their families. [32019/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (199)

Seán Crowe

Question:

199. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing difficulties being experienced by the family of a person (details supplied) that is attending a preschool; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the family have now been told that their home tuition grant will not be sanctioned due to the fact the person is turning six years of age and does not have a cognitive assessment report; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the same person is two and a half years awaiting this assessment and three and a half years awaiting speech therapy service; his plans to address this delay that is impacting on this person who has autism and sensory process disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32021/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the HSE. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Mobility Allowance Review

Questions (200)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

200. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the review into the system of motorised grants is complete; the outcomes of the review; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that users are struggling to replace vehicles; the timeframe for likely changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32023/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013.

The Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and independence. In this regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.

The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health and the Programme for a Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals for the new Scheme is at an advanced stage. The proposals seek to ensure that:

- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;

- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;

- Resources are targeted at those with greatest needs; and

- The Scheme is capable of being costed and is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.

The next step is to seek Government approval to the drafting of a Bill for the new Scheme.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (201)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

201. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue and the timeframe for same in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32042/17]

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.