Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:836. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an emergency appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51012/21]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (836)
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Questions (837)
Duncan Smith
Question:837. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of an assessment of need for a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51017/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (838)
Willie O'Dea
Question:838. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of those that are over 70 years of age have to pay €50 or more in general practitioner fees for a medical examination in order to renew their driver licence even though they have become eligible for a free licence; if he will consider allowing the medical examination required for a driver licence to be included for free with the general practitioner visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51020/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess.". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees for medical and GP visit card holders are not paid under the contract to GPs in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences". Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients.
There are no plans at present to include the completion of medical reports required for driving licence applications as a service to be provided to GMS patients under the GMS or GP Visit Card scheme.
The requirements for the submission of a medical report from a registered medical practitioner with driving licence applications for certain categories of persons, including those aged 70 and over, is governed by the National Driver Licence Service and the Department of Transport.
Medicinal Products
Questions (839)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:839. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will review the cost of zostavax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51021/21]
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.
Question No. 840 answered with Question No. 712.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (841)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:841. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of equipment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51028/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 842 answered with Question No. 712.
Nursing Homes
Questions (843)
Claire Kerrane
Question:843. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 23 September 2021, the number of nursing homes and the number of residents by county to correspond with the average monthly payment made to private nursing homes under the National Treatment Purchase Fund which has been provided in tabular form. [51044/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (844)
Brian Stanley
Question:844. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the go ahead for voluntary groups such as first aid responders to get back up and running will be given as soon as possible following the pandemic. [51050/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 845 answered with Question No. 725.
Health Services
Questions (846)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:846. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the plans that have been made to screen the women who otherwise missed a BreastCheck screening over the course of the past 19 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51076/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (847)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:847. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the announced expansion of the medical assessment unit in Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51077/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Offices
Questions (848)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:848. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount spent by his Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51106/21]
View answerWritten answers
The OPW are responsible for the procurement of office space on behalf of the Department, however, my Department did enter into a lease with the Health Research Board (HRB) for additional accommodation at Grattan House, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. The lease was signed on the 2nd March 2020 for a period of 3 years and cost €211,000 in 2020.
In addition, my Department signed a 25 year lease with Irish Estates in 1998 for premises at the Irish Life building to house the Women’s Health Council. This was subsequently used to house the Disability Appeals Office. An POST National Lottery currently sublet the premises from my Department on an annual basis. The lease cost to my Department is on a net neutral basis as all costs are paid by the National Lottery. The lease expires in 2023 and has an annual value of €98,500.
The amount spent by my Department on office equipment and rent over the past 10 years is given in the table below;
|
- |
Office Equipment (€,000) |
Rent (€,000) |
|
2011 |
19 |
97 |
|
2012 |
12 |
97 |
|
2013 |
4 |
122 |
|
2014 |
12 |
74 |
|
2015 |
36 |
98 |
|
2016 |
23 |
99 |
|
2017 |
19 |
99 |
|
2018 |
488 |
98 |
|
2019 |
2 |
99 |
|
2020 |
75 |
316 |
|
2021 |
22 |
74 |
Departmental Offices
Questions (849)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:849. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of his Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51123/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no offices rented or in ownership which are currently not in use.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (850)
Joe O'Brien
Question:850. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the removal of all restrictions for partners attending appointments with patients in maternity units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51132/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 851 answered with Question No. 712.
Hospital Services
Questions (852)
Mark Ward
Question:852. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the reason Keltoi Rehabilitation Centre in St Marys Hospital, Phoenix Park was closed and remains closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51137/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Keltoi facility was identified for use as an isolation facility for marginalised and vulnerable people during COVID-19 in Community Health Organisation 9.
There is are significant numbers of homeless and addiction service users in this area, particularly in Dublin North City and County. The area also has a high migrant health population living in overcrowded accommodation and quarantine accommodation.
It is important to state that all these cohorts have specific challenges and that they need individualised supports to be put in place if they are Covid positive, as they cannot isolate in their existing accommodation on public health grounds.
The HSE has advised that there is still a very significant ongoing demand for isolation in this facility and that it will be maintained as a Covid Isolation Facility for the coming winter period.
The HSE has assured me that the use of this facility as a Covid-19 response is being reviewed on an ongoing basis in line with national guidance.
I am happy to confirm that the HSE remain committed to enhancing the residential addiction services in CHO 9, including the reopening of the Keltoi facility once it is no longer required as part of the Covid-19 response. In the meantime, Keltoi counselling staff based in the HSE Stanhope Centre, are continuing to provide appropriate support services to clients under the Keltoi Aftercare programme.
Health Services
Questions (853, 854, 855, 856)
Mark Ward
Question:853. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the services that are available for children and adults diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51138/21]
View answerMark Ward
Question:854. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the clinical pathway to diagnosis for those suffering with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51139/21]
View answerMark Ward
Question:855. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the supports that are provided for persons with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51140/21]
View answerMark Ward
Question:856. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the section of his Department responsible for the treatment of persons with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, that is, mental health, neurology or other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51141/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 to 856, inclusive, together.
All matters relating to the provision of services for the treatment of foetal alcohol syndrome are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
Question No. 854 answered with Question No. 853.
Question No. 855 answered with Question No. 853.