Written Answers Nos. 555 - 573
555. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the outcome for 42 sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients classified as poor grade and as a consequence denied emergency treatment in the neurosurgical centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, between 1 October 2011 and 31 March 2012, as revealed in the neurosurgical department KPI reports for that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11394/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra567. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the number of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients, classified as poor grade, were denied emergency treatment in the neurosurgical centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2012; the outcome for those patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11462/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 555 and 567 together.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
559. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow who has been awaiting an appointment in the Mater Hospital, Dublin, since 6 June 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11430/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to waiting list management in general, the National Waiting List Management Policy , A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, 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, recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
560. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Tipperary in receipt of mobility allowance and motorised transport grant. [11431/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have provided the Deputy with information requested by him in respect of the last full year for which figures are available, i.e. 2011, in the table.
|
County / HSE Region |
Number of recipients of Mobility Allowance in 2011 |
Number of recipients of Motorised Transport Grant in 2011 |
|
Tipperary South Riding |
116 |
14 |
|
Mid West (including Tipperary North ) |
371 |
19 |
562. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he has a date for the completion of the review of orthodontics by the Health Service Executive; the timeframe he anticipates it will take to implement the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11443/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFinal actions of the review of orthodontic services are currently being completed. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of the 2nd Quarter of 2013. It will be necessary to have sight of the final recommendations in order to develop a clear implementation plan with timelines.
563. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the options available for a family (details supplied) in view of the scrapping of the motorised transport grant scheme; if he will confirm if this family is entitled to the mobility allowance; and if he will support this family as a matter of urgency. [11446/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who require transport supports from the State and also conscious of the position of the Ombudsman that the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant schemes are illegal in the context of the Equal Status Acts. Following detailed consideration of the issues involved, the Government decided on 26th February that it is no longer possible to allow the two schemes to continue as they presently operate and to devise an alternative solution for meeting people's needs.
The Revenue Commissioners operate a Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme, whereby a family member of a disabled passenger can qualify for tax relief linked to the purchase of vehicles, provided he/she is living with and is responsible for the transport of the disabled person in question, has acquired the vehicle for that purpose and the disabled passenger is the holder of a Primary Medical Certificate. Applications for Primary Medical Certificates are processed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) through local offices. Determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE. I have referred this aspect of the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
566. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to make this a dementia-friendly society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11455/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government gave a commitment to develop a National Strategy on Dementia which will increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention, and enhance community based services for all people living with this condition, and to do so by the end of 2013. The Department of Health and Atlantic Philanthropies commissioned a research review to create the evidence that will help to lay the foundations for the Strategy and to provide guidelines as to the future direction of public policy in Ireland. The research review, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy, has been completed and is available on the websites of Trinity College at livingwithdementia.tcd.ie and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.ie
A public consultation process which sought the views of interested parties to help inform the development of the strategy concluded at the end of August 2012. Submissions received were analysed and a report was published in February 2013. A working group to develop the Strategy will be established shortly with a view to finalising and publishing the Dementia Strategy by the end of this year.
568. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments he has made from March 2011 to January 2013 to State boards; in the case of each appointment, the number of appointments that were made to members of the general public who submitted a curriculum vitae for the appointment; the number of direct appointments he made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11477/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the period March 2011 to date, I have appointed a total of 202 people to boards under the aegis of my Department. Of these, 119 were appointments where I, as Minister for Health, have full discretion to nominate and appoint under the relevant legislation and the remaining 83 were appointed on foot of nominations by various bodies, again in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions. Of the total of 119 appointments 44 of these were from applications received following advertising processes undertaken by the Public Appointments Service. The provision of a curriculum vitae is part of the requirement of the Public Appointments Service application process, in conjunction with a questionnaire relating to agreed required competencies for individual board membership.
569. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made 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. [11485/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
570. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the necessary orthotic footwear will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11495/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
571. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health with reference to the mobility supports, if the new scheme will be operational when current schemes discontinue; the impact of the discontinuation on persons with disabilities who will start third level education in September 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11496/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who require transport supports from the State. A special review group, which will be independently chaired, has been established to seek an alternative method to provide for the needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. Both myself and the Minister for Health have emphasised to the review group that a practical solution or solutions need to be identified as soon as possible, to address the matter. Current recipients of the mobility allowance will continue to be paid for the next four months, as we devise an alternative method of meeting those needs.
