Finian McGrath
Ceist:628. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1210/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (628)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
Accident and Emergency Services Provision
Ceisteanna (629)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:629. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the crisis in accident and emergency departments in hospitals as it has become a national emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1212/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government regards trolley waits of over 9 hours as unacceptable and acknowledges the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.
It is anticipated that the figures will continue to fluctuate, but the wide range of actions being taken by the HSE are having an impact. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds, provision of additional diagnostic scans and Consultants doing additional ward rounds to improve the appropriate flow of patients through the hospital system. Other actions being taken include the provision of additional home care packages, additional transition beds in nursing homes, 300 additional Fair Deal places and an extension in Community Intervention Teams.
The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. This funding is being targeted at hospital and community services which can demonstrate initiatives to address specific needs of delayed discharge patients most positively and therefore improve timeliness for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists.
The Minister convened the Emergency Department Taskforce to find long term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. Following an initial meeting in December, the HSE is working on an action plan to be finalised by the end of January to specifically address ED issues with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (630)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:630. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1234/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (631)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:631. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in performing a knee replacement operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and when the person may expect a date for the operation to take place. [1235/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
Home Care Packages Provision
Ceisteanna (632)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:632. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of applications for home care packages in each county in 2014; the number of successful applications; the number of applicants awaiting decisions to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1243/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data
Ceisteanna (633)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:633. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of applications for the fair deal scheme for nursing home subvention in each county in 2014; the number of successful applications; the number that are awaiting decisions to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1244/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Hospitals Funding
Ceisteanna (634, 635, 636)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:634. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown by year since 2010 of the budgets for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and Louth County Hospital. [1247/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:635. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the projected budget deficit for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, for 2015. [1248/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:636. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the projected budget deficit for Louth County Hospital for 2015. [1249/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 to 636, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (637, 638)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:637. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for patients attending outpatient clinics in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and in Louth County Hospital. [1250/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:638. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting to be seen for the first time at outpatient clinics in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth County Hospital. [1251/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Beds Data
Ceisteanna (639)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:639. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of beds available in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Louth County Hospital each year from 2010. [1252/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Beds Data
Ceisteanna (640, 641)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:640. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of beds closed in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital each year since 2010. [1253/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:641. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of beds closed in Louth County Hospital each year since 2010. [1254/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Home Help Service Expenditure
Ceisteanna (642, 643, 644)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:642. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the financial cuts to the home help budget covering County Louth each year since 2010. [1255/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:643. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours available to patients in County Louth each year since 2010. [1256/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGerry Adams
Ceist:644. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of home care packages available in County Louth each year since 2010. [1257/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 to 644, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters they have 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.