Written Answers Nos 448-465
448. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health the circumstances governing eligibility for a medical card as it relates to UK citizens living here, Irish citizens returning from periods of employment in the UK and Irish citizens returning from the UK on retirement from employment there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40272/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for public health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. Under EU legislation, persons insured in any EU Member state, together with persons insured in any EEA Member state (Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein) or in Switzerland, are entitled to healthcare. In order to obtain a Medical Card under EU legislation, the applicant must produce the appropriate E or S-form, completed by their Member State confirming the healthcare entitlement for which that state is liable.
The position regarding the UK is that, under a reciprocal agreement, the EU S form is not required, however, proof of receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities should be provided with the application to the HSE. The issue of citizenship is not relevant in determining eligibility, rather it is residential status in Ireland and the linkage to the social security system in the UK.
The HSE has responsibility to establish if an applicant is subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. If a person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation, that person will not qualify for a Medical Card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested Medical Card under national legislation.
449. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a case in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and when a hospital appointment will be made. [40276/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
450. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford in order for them to commence their cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40285/14]
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.
451. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40286/14]
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.
452. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority has ever submitted a proposed standard for approval under the Health Act 2007 to monitor patient safety risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40288/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has not submitted a specific standard to my Department for approval aimed at monitoring patient safety risks.
HIQA currently monitors and inspects against approved standards in health and social care settings which seek to improve patient safety and the quality of services delivered. Under the Health Act 2007 HIQA monitors compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, which were published in June 2012. These National Standards refer to the responsibilities of service providers in respect of patient safety risks.
The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2013 (SI 415/2013) and the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013,(S.I. 367 of 2013) contain comprehensive provisions for the purpose of ensuring proper standards are in place. Schedule 5 to these Regulations lists the policies and procedures that a registered provider must have in place including, for example, health and safety (to include infection control and food safety); risk management; prevention, detection and response to abuse; staff training; responding to emergencies; fire safety management; medications management.
National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities are also in place. These standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services. They also seek to ensure that vulnerable older people and people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected and their quality of life is enhanced.
453. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the outcome, morbidity or mortality, for subarachnoid haemorrhage patients who are not accepted for emergency neurosurgical or endovascular treatment in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40289/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra454. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health those responsible for the safety of patients who suffer an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage who are brought to hospitals which cannot provide emergency neurosurgical treatment, and are referred but not accepted for treatment in the national referral centre for neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40290/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra455. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his views on the claim by Beaumont Hospital that it has no responsibility for patients it does not accept for neurosurgical or endovascular treatment, despite the national referral centre for neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, being the only centre, other than Cork University Hospital, which can provide emergency neurosurgical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40291/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 453 to 455, inclusive, together.
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
456. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of occupational therapy services in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40307/14]
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.
457. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health regarding diabetic pumps, when the Health Service Executive will put the i-port device on the long-term illness book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40310/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
458. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if, in consideration of the costs associated with maintaining a house, even when unoccupied, if a person in the fair deal scheme residing in a nursing home would be permitted to rent out the house in view of the fact that such a move would help with the increased demand for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40324/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for individuals in need of long-term nursing home care. Under the Scheme, nursing home residents contribute towards the cost of their nursing home care based on their means, and the HSE pays the balance.
Individuals contribute up to 80% of their assessable income (which would include any rental income) and a maximum of 7.5% of the value of any assets per annum towards their cost of care. The first €36,000 of an individual's assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. An individual's principal residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care.
If a person owns their home and decides to rent it out, any rent collected is classed as income for the purposes of the Scheme.
459. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that there is an automatic entitlement to medical cards where the applicant and their family are solely dependent on social welfare payments, his views that it is fair and just that where an adjustment has been made to a social protection payment due to a means assessment, that this would in turn preclude them from their entitlement to a medical card even though their income remains the same, as it would be, were they solely in receipt of a social protection payment in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40167/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family can qualify for a medical card. The HSE awards medical cards in accordance with the Health Act and, therefore, it assesses applicants on the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her spouse or partner.
The HSE gives effect to this legislation through its Medical Card National Assessment Guidelines. Under the guidelines, "applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from Social Welfare allowances/ benefits or Health Service Executive allowances, which are in excess of the Income Guidelines (either at first application or on renewal), should be granted a medical card".
Under the Guidelines, applicants are assessed on the basis of means when there is income in addition to that derived from Social Welfare. There are a number of income sources that are disregarded in assessing income and these can be found in the HSE's Medical Card/G.P. Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines which are available on the HSE website http://www.hse.ie
460. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a new prosthesis in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40331/14]
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.
461. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his views that there are question marks over the award by his national paediatric hospital development board of a mechanical and electrical engineering contract relating to the new children's hospital to a company (details supplied) earlier this year, including basic mathematical errors in calculating their score in the tendering process, which in fact would have put them behind at least one other bidding company; his further views that everything relating to this large public contract was above board, and that there will not be any further delay in the building of the long-awaited hospital as a result. [40335/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The NPHDB has recently completed procurement of design team services for the project, including architect, quantity surveying, mechanical and electrical engineering, civil and structural engineering, project supervisor design process, planning and traffic consultancy services, all procured as separate lots. The NPHDB has confirmed that procurement fully complied with European and Irish procurement laws and also followed the recommendations set out by the Government Construction Contracts Committee of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Following notification of preferred bidders, statutory standstill periods were observed before appointment. Standstill periods allow time for bidders who are not selected to challenge the procurement process. In notifying bidders, a simple error in addition was made in respect of the scoring of one contract. While this did not affect the outcome of the process, the error was corrected once identified and the post-selection standstill period for this lot extended to ensure certainty of compliance with procurement law and process. No challenge being made to the procurement process for this lot, the NPHDB proceeded with appointment and the relevant contractors are now in place as part of the design team. The design team has begun work on development of detailed plans for the new children's hospital on the site at St. James's, with the aim of submitting a planning application in June 2015.
462. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the provision separate from services available to adults that exists for children and young adults with acute mental health difficulties in hospitals or other community-based facilities in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40340/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
463. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the supports available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath who received a contaminated batch of anti-D blood product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40350/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 4 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act (No.34 of l997), as amended, sets out the categories of persons who can make a claim before the Tribunal. The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act, 2006 defined that those who can make a claim must have been "diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C".
It is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially infectious batches of Anti-D. Approximately 1,000 of these were infected with Hepatitis C and were therefore eligible to apply to the Tribunal for compensation.
The issue of recipients of Anti-D who have not tested positive for Hepatitis C has been fully considered. While some women who have tested negative for Hepatitis C have experienced a variety of symptoms, there is no scientific proof that the symptoms are evidence of Hepatitis C infection. Indeed, some symptoms of Hepatitis C, such as fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression, are common conditions among the general population.
In view of this, and in the light of practice internationally, I have no plans for legislative change in this area.
464. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [40400/14]
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.
465. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding staffing at Kerry General Hospital. [40401/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent years, the Government decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. To that end, a moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service was introduced in March 2009.
The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in the recent Budget, that in 2015, Departments and Agencies will be given greater autonomy to manage their own staffing levels within their pay allocations. This measure will allow the HSE to hire more front line staff on fixed term contracts, thus reducing reliance on agency staff. It is anticipated that this will lead to pay savings due to the increased costs associated with hiring agency staff and will also enhance the quality of care available to patients and clients through improved continuity of care.
In relation to the Deputy's particular query regarding staffing levels in Kerry, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to examine the issue and respond to him directly.
