Written Answers Nos. 1555 to 1574
1555. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the numbers of days taken to review medical information in relation to medical cards, from the date the application was received in 2012 and to date in 2013 per month, per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38449/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1556. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there is capacity within the system to allow patients with sudden, serious and life limiting conditions to navigate the medical card application process whereby through their incapacity due to illness, prevents them from having an income and the delays of up to 12 months in processing social welfare applications excludes them from obtaining evidence of a basic income; if he is prepared to amend the medical card application system to allow supports for these patients falling through the gaps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38450/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means and medical cards are not awarded to any particular group of patients on the basis of a specific medical condition. However, the HSE has discretion to grant a medical card in certain circumstances. Medical card applicants who are unsuccessful following the means assessment, but who indicate that they suffer from a medical condition, are then referred to the Medical Officer for consideration on a medical discretionary basis.
All applications for a Medical Card are assessed under the National Assessment Guidelines. In accordance with these guidelines, all Medical Card applications are first assessed on income grounds. Where an applicant is over the income threshold applicable to them to qualify for a Medical Card their application is considered on discretionary grounds. Discretionary medical circumstances are considered by the Medical Officer within the context of the applicant’s household income.
In cases where a Medical Card is required in emergency circumstances, such as for terminal illness or for a serious medical issue, an Emergency Medical Card may be issued. Such an application can be initiated through the Local Health Office whose manager has access to a dedicated fax and e-mail contact line to the PCRS. Details of this procedure have been made available to all GPs and Social Workers. Such cards will be issued within 24 hours. As before, no means test applies to an application by a terminally ill patient and all terminally ill patients will be provided with a Medical Card number for a period of six months once their medical condition is verified by a GP or a consultant.
1558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify if a pharmacist is obliged to legally dispense an item for a patient even if it means the pharmacist will be at a financial loss in doing so (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38515/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe dispensing of items under the GMS and other Community Drug Schemes is covered under the terms of the Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement. Pharmacists are fully reimbursed for all items dispensed under these schemes in accordance with the rates set out in S.I. No. 279 of 2013 (Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2013).
1560. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the initiatives that are in place to promote oral health and the supports available for persons to access dental treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38530/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Health Foundation, which is funded by the Department of Health and the HSE, has made significant contributions in promoting oral health awareness and the reinforcement of good dental habits. It continues to develop oral health information programmes for children, people with oral cancer, people with special needs, older people and the general population. In addition, water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides, including toothpastes, is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. At present a University College Cork led research project, "Fluoride and Caring for Children's Teeth" (FACCT) is being conducted. This will assess the effectiveness of oral health promotion initiatives and inform national policy and planning of future oral health promotion activities.
The HSE provides a range of oral health services to children and special needs patients through the Public Dental Service and to medical card holders through the Dental Treatment Services Scheme. Information for the public regarding all available services, including eligibility and entitlement is available on the HSE’s website or from local health centres.
1562. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the amount of the budget provision for 2013 pursuant to Section 39 of the Health Act 2004; the amount of funding allocated in particular to County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38542/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1563. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the budget provision intended for 2014 pursuant to Section 39 of the Health Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38543/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1564. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the number of groups and organisations in County Mayo that have benefitted from funding pursuant to Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 for 2013; the nature and types of groups and organisations and the service they provide in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38544/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1562 to 1564, inclusive, together.
Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, organisations may receive ancillary grants from the HSE to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide. It is for the Executive to determine the maximum amount of funding that it proposes to make available in any year and the level of service it expects to be provided for that funding. The level of funding which the HSE will allocate to specific organisations in 2014 will have to be determined by the Executive in the context of the overall level of resources which will be made available to it next year, and priorities identified in the National Service Plan.
I am not directly involved in decisions regarding these grants, which are determined locally/regionally within the HSE. I have asked the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy with regard to this matter.
1565. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason delays in the provision of new wheelchairs and existing wheelchair repairs have escalated to such point that severely mobility impaired children are forced to wait several months, in some cases over a year, without any alternative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38546/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproval for the provision of aids and appliances including wheelchairs is based on detailed information received and accessed in line with prioritisation guidelines to ensure that people with the most urgent assessed needs have their needs met first, within a set monthly budget. In relation to mobility equipment, occupational therapists carry out assessments and review applications in light of the individual’s current and ongoing needs, with the priority being to provide functional mobility for indoor and short distance outdoor use.
