Peter Burke
Question:444. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if surgery for a person (details supplied) will be expedited based on medical evidence provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49375/18]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (444)
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 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (445)
Darragh O'Brien
Question:445. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of hip replacement surgery for a person (details supplied); if the person will qualify for hip replacement under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49376/18]
View answerWritten 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 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.
Psychological Services
Questions (446)
Eugene Murphy
Question:446. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a child psychology appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49385/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Questions (447)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:447. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint a full-time consultant endocrinologist at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49401/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (448)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:448. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a personal assistant by persons (details supplied); and when they can expect a decision on their case. [49404/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Consultancy Contracts Expenditure
Questions (449)
Timmy Dooley
Question:449. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the fees paid to and services rendered by a person (details supplied) in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49426/18]
View answerWritten answers
One payment was made to the individual in question during the relevant period. The amount of €2,152.50 was paid on 6 March 2013 in respect of the January 2013 Procurement Process Audit.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (450)
Robert Troy
Question:450. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be scheduled without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49457/18]
View answerWritten 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 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.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (451)
Joe Carey
Question:451. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health his plans to deliver mental health services for behavioural therapy and in particular dialectical behaviour therapy in County Clare. [49463/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Questions (452)
Eugene Murphy
Question:452. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of women who are awaiting test results under the national cervical screening programme; the average length of waiting time for test results; the number of women waiting in excess of 12 weeks for results by county in tabular form; the steps being taken to address lengthy waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49466/18]
View answerWritten answers
On 1 May this year, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considers that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. CervicalCheck laboratory activity has since been significantly above normal levels. This is as a result both of these out of cycle smears and increased uptake generally, and has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. This is a priority concern for my Department.
The HSE has advised that, currently, receipt of results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks but that it may take longer in a small number of cases. In order to address the backlog of smear tests, the HSE advises that laboratories have agreed to undertake additional recruitment and are continuing to provide for overtime and manage annual leave. In addition, as part of ongoing negotiations with the laboratories, I am advised that the HSE is trying to source additional screening capacity, which would improve the turnaround time of results. Sourcing capacity and resources is a global challenge as countries start to move to primary HPV screening, which vastly reduces the requirement for cytologists.
This is a priority concern for my Department and the HSE, and every effort is being made to ensure that tests are processed as quickly as possible, having regard to the high standards required for testing.
In regard to the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to him on the specific issues raised.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Questions (453)
Eugene Murphy
Question:453. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive results under the cervical screening programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49467/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters, and accordingly I have asked the HSE to reply directly to him on the specific issues raised.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (454)
Robert Troy
Question:454. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [49470/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am having the issue raised by the Deputy examined and will reply to the Deputy shortly.
HSE Properties
Questions (455)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:455. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will seek and secure from the HSE's corporate estates office or other sources a map or maps of all lands held by the HSE at and surrounding the former St. Davnet's psychiatric hospital in Monaghan town, that is, all lands in the HSE's stewardship in the townland of Rooskey and all adjoining townlands; the acreage involved; and the buildings and structures thereon. [49471/18]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the health care property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Health Services
Questions (456)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:456. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a referral letter for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49481/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. The Department of Health has no role in obtaining consultant referral letters for any purposes, including referrals to the UK for treatment.
Home Care Packages Data
Questions (457)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:457. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages being provided by LHO, local health office, area; the waiting list for home care packages by LHO area by the length of time those waiting have been on the waiting list; the number of home care supports provided per LHO area of between one and seven hours, seven and 14 hours, and 14 hours and more; the number of consumer-directed home support hours being provided by LHO area; the cost associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49482/18]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
HSE Expenditure
Questions (458)
John Brassil
Question:458. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on medicines and its percentage of the total health budget in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49514/18]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (459)
John Brassil
Question:459. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the medicines that have been approved as cost effective by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics but have yet to be reimbursed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49515/18]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Health and Social Care Professionals
Questions (460)
Tom Neville
Question:460. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the qualification required to serve as a forensic psychiatrist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49526/18]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Hospital Charges
Questions (461)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:461. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a hospital bill in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49529/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Act 1970 provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultant services and out-patient public hospital services. Persons can opt to be treated privately on admission to a public hospital, in which case they are liable for the consultants fees and hospital charges arising for that episode of care, whether paid for by the patient or by a health insurer on their behalf. It is important that a person seeking private healthcare is satisfied as to their level of cover and individuals should carefully review their private health insurance requirements when taking out, renewing, or before seeking to make a claim on their medical insurance. This includes which hospitals are covered under which plans. If an insurance provider has not resolved an issue to a person’s satisfaction, they can also refer the matter to the Financial Services Ombudsman. The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is an independent officer who investigates complaints of customers about financial services. Details of how to make a complaint are available at: www.fspo.ie.