Written Answers Nos. 222-230
222. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will have the Irish Medicines Board carry out a test to determine if fluoride is safe for human consumption and have the results made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41605/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFluoride is a natural mineral found, in variable concentrations, in soil, fresh water, sea water, plants and many foods. The European Food Safety Authority in its "Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Vitamins and Minerals" (2005) reviewed the upper levels of daily intakes of fluoride that are unlikely to pose a risk of adverse health effects and determined a value of 7mg/day. Fluoride is not a medicine or drug and its safety for human consumption has been determined. Therefore testing by the Irish Medicines Board is considered neither necessary nor appropriate.
223. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a new scheme to replace the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grants will be introduced; the level of payment that will be made to recipients of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41678/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided in June last that new statutory provisions should be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs. An inter-departmental group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, is working to develop detailed proposals for the operation of a new statutory scheme and is due to report back to Government in October.
The Government also decided in June that payments should temporarily continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to those persons currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance for a further number of months, pending the commencement of new statutory provisions, on the basis that this would prevent hardship, and, on an interim basis, alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society. The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability who have relied on the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant to support their independence and will take all of this into consideration when making a decision on future arrangements.
224. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department has given consideration to the implementation here of a simple three digit 24/7 non-emergency contact for every citizen to interact with Government, semi-State, public bodies and organisations, charitable/voluntary and support services, that will assist callers in dealing with health, educational, civic, local government, social problems and so on; if he or his Department have examined the way this successfully operates in places such as the USA and Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41557/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to introduce such a service at this time. However my Department would cooperate fully with any future proposal to introduce such a service on an interdepartmental basis.
225. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding dental treatment in respect of a person (details supplied). [41561/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is responsible for providing dental care to school children. The matter has therefore been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
226. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41562/13]
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.
227. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting treatment at Navan orthopaedic unit; the waiting time required for an initial consultation at the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41565/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
228. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41574/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, which has 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.
229. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for patients from the Republic of Ireland to avail of respite beds in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41609/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
230. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied); if he will confirm if this is a permanent arrangement or if services will be returned to Dungarvan; the reason this situation has arisen in view of the fact that under the proposals in the Higgins report it was intended that consultants would travel around the region's hospitals to see patients; if he agrees that moving these services is a contradiction of the aforementioned proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41610/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
