Written Answers Nos. 181-205
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card has been withdrawn in the case of a person (details supplied); if a review will be undertaken with a view to reinstatement as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39004/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy
182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if all allocated home help hours have been put in place for a person (details supplied). [39008/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
183. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a general practitioner out-of-hours service for north County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39016/18]
View answerI am committed to the development of an improved GP out of hours service for North Wicklow which can provide the appropriate level of cover for the population of the area. The development of such a service will allow GPs to participate fully in the provision of an integrated healthcare system providing medical services that are appropriate, timely and effective, easily accessible and responsive to the needs of patients.
This service is intended to cover the night time hours from Monday to Friday and 24 hour cover at weekends and public holidays, providing urgent general practitioner services to patients outside of normal surgery hours. The service will include initial triage and GP consultation at treatment centres or home visits as appropriate, in accordance with HIQA standards for Safer Better Healthcare.
The HSE expects the procurement process to identify a service provider to be finalised shortly and I have asked the Executive to provide the Deputy with an update on the establishment of the service.
184. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of disability network teams in each CHO area. [39029/18]
View answer185. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of disability network teams in each county. [39030/18]
View answer186. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of disability network teams still to be established by CHO area and county. [39031/18]
View answer187. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the establishment of disability network teams in each CHO area and county. [39032/18]
View answer188. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of health professionals in each disability network team; and the specialties of each. [39033/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 188, inclusive, together.
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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
189. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of staff needed to be recruited by CHO area for the establishment of outstanding disability network teams. [39034/18]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
190. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of the revised standard operating procedure for assessment of need. [39035/18]
View answer191. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the status of assessment of need in the allocation of resources for children. [39036/18]
View answer192. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation to make the recommendations of an assessment of need legally binding on the HSE. [39037/18]
View answer194. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of legal challenges going through the court system by parents challenging the HSE on the failure to implement an assessment of need. [39039/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 192, inclusive, and 194 together.
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.
193. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the HSE needs to move from a diagnosis-based service to a needs-based service. [39038/18]
View answerI understand that the Deputies question relates to Children's Disability Services. 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.
195. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the closure of inpatient paediatric services in the National Rehabilitation Hospital due to the lack of specialist staff; the consequences this has for children needing neurology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39047/18]
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.
196. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the way in which his Department is working towards having accessible orphan drugs available to those patients with rare diseases without breaks in their treatment or delay in their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39055/18]
View answerClarification was sought from the Deputy's office in relation to this Parliamentary Question. Once a reply has been received I will arrange for a response to issue to the Deputy.
197. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if assistance can be provided in the re-opening of the expanded access programme to nusinersen in Temple Street Hospital which closed in March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39056/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
198. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a rheumatology appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/18]
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.
199. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1469 of 24 July 2018, the reason the HSE did not respond to this Deputy on foot of the undertaking given by him in relation to the island care review; if he will request the HSE again to issue a reply to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39060/18]
View answerI regret that, following a request made of the Health Service Executive (HSE), an answer to the Parliamentary Question No. 1469 of 24 July 2018 has yet to issue. As this question relates to service matters, I have once again arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE and requested a direct reply be forwarded to the Deputy.
200. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 422 of 12 July 2018, the reason the HSE did not respond to this Deputy on foot of the undertaking given by him in relation to the funding of children's charities; if he will request the HSE again to issue a reply to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39061/18]
View answerMy Department has been in further contact with the HSE in regard to this matter and has asked that a reply issue as a matter of urgency.
201. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he is seeking further funding for the provision of services to those with an intellectual disability for 2019 in view of the large waiting list for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39063/18]
View answerThe level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2019 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
202. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Sláinte cén uair a gheobhaidh mé freagra ó FSS ar an gceist pharlaiminte a chuir mé ar an 26ú Meitheamh 2018, ceist uimhir 296, mar a gealladh dom sa fhreagra; an nglacann sé leis nach bhfuil sé sásúil nach bhfuair mé freagra uathu go fóill; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [39064/18]
View answerÓ tharla gurb é seo an dara ceist a fiafraíodh i dtaca le soláthar seirbhíse do dhuine i gContae na Gaillimhe, tá an cheist curtha faoi bhráid Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte agam arís chun freagra a thabhairt duit go díreach ar na hábhair atá ardaithe agat.
203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason no funding has been made available to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39067/18]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
204. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the commitment made in early 2016 to provide additional personnel for a health facility (details supplied) will be honoured; if recruitment has been undertaken; when these positions will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39068/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
205. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional resources and personnel will be provided for a department in a health facility (details supplied) in view of delays in providing essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39069/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
