Written Answers Nos. 435-452
435. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 22 January 2015, the number of persons on the placement list for the nursing homes support scheme; the timeframe for same to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5742/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of the 6 of February 2015 (latest figures available) there were 1,368 people on the national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme with an average wait time of 11 weeks.
436. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5755/15]
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 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.
437. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the re-opening of the 20 beds closed in Belmullet district hospital, County Mayo, to alleviate the overcrowding at Mayo General Hospital, and facilitate the care of very elderly vulnerable patients who are told to move out of the district hospital and find a nursing home bed over 40 miles away; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5766/15]
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.
438. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health when the emergency aeromedical service will be made permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5790/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Aeromedical Support Service (EAS) Establishment Group was set up to examine how best to provide a dedicated EAS service. The group's report was completed late last year and is currently under consideration. Pending a decision, the Department of Defence has agreed that the Air Corps should continue to provide aeromedical support to the EAS until March 2015.
439. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case (details supplied) regarding service boundaries for mental health; if the Health Service Executive will implement a system whereby clients in this part of west Waterford will be able to access south Tipperary mental health services, taking into consideration the difficulties with transport in that area; if a model similar to arrangements in place in south Kilkenny and Waterford could be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5791/15]
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.
440. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health if he will fund a nursing home stay in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare, while that person's nursing home support application is being processed, on the basis that the hospital arranged for the person to be moved directly from Limerick University Hospital to free up an acute bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5816/15]
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.
441. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for a hip operation will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5821/15]
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, 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.
442. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the level of negotiations that have taken place regarding utilising both St. Joseph's long-stay hospital in County Longford and St. Mary's long-stay hospital in Mullingar, County Westmeath as step-down facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5831/15]
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.
443. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the creation and maintenance of Enrol-HD sites here for those suffering from Huntington disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5871/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
444. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the delay in an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if they are likely to get an appointment in the short term. [5884/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular patient query raised by you, 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.
445. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a commitment that the accident and emergency services at the Midland Regional Hospital, County Westmeath, will not be downgraded during the construction of the new accident and emergency department, but will be enhanced when the new €6 million department is fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5888/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
446. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health his plans to further extend eligibility for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5889/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, eligibility for medical cards is set out in the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The Act provides that persons, unable without undue hardship having regard to their overall financial situation to arrange GP services for themselves and family, qualify for a medical card. The Deputy will also be aware of the publication of the Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility and the Medical Card Process Review in November 2014. A key recommendation of the Expert Panel was that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card.
The HSE has discretion, exercised in accordance with the legislation, to grant a medical card where a person's income exceeds the income guidelines. The HSE is obliged to operate within the legal parameters as set out in the Health Act, while also responding to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals who apply for a medical card.
In the light of the conclusions of the two reports a range of actions have been identified to improve the operation of the medical card system, particularly for people with significant medical needs. The HSE has appointed a senior manager, at Assistant National Director level, with specific responsibility for Primary Care Schemes and Eligibility, to lead the reform. A Clinical Advisory Group has been appointed and it will provide an interim report within three months on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. It includes representatives of Our Children's Health and Patients for Patient Safety Ireland.
The HSE is also putting arrangements in place for a more integrated and sensitive processing of medical card applications involving significant medical conditions to ensure greater interaction between the central office regarding the assessment of a person’s eligibility and the local health office regarding the person’s medical condition and the services that they may require. Consequently, the number of medical cards issued, where the HSE has exercised discretion, has increased from approximately 50,300 at the start of 2014 to approximately 76,700 at the start of 2015.
447. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to addressing the transportation issues that have arisen for patients in counties Longford and Westmeath who have to attend hospitals in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5890/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a liver transplant operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [5910/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to making every effort to increase the rate of organ donation and the number of successful transplantations. The enormously positive impact that an organ transplant can have on the life of a recipient, and to the lives of those around them, cannot be overstated.
The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter with them.
449. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of primary care centres being developed in the Dublin Central constituency; the progress made to date on constructing each primary care centre; when each centre is due to open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5911/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the delivery of primary care infrastructure is a service matter your 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 on the matter.
450. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health the options available to patients (details supplied) who are dissatisfied with their care. [5914/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe that it is generally best that complaints are dealt with locally when they occur and all efforts made to resolve them with the patient or person who has the complaint. There are a number of options open to individuals to make a complaint about the health services at present. Part 9 of the Health Act 2004 states that a person has the right to complain about any action of the Health Service Executive (HSE) or a service provider that they believe was not fair or had an adverse affect on them. The HSE has appointed designated Complaints Officers to ensure the effective management of complaints throughout their relevant areas of responsibility. The HSE actively encourages and promotes consumer feedback and links with customers on a regular basis to ensure that the complaint handling processes are effective, are being communicated and are achieving outcomes that are satisfactory to the consumers. The HSE continues to seek improvements in its complaint handling ability and capacity in order to respond to the needs of patients.
If an individual is unhappy with the way in which his/her complaint was dealt with the National Advocacy Unit of the HSE will appoint an independent officer to review the complaint. If an individual is still unhappy with the outcome of this process he/she can request an independent review of the complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children.
Healthcomplaints.ie is an on-line information service which was developed by the Office of the Ombudsman in co-operation with a number of organisations including my Department and the HSE. This service provides information on how to make a complaint or give feedback about health and social care services in Ireland. This website has been developed for people who use health and social care services in Ireland, as well as for their families, care-givers and advocates.
Furthermore, if an individual is unhappy with the level of care provided by a regulated health service professional such as a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional, he/she may make a complaint to that employee's professional regulatory body.
I believe that it is paramount that both patients and their families raise queries or complaints and that they feel that those complaints will be listened to and acted upon.
Finally, it is not possible for me to answer the specific queries raised by the Deputy based on the details supplied. However, l will say that it is a basic tenet of medical practice that all medical procedures carried out require the full and informed consent of the patient.
451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the terms in the general medical service contract and schedule of fees, out-of-hours only, apply when a surgery is not open (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5915/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra452. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding general practitioners and the service they provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5929/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
As this is a service matter, it 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.
