Written Answers Nos. 905-924
905. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1811 of 24 July 2018 and in view of the fact that a response has not issued from the HSE, the full-year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €50, €100 and €132, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36622/18]
View answerI have been advised by the HSE that a response to Question No. 1811 of 24 July 2018 was issued to the Deputy on 26 July.
906. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of providing universal general practitioner care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36623/18]
View answerGMS contractors receive a range of capitation rates, fee per service payments and practice supports and it is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of universal GP access given the wide range of payments and variables that have to be accounted for.
Such a calculation would require a complex and detailed modelling exercise to account for a range of demographic changes, future projections of service demands and variation in the number of GPs and the allowances that could be paid.
The Deputy will be aware that the Report of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare was published in May 2017 and recommended the phased introduction of universal GP care over the next five years through increased income thresholds.
The research carried out for that paper estimated the cost of this approach at €91 million per year for five years for a total additional annual cost of €455m. However, these figures have not been verified by my Department and, given the time that has elapsed since the research was conducted and the assumptions upon which it is based, they could underestimate the actual cost of the proposal.
907. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of providing universal primary care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36624/18]
View answerThe Government approved the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy in July 2018, which provides the framework within which a system-wide reform programme will be advanced. It sets out four overarching goals and ten high-level strategic actions which will be the key focus for the first three years of the reform programme.
Key actions in the first three years of reform in primary/community care include the development of a plan for the organisation and operation of community-based services based on population need and size. At this stage, it is not possible to definitively calculate the cost of universal primary care given the wide range of services, including nursing, multiple therapies, homecare packages and many others which are encompassed under primary care services. Such a calculation would require a complex and detailed modelling exercise to account for a range of demographic changes and future projections of service demands.
909. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the treatment abroad scheme will be fully available to all women who have immediate medical issues regarding transvaginal mesh implant devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36626/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
910. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have a consultation to be assessed for a hearing aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36630/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
911. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied). [36639/18]
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, since 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.
912. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be transferred to St. James's Hospital, Dublin, from Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal, for specialist treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36640/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
913. 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. [36643/18]
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, since 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.
914. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of local health organisations that do not provide seven-over-seven mental healthcare for adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36646/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
915. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when home help hours will be provided to a person (details supplied). [36648/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
916. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment for a person (details supplied) for a wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36649/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
917. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason asthma is not included under the long-term illness scheme in view of the fact it is a lifelong illness. [36652/18]
View answerThe LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme.
918. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of the progress on the primary care centre for Thurles, County Tipperary; the chronology by each stage in the process since it started and to date; if there are time penalties; the measures which can be taken by the HSE in the event of the developer not progressing the project in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36660/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
919. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card application by a person (details supplied) was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36663/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
920. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card application by a person (details supplied) was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36664/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
921. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce measures to award a medical card to persons who have had a spinal injury on the basis of need rather than means in view of the effect such an injury has on a person's life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36685/18]
View answerIn accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure and every application must be assessed on that basis. Under the legislation, having a particular illness, in itself, does not establish eligibility for a medical card and therefore, the medical conditions of applicants for this scheme are not monitored on that basis. Where the applicant's income is within the income guidelines, a medical card or GP visit card will be awarded.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. It should be noted that in certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services. The HSE affords applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting information documentation to fully take account of all the relevant circumstances that may benefit them in the assessment, including medical evidence of cost and necessary expenses.
922. 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. [36686/18]
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, since 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.
923. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to address the problems of overcrowding in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick in view of the fact that it consistently tops the list of the hospitals with the most persons awaiting beds in the country; when a decision will be made on the provision and staffing of a 60-bed modular unit to provide extra beds in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36717/18]
View answerIn the light of the Health Service Capacity Review, which recommends that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds which could be frontloaded in 2018 and into 2019 and 2020 to alleviate overcrowding in our hospital Emergency Departments.
My Department has received proposals from the HSE, which identify in the region of 600 additional acute beds and 270 additional residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020. These proposals are being considered by my Department and I can confirm that the proposals include the provision of a 60-bed modular unit in University Hospital Limerick.
924. 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. [36727/18]
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, since 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.
