Michael Healy-Rae
Question:159. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18083/19]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (159)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (160)
Pat Casey
Question:160. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Health the status of ongoing actions regarding a service (details supplied) in Bray and Wicklow in view of the published failings in several HSE reports and inquiries; the way in which complaints by service users and their families have been dealt with; the nature and detail of consultation with the families of service users; the status of governance issues with the service and staffing levels; the timeline for all issues to be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18097/19]
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.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (161)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:161. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the HSE acted unlawfully in extending a contract (details supplied) by invoking Article 72(1)(c) of Directive 2014/EU/24; the action he will take if the HSE acted unlawfully; if the HSE acted unlawfully, if the person responsible will be held accountable; the person or body responsible for independently monitoring the HSE in respect of these types of breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18101/19]
View answerWritten answers
Specific procurement queries raised on contracts awarded by the HSE is an operational matter for the HSE. In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, I have forwarded the details to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Accommodation Provision
Questions (162)
Alan Kelly
Question:162. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if there are risks in Beaumont Hospital with regard to patients being accommodated in non-clinical areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18108/19]
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.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (163)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:163. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) in respect of a declined appeal decision from November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18110/19]
View answerWritten answers
As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (164)
Jackie Cahill
Question:164. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18126/19]
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.
Health Services Provision
Questions (165)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:165. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of specialist nurse practitioners dedicated to supporting persons with Parkinson's disease is low; his plans to increase the number of specialist nurses for Parkinson's disease; if so, when they will be hired; the locations to which they will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18127/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Questions (166)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:166. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will address the discrepancy between patients who have long-term illness support as opposed to those who have a medical card with regard to payment for medication for those who have Parkinson's disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18128/19]
View answerWritten answers
The General Medical Services Scheme entitles medical card holders to free primary and secondary care. This entitlement includes free approved medicines and medical appliances, subject to a prescription charge per item, which is currently €2.00 with a monthly cap of €20 and, for medical card holders aged over 70, €1.50 per item with a cap of €15 a month.
The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). As parkinsonism is one of the conditions covered by the scheme, patients with parkinsonism receive approved drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of this condition free of charge.
Patients with parkinsonism may also be entitled to a medical card. In assessing applications for medical cards, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
There are no plans to change the current position. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that a review of the eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, is to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
Health Services Funding
Questions (167)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:167. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase core funding for an organisation (details supplied); if so, the amount by which and when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18129/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (168)
Martin Heydon
Question:168. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a review of medical card income limits to take account of recent annual increases in pensions which may in some cases bring pensioners over the income limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18133/19]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple. Any revision of these medical card income thresholds requires primary legislation.
Persons aged 70 or older, who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds, may also have their eligibility assessed under the means-tested medical card scheme if they so wish, for example in the event that they face particularly high expenses, e.g. nursing home or medication costs. This scheme is open to all persons, irrespective of their age and assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. The general scheme, although having lower income thresholds, provides for income disregards and relevant outgoings to be taken into account in the assessment process.
Furthermore, persons, including those aged over 70 years, may be deemed eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis, if they are judged to face undue hardship in arranging GP services as a result of medical or social circumstances. In addition, from August 2015, all persons aged 70 or older qualify for a GP Visit Card, regardless of income.
Budget 2019 provided for increases in a number of social welfare payments which came into effect in March 2019. It would be the Government's intention that people's ability to qualify for a medical card would not be adversely affected by this increase. I have asked the HSE to monitor the situation and to advise me if it considers that changes in the rates of social welfare payments may affect people's ability to qualify for a medical card.
There are no proposals at present to amend the current income limits for the granting of eligibility for medical cards for persons aged 70 and over. However, it should be noted that the gross income limits are reviewed annually and considered in the context of the budget.
Patient Transport Provision
Questions (169)
Robert Troy
Question:169. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the supports available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18137/19]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Questions (170)
John Brassil
Question:170. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a foot brace will be allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18145/19]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Emergency Departments
Questions (171)
Jan O'Sullivan
Question:171. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a crisis response to the overcrowding in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick including the reopening of all closed beds in the region will be sanctioned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.
Limerick was identified as one of the 9 sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full system, patient focused response. Recognising this, in the Winter Plan, the HSE sought to maximise the use of existing resources across hospital groups and CHOs and to target additional investment at both hospital and community services and supports.
The range and prioritisation of measures was a matter for UHL and CHO Mid-West. Key measures included:
- additional home support packages and transitional care beds to support people to leave the hospital and return home
- extended opening hours in the AMAU;
- opening of a surgical short stay unit;
- additional access to diagnostics.
The NTPF has established a fund of €1m that will support the HSE Winter plans with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. 6,050 vouchers had been issued to Emergency Departments for diagnostics as of 31 March 2019, including 1,050 vouchers issued to UHL.
It is widely agreed that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Over the past 18 months, an additional 25 beds have opened in Limerick, including 8 as part of this year's Winter Plan.
A capital allocation of €2 million has been granted in recent weeks and the HSE advises that this will facilitate the completion of enabling works for the 60-bed modular ward in 2019.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a 96-bed replacement ward block in Limerick and capital funding was provided in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project.
The performance and governance of services in UHL and in the region is a matter for the Hospital Group, CHO Midwest and the HSE. The performance of Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisation is considered by the HSE in line with the Performance and Accountability Framework, which provides for escalation and a range of actions.
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to closed beds in the region and on the actions that are being taken to maximise the use of existing resources in UL Hospital Group and CHO 3 to reduce overcrowding.