Written Answers Nos. 885-900
885. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain from the Health Service Executive when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be given an appointment with CAMHS in view of the fact that the initial referral was made several years ago. [22986/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
888. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in processing a medical card for a family in County Donegal; if he will consider granting a person (details supplied) a discretionary medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23010/14]
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.
889. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which electronic smoking in lieu of cigarette smoking is permitted or prohibited in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has recently announced that the use of e-cigarettes will no longer be permitted in any of its facilities or campuses. As the implementation of this is a matter for the HSE, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
890. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when required knee surgery will take place in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23029/14]
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 the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.
891. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his views on the resignation of a professional (details supplied) from a hospital in north Dublin; and the actions that will be taken to address the concerns of the professional in question regarding psychiatric services at the hospital. [23041/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the Deputy's question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
892. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if a person, who has gifted all their savings to their children, is eligible to qualify for a medical card in view of the fact that the reduced amount of the persons savings qualifies that person for the medical card by means test. [23054/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
893. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the neurological service available to patients at Letterkenny General Hospital; his plans to improve neurological services at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23055/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
894. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [23058/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
895. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive is not providing a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 who suffers from severe autism with ABA support; if he will consider providing this person with ABA support in the future. [23060/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraApplied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is one of a number of approaches that are used, predominantly in educational settings, when working with children with autism spectrum disorders. The Health Service Executive provides services for individuals with autism, either directly or through a range of voluntary service providers. Health clinicians will assess each child individually and provide appropriate interventions. As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
896. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the full cost to the State for a child with severe autism attending full-time residential care in Stewarts Hospital, Dublin for a 12 month period. [23061/14]
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.
897. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin has had dental surgery delayed; and, in view of the seriousness of the treatment required if the person will be provided with an earlier appointment. [23064/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to investigate this case and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
898. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22, who accessed medical treatment in the UK in December 2013 under the treatment abroad scheme, will be reimbursed for the relevant costs covered under the scheme. [23065/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
899. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 attending Crumlin Childrens Hospital will receive the required physiotherapy treatment; and if the hospital will consider increasing this patient's visits with the consultant from once a year to twice a year. [23066/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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 her directly.
900. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason chronic regional pain syndrome is not classified as a chronic physical disability in Ireland when it holds such a classification in the UK; his plans to classify it as such in the future. [23067/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a number of definitions of disability contained in legislation, e.g. Disability Act 2005, the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004, the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Acts and Equal Status Acts, which are used for particular purposes, e.g. the Census and qualifying criteria for the Department of Social Protection income supports such as the Domiciliary Care Allowance, Disability Allowance etc. These definitions define disability in terms of an individual's functional ability in their environment, rather than a medical diagnosis or condition. In the context of the provision of health and personal social services, the Minister for Health does not classify specific medical illnesses or conditions as a disability.
