Written Answers Nos. 203-209
203. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review a decision to refuse a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14325/14]
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.
204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/14]
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.
205. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals that have mixed gender wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14350/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if there is a policy regarding patients who are placed in mixed gender wards, that is, age and when it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if there have been any patient safety incidents as a result of mixed gender wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if mixed gender wards are supervised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 208, inclusive, together.
The HSE has confirmed that it is not their practice to mix male and female patients in in-patient wards. However, while the situation is avoided where possible, all hospitals must optimise the availability and occupancy of all bed spaces. As a result, there are extenuating circumstances where mixed wards can occur in Emergency Departments, Acute Medical Assessment Units, Intensive Care Units and Coronary Care Units. In these situations best practices are in place to protect the privacy and dignity of patients. The ongoing improvements in ward accommodation and increase in single room accommodation aims to provide appropriate accommodation for all patients.
The HSE intends that all newly built acute hospital in-patient accommodation at new hospital builds, major additions to existing hospitals or major renovations to existing hospital in-patient accommodation areas should be made up entirely of single patient rooms and that all newly built non-acute hospital in-patient accommodation, when included within an acute hospital setting, should be made up of a minimum of 50% single patient rooms.
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 her directly.
209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the financial allocations for the National Ambulance Service on a regional and subregional basis; the plans for the reorganisation of this service in the Dublin region and the role the Dublin fire brigade ambulance service will have in this reorganisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra218. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a full independent review of emergency ambulance provision in Dublin is undertaken that has representation from fire-based EMS experience as part of the review body. [14417/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 218 together.
Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county, by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides some emergency capacity in the greater Dublin area, as well as non-emergency patient transport.
The ongoing development of pre-hospital emergency care involves a range of initiatives, including the development of a single national control and dispatch system, which will deploy all emergency ambulance resources in the State, including emergency ambulances, rapid response and intermediate care vehicles, first responders, aeromedical services and ambulances in Dublin.
In the context of the development of the national control system, the Dublin City Manager and the HSE’s Chief Operating Officer have commissioned a joint review of DFB ambulance services in Dublin City and County. The review will consider all aspects of ambulance operations provided by DFB within the Dublin area, including the capacity and capability of ambulance services.
The review will inform consideration of the optimal and best value model for provision of emergency medical services in the greater Dublin area. It is part of the process of ensuring a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology, so that emergency pre-hospital care can continue to modernise and services can be delivered in an appropriate and timely manner, to the benefit of patients.
The operational matters concerning financial allocations and the review of Dublin services have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputies.
