Thursday, 29 Nov 2012

Written Answers Nos. 233 - 244

Mobility Allowance Appeals

Ceisteanna (233)

Peter Mathews

Ceist:

233. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 was refused mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53624/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Procedures

Ceisteanna (234)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

234. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the approval, development or analysis of artificial disk replacement surgery as an approved treatment for a disease of the spine that requires surgery [53407/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE National Service Plan sets out the health and personal social services that will be delivered during 2012 from within the HSE budget. In relation to the specific matter which is the subject of the Deputy's query, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (235)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

235. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the Health Service Executive to expedite an application for occupational therapy services in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53411/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Services for People with Disabilities

Ceisteanna (236)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

236. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the services available from the Health Service Executive in respect of a person (details supplied) suffering from significant disabilities; if a previously available day care facility will again be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53412/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Day services for adults with disabilities provide a network of support for over 25,000 people who have a wide spectrum of need, ranging from those with severe and profound disabilities who are likely to need long-term specialist service provision to people with lower support needs and greater potential for community participation and inclusion. Pending completion of the national estimates, budgetary and service planning process for 2013 it is not possible to predict the day service levels to be provided by the HSE next year.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Mental Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (237, 256, 260)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

237. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will honour the €35 million pledge on community mental health. [53426/12]

Michael McCarthy

Ceist:

256. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the €35 million ring-fenced for community mental health teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53552/12]

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

260. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the promise to invest €35 million annually in community mental health service is honoured in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53630/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237, 256 and 260 together.

Funding from the €35 million special allocation for mental health will be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both Adult and Children’s mental health services. Some of the funding will also be used to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention and to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems. Provision is also being made to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with A Vision for Change.

414 posts were approved to implement the €35 million package of special measures. To date 17 posts have been filled and over 270 offers of employment have already been accepted and the appointments are proceeding. Most start dates are expected to commence in December 2012. Mental health is a priority for this Government and we remain committed to engaging these professionals as soon as is feasible.

With regard to the level of funding for mental health next year, this is being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2013 which is currently underway.

Hospital Staff Issues

Ceisteanna (238)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

238. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant consultant posts that are at present in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, Ennis Hospital and in the Clare Mental Health Services; in each case, the discipline in which the vacancy arises; if any or all of these vacancies are covered by locums; and the steps being taken to fill these posts [53431/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In regards to this particular issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (239)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

239. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the delays being faced by patients in attending the fracture clinic at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth [53441/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

As this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (240)

Colm Keaveney

Ceist:

240. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to be called for a procedure. [53451/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first).

Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Medical Card Appeals

Ceisteanna (241)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

241. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a decision on a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53460/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Home Help Service Provision

Ceisteanna (242)

Ciaran Lynch

Ceist:

242. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if home help care will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53469/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Speech and Language Therapy

Ceisteanna (243)

Patrick Nulty

Ceist:

243. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will receive speech and language therapy: the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53482/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (244)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

244. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a hospital appointment for tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53494/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Improving access to outpatient services is the next priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013.

In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.

Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.

In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.