Written Answers Nos. 387 - 400
387. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce itemised pharmacy receipts, detailing a breakdown of charges such as medicine cost, dispensing fee and so on per item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44012/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMeasures have been taken to increase price transparency among retail pharmacies. The Department engaged with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to consider how to provide greater price transparency in retail pharmacies.
In March of this year the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland issued guidelines to pharmacists on procedures and minimum standards of information to be provided to customers, including a requirement to provide an itemised receipt of purchase of medicines, setting out the price per item dispensed.
388. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for fair deal scheme payments to commence in the Dublin area; the position on the waiting list of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if emergency bridge funding will be made available in cases of significant hardship due to these delays. [44013/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
389. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will approve two hours of extra home care in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny as their medical circumstances have worsened. [44032/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
391. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will accept a submission from a competent international firm relative to the provision of a comprehensive financial and human resources management package; if so, if he will indicate the name of the person dealing with the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44038/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnybody who wishes to make a submission to the HSE should direct their correspondence to the Office of the Director General.
The Deputy will be aware that the HSE has submitted a business case to my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to procure a new integrated financial management system for the health sector to replace the legacy financial systems in use across the system.
As the Deputy is aware, all Government Departments and Agencies funded from the Exchequer must comply with EU Directives and national guidelines on procurement. Tenders are advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the eTenders Portal.
392. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the promised free general practitioner care for those under six years of age; the progress to date in this regard; and when free GP care will be available to children under six years of age. [44050/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government. The Government has commenced this process in respect of all children under 6 years. The Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, which provides an entitlement for all children aged under 6 to a GP service without fees, was enacted on 25th July 2014. Under a Framework Agreement, the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO are engaged intensively on the introduction of GP services without fees for children aged under 6.
A number of meetings have already taken place between the parties. The Government's aim is to have universal GP care without fees for children under 6 years implemented early next year subject to the conclusion of the present discussions and the completion of a fee-setting process.
393. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a fair deal scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and the amount of same confirmed. [44052/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
394. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an assessment of the success of the special delivery unit in addressing problems at accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44060/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department and the HSE both believe that trolley waits are an unacceptable feature of the Irish health care system. This feature must be addressed. Figures for November 14 show that compared to the baseline year of 2011, there are 32.0% fewer patients on trolleys, equivalent to 25,182 patients. However compared to 2013, there are 3.5% more patients on trolleys. This is equivalent to 1,808 additional patients. Performance in this area occurs against a background of a population which is experiencing significant aging with those over 80 years increasing by some 4% annually.
I am advised by the HSE, that it is introducing a range of measures to minimise the numbers of patients waiting on trolleys. The Special Delivery Unit is working with hospitals to improve access times to appropriate care and to reduce the length of stay for key conditions. New pathways of care continue to be introduced to improve patient flow through hospitals including: minor injury, medical assessment and surgical assessment units and specific pathways for frail older patients.
This work is supported and facilitated through the clinical programmes and the involvement of senior clinical decision makers at all stages of the patient journey. The Special Delivery Unit is also working with the hospital groups to maximise capacity to accept ED patients by ensuring that appropriate activity is performed at each individual site. An in-depth review of individual sites is due to commence within the next month, which should lead to sustainable improvement.
The Government has also provided additional funding of €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. This funding will be targeted at hospital and community services which can demonstrate initiatives to address specific needs of delayed discharge patients most positively. This will therefore improve timeliness for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists.
395. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will review the impact of prescription charges with particular reference to the financial impact the charge is having on persons on multiple types of medication, the elderly and persons on limited income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44067/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt was necessary to increase the prescription charge in 2014 due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
There are no plans to amend the prescription charge, however, I am pleased that the prescription charge is frozen at the level set in 2014 as was announced as part of the packet of health measures in Budget 2015.
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.
396. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in tabular form for 2013 of the names of the companies providing private home care for elderly people and vulnerable adults in their own homes; the amounts paid to each company; the number of hours provided by each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44080/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
397. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of detox beds for drug and alcohol addiction available here; the location of same; under whose remit they are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44083/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
398. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive dental appointments at Athy dental clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44085/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
399. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the dialectal behavioural therapy or similar services available for persons who suffer borderline personality disorder; the location of these services, and the way they may be accessed. [44086/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
400. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will review the existing procedures for appointing doctors to general medical services contracts in a community to ensure that there is a continuity of service and a clinic premises located in that community to continue existing services as provided by the previous general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44093/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements to have a general medical services doctor located in a clinic in Rathmore, County Kerry, until such time that the newly appointed general practitioner will have acquired a suitable building to continue the service in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44134/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 404 together.
Under the Health Act, 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for arrangements to ensure appropriate service delivery for General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme (medical card and GP visit card) patients. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
