Written Answers Nos. 1028-1047
1028. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the details of the remit of intermediate care vehicles, ICV, when first deployed to provide transport services at Letterkenny University Hospital in 2012; if there has been changes or a reduction in the number and or nature of services for which the aforementioned ICV ambulances are responsible in the years since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37622/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1029. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason intermediate care vehicles in County Donegal are not equipped with on-board monitoring devices for the purpose of cardiac transfers in view of the fact crews are trained in their usage; his plans to fit intermediate care ambulances with monitoring equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37623/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1030. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the criteria used for deciding which health insurance policies are recognised for the purpose of gaining an exemption from premium loading under the lifetime community rating system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37625/17]
View answerThere are no criteria for deciding between health insurance policies for the purpose of gaining an exemption from premium loadings - the application of loadings is mandatory and applies to the premium of anyone aged 35 and over taking out health insurance for the first time.
Our health insurance system is voluntary and community-rated, which means that people who are old or sick do not have to pay more for health insurance than the young and healthy. The introduction of Lifetime Community Rating in May 2015 has successfully encouraged young people to join the private health insurance market at an earlier age, and thus avoid late entry loadings of 2% per annum which may apply at age 35 onwards.
Further detailed information on the operation of Lifetime Community Rating is available on the website of the Health Insurance Authority, the independent regulator of the health insurance market, at www.hia.ie/consumer-information/lifetime-community-rating-explained.
1031. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if the proposed paediatric endocrinologist for University Hospital Waterford has been appointed; if a contract has been offered to a person; if so, when will the consultant be appointed; the start date for the consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37630/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1032. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if a paediatric diabetes dietician is employed at University Hospital Waterford; if not, the timeframe for a dietician to be appointed to the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37631/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1033. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health further to the appointment of a second temporary consultant endocrinologist in April 2016 at University Hospital Waterford, the net effect on reducing waiting times for diabetic persons at the outpatient department at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/17]
View answer1034. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health further to the appointment of a second temporary consultant endocrinologist in April 2016 at University Hospital Waterford, the impact this has had on persons who have been waiting more than two years for an appointment; the likelihood that all persons will be seen on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37633/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1033 and 1034 together.
In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Question No. 1035 withdrawn.
1036. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the deficiencies in existing cardiac infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37635/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1037. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners have access to cardiac laboratory diagnostic testing; the type of cardiac laboratory testing available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37636/17]
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.
1038. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the diagnostic testing that is available within cardiac infrastructure in terms of the location it is carried out; the type of cardiac testing that is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37637/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1039. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the access to coronary computed tomography angiography and cardiac MRI in hospitals; the locations in which these are carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37638/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
1040. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the access to electrophysiology, EP, services for treatment of arrhythmias in hospitals; the locations in which these are carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37639/17]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1041. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade infrastructure for cardiac catheterisation laboratories; the staffing shortages in each cardiac catheterisation laboratory currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37640/17]
View answerIn relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1042. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of cardiothoracic surgeries on the elective waiting lists that have been cancelled in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of these surgeries that have been cancelled as a result of the lack of intensive care or ward beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37641/17]
View answerCancellation of elective procedures can occur for a variety of exceptional reasons including cancellations because a bed or the clinical team are not available, cancellations by the patient or because the patient may not be fit for surgery at the time.
Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients and managing emergency demand at times is challenging, however all efforts are made to limit cancellations particularly for clinically urgent procedures.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1043. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [37642/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1044. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE dentists practising in Castlepollard and Delvin, County Westmeath; the number of dental surgery staff operating in Castlepollard, Delvin and Mullingar; and the number of children who have received dental treatment in each area annually in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [37643/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1045. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a surgical appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37644/17]
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 the Deputy directly.
1046. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (detail supplied) can expect an appointment at St. James's Hospital, Dublin, for coronary bypass surgery. [37651/17]
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 the Deputy directly.
1047. 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. [37686/17]
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 the Deputy directly.
