Monday, 11 Sep 2017

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (928)

James Lawless

Question:

928. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied). [37310/17]

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Written answers

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (929)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

929. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37311/17]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (930)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

930. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the appropriate corrective surgery can be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37312/17]

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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.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Questions (931)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

931. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to make a medical device (details supplied) available under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37313/17]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (932)

John Brassil

Question:

932. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37314/17]

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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.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (933)

Michael McGrath

Question:

933. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress made in securing a residential placement for a person in (details supplied) in County Cork that is profoundly disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37315/17]

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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.

Medicinal Products Data

Questions (934)

John McGuinness

Question:

934. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the costs of the top ten drugs used by the psychiatric services operated by the HSE, the name of the drugs, the cost, the numbers dispensed in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37318/17]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (935)

John McGuinness

Question:

935. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he has carried out an assessment of the number of special needs persons who will require supports from 18 to 25 years of age in County Meath in the context of their full-time care, respite, group education, independent living accommodation services and so on; his plans to provide funding in this area for the future; the services available now; his plans to support and develop the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37331/17]

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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 question relating to group education is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.

However, 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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (936)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

936. 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. [37338/17]

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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.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (937)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

937. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will re-engage with a person (details supplied) regarding the sale of the family home. [37346/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Questions (938, 939)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

938. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have accessed care services in other jurisdictions and numbers availing of treatment under the cross-Border health care directive scheme since its inception, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37360/17]

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Eugene Murphy

Question:

939. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been reimbursed to patients through the cross-Border health care directive to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37361/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 939 together.

The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement of patients' of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) 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 Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross- border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country. S.I. 203 of 2014 provides the legal basis for the Health Service Executive to operate the EU Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland, including the reimbursement of the cost of treatment..

As the HSE has responsibility for the administration of the Cross Border Directive, I have asked the HSE to examine the issues raised and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (940)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

940. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a review can take place as to whether financial assistance can be provided towards the cost of a wheelchair in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37362/17]

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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 Administration

Questions (941, 942)

Clare Daly

Question:

941. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 417 of 27 June 2017, if the information requested in the question can be obtained from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; if he will confirm that his Department has no involvement in monitoring the deaths of medical card holders against the names on general practitioner lists and is not responsible for auditing this situation. [37380/17]

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Clare Daly

Question:

942. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 27 June 2017, if he will introduce a sanctions system in circumstances in which it is clear that the overpayments are not due to a normal time lag between date of death and cessation of fees. [37382/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 941 and 942 together.

I understand that my colleague Regina Doherty T.D., the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, will address the matter you raised concerning the role of community welfare officers.

The HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) is responsible for providing reimbursement services to primary care contractors for the provision of health services to members of the public in their own community, including GPs contracted to provide services to eligible persons under the General Medical Services Scheme. As previously outlined to the Deputy, a number of channels exist through which the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) receives notice of the death of a medical card or GP visit card holder. These include:

- Notification through the Death Event Publication Service (DEPS) via a monthly file;

- Notification through the local Community Health Offices;

- Notification through the National Medical Card Unit contact centre, where clients’ families provide information;

- Notification via letters/returned cards from clients' families;

- Notification from Nursing Homes;

- Notification from GPs.

Payments to GPs in respect of services provided to persons under the GMS scheme are terminated once the notification of a person’s death is recorded. In circumstances where amounts have been paid to GPs for periods after the last day of the month in which a person has died, the PCRS makes appropriate adjustments to the monthly capitation payment made to GPs to balance any such overpayments.

There are no plans to introduce a sanctions system for GPs in relation to overpayments related to deceased eligible patients. It is important to stress that any such overpayment made to a GP in relation to a deceased medical card holder or GP visit card holder is recouped when the death of the eligible person is recorded by PCRS via the aforementioned process.

Should the Deputy be aware of a specific instance where an overpayment has occurred in relation to a deceased patient which she believes should be investigated, she would be welcome to submit such information to my Department or directly to the PCRS.

Respite Care Services Provision

Questions (943)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

943. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a proposal or seek available respite services for persons from County Louth in a service (details supplied) until such time that respite services are adequate in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37383/17]

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

HSE Properties

Questions (944)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

944. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health about the progression of refurbishment of the HSE property on Drogheda Street, Monasterevin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37387/17]

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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.

Drug Treatment Programmes

Questions (945)

Seán Crowe

Question:

945. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the Health Service Executive has plans to establish a drug addiction clinic and treatment centre on a site (details supplied). [37389/17]

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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 attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Organ Donation

Questions (946, 1056, 1087, 1177)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

946. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the proposals in place to introduce an opt-out model of organ donation scheme here similar to the schemes in many European countries. [37390/17]

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Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

1056. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on the proposal to introduce a soft opt-out model of organ donation here; if not, the timeframe for a decision regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37701/17]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

1087. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to renewed calls for a soft opt-out system of organ donation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37824/17]

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John Curran

Question:

1177. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making regarding the introduction of a soft opt-out organ donation system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38187/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 946, 1056, 1087 and 1177 together.

In July 2017 the Government approved the preparation of a General Scheme and Heads of a Human Tissue Bill. The General Scheme will include provisions for an opt-out system of consent for organ donation. Under this system, consent will be deemed unless the person has, while alive, registered his/her wish not to become an organ donor after death. However, the next-of-kin will always be consulted prior to removing any organ.

One of the aims of the legislation is to make organ donation the norm in Ireland when people pass away in circumstances in which donation is a possibility. The introduction of an opt-out system of consent for organ donation will be accompanied by a publicity campaign aimed at raising awareness of organ donation and encouraging discussion among families of the intentions of family members in relation to organ donation.

A public consultation on the proposed Human Tissue Bill commenced on 28 August. The consultation questionnaire is available online at http://health.gov.ie/consultations and the closing date for submissions is 9 October 2017.

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Questions (947)

Lisa Chambers

Question:

947. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing positions in the Saolta group that will be offered to upcoming graduates of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37391/17]

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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.