Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:1128. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue to a person (detail supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13738/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (1128)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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.
Question No. 1129 answered with Question No. 988.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1130, 1131, 1132)
Jack Wall
Ceist:1130. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment in Tallaght hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13740/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraJack Wall
Ceist:1131. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment for speech therapy in Tallaght hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13741/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraJack Wall
Ceist:1132. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment for physiotherapy in Tallaght hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13742/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1130 to 1132, inclusive, together.
In relation to the particular patient queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Question No. 1133 answered with Question No. 988.
Hospital Appointment Status
Ceisteanna (1134)
Jack Wall
Ceist:1134. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a scan at Tallaght hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13759/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Question No. 1135 answered with Question No. 988.
Hospital Appointment Status
Ceisteanna (1136)
Joan Collins
Ceist:1136. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13767/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
HSE Staffing
Ceisteanna (1137)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1137. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding employment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry [13791/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Respite Care Services
Ceisteanna (1138)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1138. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding respite beds in St. Mary of the Angels, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13793/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Health Insurance Prices
Ceisteanna (1139)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the difficulties families are encountering in paying their VHI bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13794/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
While pricing decisions in relation to private health insurance products are a matter for individual insurers, I have consistently urged the VHI and all the private health insurers to do everything possible to keep down the cost of private health insurance. I am determined to address costs in this sector in the interest of consumers and I have made it clear to insurers that I believe significant savings can still be made, the effect of which can be to minimise the need for increases in premiums.
As part of the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance, I appointed Mr. Pat McLoughlin as Independent Chair to work with insurance companies and the Department to identify effective cost management strategies to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the private health insurance market. Mr. McLoughlin's first report was published on 26 December 2013 and the second phase report is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Many consumers can make large savings on their health insurance premiums by shopping around for the health insurance plan that best suits their needs. For those who have been insured on the same plan for a number of years, it is important to review the level of cover to ensure that their needs are being met, without being over-insured. Consumers have a legal right to switch between or within insurers to get better value and to reduce their premium costs. The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) provides information to consumers regarding their rights and also on health insurance plans and benefits. The HIA's web-site www.hia.ie has a useful plan comparison tool which assists in finding suitable and competitive health insurance plans. The HIA may also be contacted by 'phone at LoCall 1850 929 166.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to note that the Government remains committed to keeping down the cost of health insurance, so that it is affordable for as many people as possible, as part of measures to ensure the sustainability of the private health insurance market in the transition to Universal Health Insurance.
Medical Card Data
Ceisteanna (1140)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:1140. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards as of 1 March 2014; the total number of GP cards on the same date; and the total number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [13810/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following table provides the card types and numbers as at 1 March 2014, as requested by Deputy.
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,826,578 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
50,009 |
|
GP Visit cards |
124,512 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
28,301 |
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1141, 1143)
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:1141. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland's campaign to raise €12.5 million for 12 inpatient isolation rooms in Beaumont Hospital for persons with cystic fibrosis; his views on whether these rooms are urgently needed to provide the necessary care to cystic fibrosis patients; if his Department will assist with funding for the rooms to be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13814/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraTerence Flanagan
Ceist:1143. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the facilities that are currently provided in Beaumont Hospital for cystic fibrosis patients; his plans to improve facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13816/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1141 and 1143 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 to him directly.
Community Care Provision
Ceisteanna (1142)
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:1142. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the investment that has been made in community-based services for persons with chronic illness and disability; the future investment plans there are in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13815/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people in the community with disabilities within available resources.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2014 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities.
Additional funding of €14m has been provided to address the priority needs within disability services identified by the Minister and advised to the HSE: €10m to provide additional places for school-leavers, those leaving training and emergency residential placements, and €4m to deliver the required increase in services for children with disabilities, including autism, and to reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.
The HSE is engaged in an ongoing process to develop chronic disease management programmes across the spectrum of services from prevention to sustaining services, e.g. as part of the phased roll out of the National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme, the HSE's 2013 National Service Plan indented funding for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists (one per HSE Integrated Service Area). These Diabetes Nurse Specialists will play a key role in the development of clinically sound collaborative links between primary care and secondary care providers and will also be an essential resource in empowering patients to achieve optimum diabetes control.
I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the provision of community based services for persons with chronic illness, including future investment plans.
Question No. 1143 answered with Question No. 1141.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1144)
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:1144. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of services for persons with neurological conditions in line with clinical programmes in stroke, epilepsy, neurology and rehabilitation neurology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13817/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Question No. 1145 answered with Question No. 1025.