All professionals providing community based services, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and public health nurses, will be aware of the prioritisation criteria and will provide any necessary and urgent items of equipment following appropriate assessment as soon as possible. However, the health service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment, this has become a major challenge for all stakeholders, including the HSE, voluntary service providers, services users and their families.
Additional factors that may impact on the waiting time for the provision of wheelchairs include: –
Assessment - In order to provide a safe, high quality, value for money and client centred service a comprehensive assessment of need takes place and this may involve a number of professionals. The assessment process may include a physical assessment (such as assessing visual perception, cognitive factors, risk awareness etc), trialling a number of different wheelchairs and involve a number of wheelchair suppliers prior to ordering wheelchair and issuing to client. This process can take a number of weeks depending on, for example, the complexity of the client’s physical and sensory needs, the needs of the carer and the environment in which the wheelchair will be used.
Customisation - Some clients who have very specific needs are much more difficult to accommodate and their chairs may need to be customized for them. The waiting time for customised wheelchairs alone can be 8 - 12 weeks as these wheelchairs are manufactured overseas.
Assistive Technology - In the case of some children who require Assistive Technology in order to operate the wheelchair, they must be referred to the Assistive Technology clinic in the Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin. As this is a national service there can be a period of waiting for assessment and fitting of controls.
In relation to wheelchair repairs, the HSE endeavours to see clients as quickly as possible, however, waiting time for completion may vary according to the kind of repair needed and the availability of parts.
1568. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement to allay public concerns, particularly among older men, regarding the current controversy surrounding prostate cancer testing at Blanchardstown Hospital, Dublin [38564/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is an initial test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. While raised PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, they can also arise in cases of certain benign prostate conditions, e.g. prostatitis. On average, two out of every three men who have a raised PSA level will not, on further examination, turn out to have prostate cancer. Also, there are cases of prostate cancer were raised PSA levels do not occur.
An international safety notice issued at the end of June stating that a particular Siemens PSA test kit had a positive bias, i.e. they were reading 20% to 23% higher than other similar tests and relative to the WHO standard. Upon receipt of this notice, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown immediately ceased PSA testing using the Siemens test kit. An incident management team was set up on receipt of the field safety notice to address any potential risks. The testing kits in question were used at Connolly Hospital between February and June 2013 and 2186 patients were tested during that period. Of these patients, 162 received a result which may have indicated a need for further investigation. On 1 July Connolly Hospital wrote to GPs and Urologists informing them of the issue and advising that re-testing was available if required. GPs and Urologists were then in a position to inform patients and to make a clinical decision on any need for follow-up. As a further precautionary step, the hospital is reviewing the results of the 162 patients to determine if they feel that any further actions are necessary.
1569. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the farm and rural area stress helpline offered by the Health Service Executive South will be extended to the Dublin Mid-Leinster region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38568/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1570. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if home-help will be allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38582/13]
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.
1571. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth. [38584/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
1572. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of mobility allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38588/13]
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.
1573. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health his views on the substantial increase in the number of persons being refused medical cards and replaced by a GP card; the number of persons, broken down by constituency, who have had medical cards refused, and, of those the number who were subsequently provided with a GP card in its place. [38629/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical cards are provided to persons who, under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Under the legislation, determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE.
In the interest of probity, the HSE is obliged to ensure that a person’s eligibility is correctly recorded in line with the eligibility legislation and the national guidelines. Over 70's medical cards are therefore reviewed every 4 years, and under 70's medical cards are reviewed every 3 years. The HSE aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to the medical card or the GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of their entitlement.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of persons refused medical cards which were subsequently replaced by GP cards, by constituency, is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1574. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1048 of 16 July 2013, if he intends to provide funding for staffing resourcing in the next 12 months to enable the Health Service Executive reinstate the physiotherapy disability services for children over 5 years of age in north west Dublin. [38648/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, accountability for the management of services is a matter for the HSE to address within the ambit of its Vote (Vote 39). The level of health services to be delivered within the available funding for 2013 has been set out in the HSE National Service Plan for 2013, which I approved in January. The HSE will provide in the order of €1.5 billion in 2013 to fund health services for children and adults with disabilities, including autism. This represents approximately 11.5% of the €13.3 billion health budget for 2013. It should also be noted that while the HSE provides a range of services to adults and children with disabilities, the majority of this funding is distributed through non-statutory agencies who deliver over 80% of all disability services.
The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. This policy requires the health service to reduce its workforce to 98,938 wholetime equivalent employees by the end of 2013. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
