Written Answers Nos. 198-204
198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 17 December 2013, if he will expedite the consultation date in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [8408/14]
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 Health Service Executive, 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 HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
199. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on providing a general practitioner card to spina bifida patients regardless of household income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8409/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the person's overall financial situation, including the means and expenditure of the applicant and his or her partner. As the Deputy will be aware, there is no legal basis for the HSE to award a medical card/GP visit card to persons with medical conditions, including spina bifida, on the basis of their medical condition alone, irrespective of their income/means.
If a person applies for a GP Visit Card, he /she will firstly be assessed for eligibility for a medical card. If income is over the relevant limit, the deciding officer will consider whether it would cause undue hardship if a medical card is refused. If a person does not qualify for a medical card, he/she is then assessed for a GP Visit Card. If income is over the relevant limit, the deciding officer will consider whether it would be ‘unduly burdensome’ for the applicant to pay for GP Services if he/she does not have a GP Visit Card. There are no proposals to introduce any legislative changes to the Health Act 1970, as amended, with regards to defining eligibility for services on the basis of medical conditions.
200. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views on issuing a long-term illness book to persons with spina bifida, which would cover access to all medical equipment and medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8410/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpina Bifida is one of the illnesses covered under the LTI Scheme. Persons with a Spina Bifida diagnosis should contact their HSE Local Health Office for an LTI Scheme application form.
201. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that vital services such as respite care, personal assistance and so on are available to spina bifida patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8411/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan 2014 and the recently published 2014 Operational Plan for the Social Care Division, outline the quantum of specialist disability services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014. In 2014, the HSE will provide the following quantum of services to people with disabilities, including people with spina bifida:
- Residential Support Services for almost 9,000 people with disabilities;
- Day Services for 22,000 people with disabilities;
- Residential Respite Services for nearly 6,000 people with disabilities;
- 1.3 million hours of Personal Assistance to more than 1,800 people with disabilities;
- 2.4 million hours of Home Support to more than 8,000 people with disabilities;
- Staffing in Children's Disability Services equivalent to 9 Children's Disability Network Teams; and
- Commence Assessments under the Disability Act 2005 on behalf of more than 4,500 children.
2014 will see an additional investment of €14m and 130 additional staff to:
- Provide places for an estimated 1,200 young people leaving school or Rehabilitative Training nationwide - 35 additional staff - €7m;
- Provide "emergency" placements for people with disabilities whose care or family circumstances have changed and who now require an immediate and unplanned service response - 15 additional staff - €3m;
- Roll out a new model of assessment and intervention, the objective of which is to provide one clear referral pathway for all children (0-18s), irrespective of their disability, where they live or the school they attend - 80 additional staff - €4m.
The delivery of high quality and safe services will remain an important focus in 2014. A particular focus will be placed on the implementation of the Health Information and Quality Authority standards for residential services for people with a disability.
202. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislative changes that allow for persons who suffer from chronic illnesses to automatically receive medical cards regardless of income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8412/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the person's overall financial situation, including the means and expenditure of the applicant and his or her partner. As the Deputy will be aware, there is no legal basis for the HSE to award a medical card/GP visit card to persons with serious medical conditions on the basis of their medical condition alone, irrespective of their income/means.
Persons who have a medical condition will have their medical circumstances considered as part of an assessment of eligibility on discretionary grounds of ‘undue hardship’/’undue burden’ for grant of a medical card or GP visit card, in the event that their application does not qualify on an assessment of means.
Medical cards can also be provided on emergency grounds, for a period of six months, where a patient is terminally ill in palliative care. No means test applies and the nature of the terminal illness is not a deciding factor in the issue of an emergency medical card in these circumstances. Given the nature and urgency of the issue, the HSE has appropriate escalation routes to ensure that the person gets the card as quickly as possible. Furthermore, the HSE ensures that the system responds to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals in these circumstances. There are no proposals to introduce any legislative changes to the Health Act 1970, as amended, with regards to the definition of full eligibility.
203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if local physiotherapy is available in the case of a person (details supplied) County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8427/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
204. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in determination of appeal for full medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8428/14]
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.
