Tuesday, 11 Jul 2017

Written Answers Nos. 476-490

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Questions (476)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

476. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be given a bed in a nursing home which would allow them to be discharged from St. James's Hospital. [32729/17]

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.

Health Services Provision

Questions (477)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

477. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive occupational therapy and physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/17]

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.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (478)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

478. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting for an assessment of needs for such a long period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32731/17]

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.

As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Staff

Questions (479)

Dara Calleary

Question:

479. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if a person admitted to the part of the role for general nurse maintained by the General Nursing Council for England and Wales is eligible to work as a nursing assistant in hospitals here; if he will request the HSE to outline the Irish equivalent qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32734/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

HSE Properties

Questions (480)

Catherine Martin

Question:

480. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason a site (details supplied) owned by the HSE is on the Dublin City Council register of vacant sites during a housing crisis; his plans for the site; and when it will be put back into use. [32742/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (481)

Pat Deering

Question:

481. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will address issues regarding a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32748/17]

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.

Medical Card Administration

Questions (482)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

482. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with medical cards that have received refunds after originally being wrongly charged for blood tests by their general practitioners in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32755/17]

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 for direct reply.

Health Strategies

Questions (483, 484)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1492 of 20 June 2017, the status of the performance of the national clinical programme for acute coronary syndrome in respect of standardising heart attack care; the way in which it is monitored; the details of increased or decreased performance in relevant areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32756/17]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

484. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1492 of 20 June 2017, if he will report on the review being conducted by the acute coronary syndrome programme working group of all interventional cardiology activity; the timeframe for this review to be completed and published; the implementation or action plan that will be undertaken following the completion of the review and its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32757/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together.

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

Health Strategies

Questions (485, 486)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

485. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1501 of 20 June 2017, when the protocol for persons with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32758/17]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

486. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1501 of 20 June 2017, if he will report on discussions taking place between the HSE and the RCPI on cardiology service development; if a report or outcome is expected on this; if so, the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32759/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.

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

Health Strategies

Questions (487, 488)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

487. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1514 of 20 June 2017, the reason no register of sudden cardiac deaths has been developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32760/17]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

488. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1514 of 20 June 2017, if he will report on the work of the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest strategy steering group; the timeframe for this group to report on or make recommendations on improvements in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest response and outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32761/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.

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

Health Strategies

Questions (489)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

489. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 190 of 21 June 2017 and 1500 of 20 June 2017, when the national clinical programme for heart failure, NCP HF, plans to review the model of care and develop an adapted version of the NCP HF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32762/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Stroke Care

Questions (490)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

490. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1512 and 1531 of 20 June 2017, his plans for the provision for data analysis or data quality control which may impact on future audit of stroke services; the way in which the national stroke programme is working with the acute hospital division to implement an annual national stroke audit; the problems that exist with developing this comprehensive audit; the measures required to overcome this; the improvement strategies being pursued to ensure all hospitals are entering data on all acute stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32763/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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