Written Answers Nos. 117-128
117. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure more funding is provided to the Health Service Executive to enable surgeons to carry out more surgeries for scoliosis patients; the steps being taken to ensure operations are carried out in the shortest timeframe; if his attention has been drawn to the delays regarding these type of operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38572/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
118. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise fibromyalgia as a long-term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38576/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra141. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason post-polio syndrome is not listed under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38690/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 141 together.
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
119. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by his Department to address the problem of drug taking on Dublin's streets (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38577/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra120. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he has had recent discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding the problem of persons taking drugs in the main shopping areas of Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38578/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
In line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has developed a national treatment and rehabilitation service that provides drug free and harm reduction approaches for problem substance users.
The HSE provides a variety of drug treatment interventions to reduce drug-related harm and which encourage problem substance users to engage with, and avail of such services. These services include needle exchange provision, together with evidence-based treatment options such as methadone maintenance treatment, counselling and community and residential rehabilitation.
The HSE co-operates with the local community representatives of the North and South Inner City and with local Gardaí to minimise any negative public order issues that may arise in the vicinity of its treatment centres.
The National Drugs Strategy is a high priority in Government and I work closely with my cabinet colleagues, including the Minister for Justice, to ensure its full implementation.
The Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair, monitors progress on the delivery of frontline services and addresses operational difficulties and blockages in implementing the Strategy. This forum brings together the key Government departments and agencies involved in the implementation of the Strategy.
As the specific issues raised by the Deputy are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for a more detailed response.
121. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick regarding a medical card application. [38587/14]
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.
122. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who has been waiting five months for same. [38588/14]
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.
123. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated and spent on mental health in 2013; the budget and anticipated spend in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38593/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has been approved for funding under the scheme; when the funding will be provided for the applicant; the reason it takes so long between approval and allocation of grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38597/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
125. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can expect to receive an appointment for speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38602/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
126. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for breast reconstruction by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38612/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra128. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the data collected and used for clinical research and future treatment planning purposes in respect of breast reconstruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38614/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together.
The Deputy's questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
127. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if breast reconstruction is considered an integral part of the breast care plan and not just a cosmetic procedure; if not the reason; his plans to introduce a breast reconstruction nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38613/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraBreast cancer diagnostic and surgical services are carried out in the eight designated cancer centres (plus an outreach service in Letterkenny General Hospital).
Breast cancer patients may have immediate breast reconstruction carried out at the time of breast cancer surgery and for these patients there is no significant waiting time. For other patients, it may be necessary to carry out reconstructive surgery at a later time.
Symptomatic breast disease units in the designated cancer centres are staffed with multidisciplinary teams including breast care nurses. The introduction of a breast reconstruction nurse has not been identified at this time.
