Written Answers Nos. 749-768
749. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting lists for occupational therapy appointments for children with autistic spectrum disorder (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36774/17]
View answerThe 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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
750. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will approve an application for the fair deal scheme by a person (details supplied); and if the scheme can increase the percentage that they will pay to the scheme in order to pay the retrospective debts to the nursing home. [36777/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
751. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36779/17]
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.
752. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of short-term respite care available to persons in County Meath; and if there have been recent changes or planned changes to the way in which respite care is delivered in County Meath. [36782/17]
View answerThe 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.
753. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons in County Meath have been instructed to find respite care in surrounding counties such as Cavan and Westmeath in view of the fact that the service has been discontinued in County Meath. [36783/17]
View answerThe 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.
754. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding recruiting mental health nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36796/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
755. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/17]
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.
756. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of revised HIQA mental health regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36798/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
757. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to clear the home care waiting lists; the amount of extra funding provided; the likely timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36799/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
758. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if a person who travels to Northern Ireland and becomes ill and undergoes surgery in hospital in Northern Ireland is entitled to have all costs covered by the European health card E111; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36800/17]
View answerUnder EU Regulations, all persons ordinarily resident in the EU are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC certifies that the holder has the right to receive emergency healthcare during a temporary stay in any EEA country as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. This right is guaranteed to all persons who are covered by the public healthcare system of these countries. The European Health Insurance Card holder has the right to receive necessary treatment in the host Member State's public healthcare system on the same terms and at the same cost as nationals of the State concerned.
As the administration of the European Health Insurance Card comes under the remit of the HSE, my Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
759. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish children's mental health beds in the mid-west region; when they are likely to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36802/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
760. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the decision not to reimburse a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36805/17]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
761. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding sleeves for a prosthetic leg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36807/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
762. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will review the need for a full-time general practitioner service for Monasterevin, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
763. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing free contraception, in view of the Citizens' Assembly recommendations in relation to the provision of contraception through the public health service and the upcoming discussion of this at the Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution; his views regarding the policy on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36834/17]
View answerThe HSE has advised my Department that in the absence of the collation of information required to make an estimate along the lines requested by the Deputy, an estimate of such cost is not possible.
I have great regard for the important body of work with which the Special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution has been charged - namely to consider the report of the Citizens’ Assembly and to recommend to the Oireachtas the policy direction it should consider on the issue of the Eighth Amendment.
I will not be pre-empting the deliberations of the Committee, but look forward to its report in due course.
764. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the reasons for the reported dramatic increase in the rate of caesarean sections (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36835/17]
View answerIn relation to this particular query, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
765. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the reason for the reported withdrawal of funding for breastfeeding support (details supplied) by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36836/17]
View answerThe Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are totally committed to increasing breast feeding rates in Ireland.
National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026, the National Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 and the recently published National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 all emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The recent National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 re-affirmed the commitment to advance public support of breastfeeding, and includes an action to extend provision for breastfeeding breaks under employment legislation (currently available to mothers of children under 6 months).
Regarding the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) issue, in 2016 the HSE commissioned a research team at TCD to undertake a review of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. One of the key findings of the Review was that there was no difference in breastfeeding rates in hospitals that had achieved the Baby Friendly designation, and those that hadn’t achieved designation. In fact, while the Initiative has been in place for 20 years, only 9 of the 19 maternity hospitals have achieved the Baby Friendly designation. This Review highlighted the need for a revised model of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
Following completion of the Review, the HSE initiated engagement with The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and other stakeholders on developing a revised model. While the HSE has made the decision to pause the existing initiative and it is not being funded for 2017.
The HSE are currently progressing the development of a revised model, working with the National Women and Infants Programme, the HSE Health and Wellbeing Division, the HSE Lead Midwife and other key stakeholders. The revised model will continue to support the implementation of the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which is the basis of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. The revised model is expected by the end of the year and will be rolled out in 2018.
A wide range of other actions are underway in implementing the HSE National Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2020. These include:
- Improved Governance and health service structures;
- Breastfeeding training and skills development;
- Health service policies and practices;
- Support at all stages of the breastfeeding continuum; and
- Research, monitoring and evaluation.
Details of specific actions can be seen in the HSE National Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2020 on the HSE website breastfeeding.ie and here is the link https://www.breastfeeding.ie/Uploads/breastfeeding-in-a-healthy-ireland.pdf.
766. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint the full complement of clinical child psychologists in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36840/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
767. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide drop-in psychology services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36841/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
768. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason paramedics are not subject to emergency arrangements similar to their colleagues in An Garda Síochána and the fire brigade. [36860/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
