Written Answers Nos. 424 - 441
424. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant rooms left by the cessation of Health Service Executive provided local services within local health centres; his proposals for these empty spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36965/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant rooms left by the cessation of Department of Social Protection provided community welfare officer services within local health centres; his proposals for the use of these empty spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36966/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together.
The HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres and the operation and maintenance of existing health centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
426. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of chiropody services that have been withdrawn from local health centres, by town and county, in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36967/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not routinely available in the Department. I have asked the Health Service Executive to collate the information and reply directly to the Deputy.
427. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to chiropody services being provided out of local pharmacies instead of vacant health centre suites; that the patients, including lifelong diabetics, are then charged a €20 rental fee; his plans to re-accommodate the chiropody services to the local health centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36968/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile there is no statutory obligation to provide a chiropody/podiatry service, such services are provided by the HSE to medical card patients with the greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific queries raised by the Deputy and to reply to her as soon as possible.
428. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [36969/14]
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 2014, 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.
429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a dental examination in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36974/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDental services for children with special needs are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE.
The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
430. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [36977/14]
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 2014, 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.
431. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate the rheumatology clinics at Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36980/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
432. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will receive treatment for Dupuytren's contractures; the format this treatment will be, for example, injection or surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36986/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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 specific case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
433. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of outpatient assessments sent to private hospitals in the past 12 months, by originating public hospital, private hospital referred to and department-speciality; the cost of these referrals; the number of these outpatients who have been referred back to their respective public hospitals for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36992/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the detailed information sought by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
434. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a review for a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37005/14]
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.
435. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37037/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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 specific case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
436. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card, which had been previously granted on discretionary grounds but since removed, will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37040/14]
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.
437. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if an orthopaedic appointment will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37043/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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 specific case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
438. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason documentary evidence of savings, shares, investments and so on are required to process an application for a medical card under EU regulations when the applicant is not subject to the welfare system here and is in receipt of a UK pension (details supplied) and has provided documentary proof of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37080/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service aims to ensure that every person who is entitled to a medical card or a GP visit card is given the opportunity to avail of his or her entitlement. The HSE also has a responsibility to ensure that eligibility for services under the GMS schemes is properly assessed before being approved or refused. Medical card application forms and medical card review forms are designed with the intent of capturing all relevant information necessary to assess eligibility for a medical card.
The provisions of the relevant EU Regulations entitle a person to a Medical Card from this state if they meet all of the following requirements:
- ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland
- insured under the social security legislation of another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland; i.e. receiving a social security pension from that state or working and paying social insurance in that state
- not subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is receiving a contributory Irish social welfare payment or is subject to PRSI in the Irish State.
As part of the assessment process it is not necessary for an individual to provide evidence of shares and investments. In completing an application for a medical card it is necessary to furnish information on wages and pensions, if applicable, in order for the HSE to determine if such income is subject to PRSI. An application for eligibility for a medical card under EU regulations must also furnish details of social welfare payments from the EU state with a confirmation letter from the awarding authority and an E121/SI form. Under the bi-lateral agreement with the UK, no E-form is required and the applicant must provide proof that they are in receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities, i.e. a UK social security pension.
439. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate money to the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, Cork, to allow it to undertake orthopaedic operations and begin to clear the backlog that has been created by the lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37085/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
440. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card review application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford in April 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37092/14]
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.
441. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the funding for Cappagh hospital to deal with the huge waiting list for hip operations where patients are being told that it will be eight months minimum before they will be reached regardless of the severe pain they are experiencing and that they are being told by their employers that they cannot continue to employ them as they are not fit to perform the functions required to do their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37100/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital is a tertiary referral centre and receives referrals from all counties in Ireland for complex orthopaedic care, in addition to the provision of the national surgical bone tumour service. The Hospital has advised that it has experienced an unprecedented increase in demand for in-patient treatment throughout 2014. This is consistent with trends in other jurisdictions with similar demographic profiles.
In terms of access, urgent patients continue to be prioritised and Cappagh Hospital has advised that due to strict chronological booking policies, all patients attending the hospital are being offered dates for surgery based on their waiting time to surgery, with due regard to clinical categorisation. It has also advised that day case and outpatient activity targets will be achieved this year.
I understand that the HSE is in active engagement with Cappagh Hospital to examine and agree options for optimising the available theatre resources and to ensure patients have timely access. It is expected that the Hospital will be in a position to carry out additional activity before year end.
