Written Answers Nos. 455-471
455. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure that reports that a child has spent three weeks in an adult psychiatric unit will not be replicated; if he will confirm that all vacancies in child and adolescent psychiatric units are recorded, and that no child is required to stay in units that are designed only for adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2198/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that reports that a child has spent three weeks in an adult psychiatric unit will not be replicated; if he will reassure Dáil Éireann that all vacancies in child and adolescent psychiatric units are recorded, and that no child is required to stay in units that are designed only for adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7695/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
As this is a service matter, these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
457. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 428 of 16 December 2014, and in view of correspondence (details supplied), if the 16 closed beds in paediatric services in Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24 for in excess of 18 months have been used for other purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7990/15]
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 with them.
458. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a case (details supplied) regarding the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7993/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe employment and other related issues raised are primarily a matter for the HSE. However, given the nature of the details provided my Department sought a report from the HSE.
The HSE has advised that the person's complaints are detailed and complex and require a comprehensive review by an independent party to the HSE with a view to categorisation and classification of the complaints into specific issues. Once completed a determination will be made at that point on the methodology of how the complaints will be dealt with. My Department has asked the HSE to keep it informed as consideration is progressed.
459. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise those employees who are categorised as sessional workers, but have long-service records with the Health Service Executive, in respect of sick pay superannuation and other social entitlements; the number of persons in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8028/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, as sanctioned by the Minister for Health, set out the salaries for public health service staff. These salary scales must be strictly adhered to and in no circumstances should an employee receive remuneration in the nature of pay and allowances of an amount greater than the amount prescribed.
In the first instance, sessional rates were intended for payment to self employed individuals providing a part-time or temporary service to the HSE. The HSE has advised that there are currently 380 individuals in receipt of sessional rates of pay. However, my Department is aware that certain individuals in receipt of sessional rates of pay are employees even though sessional rates of pay were never sanctioned for payment to employees (under contracts of service) and has requested the HSE to regularise these employees to ensure compliance with the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales.
Each individual case must be examined by the HSE to determine whether the individual meets the criteria for employee status as opposed to being a self employed contractor.
460. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce consultants fees, and pay, within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5719/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsultant Contract 2008 sets out the relative volume of private practice that may be undertaken by consultants, depending on the individual contract held. Depending on contract type, a consultant may have no access to private practice (Type A contract holders), a cap of 20% private activity for newly appointed consultants (Type B) or a cap of up to 30% in the case of certain existing consultants.
The level of fees charged by a consultant who sees a patient privately is a matter between the consultant and the patient. The fees arising may be met personally by the patient concerned, by the patient's health insurer, or a combination of the two depending on the extent, if any, to which the patient has insurance cover for the service provided. I have no authorisation to set or adjust the fees that consultants charge in their private capacity.
Significant steps have been taken to make savings from hospital consultants pay in recent years. The salary scales for new entrant consultants' were reduced by 10% with effect from 1 January 2011. A further reduction of 30% was applied to these scales for those interviewed for posts on or after 1 October 2012. However, this later reduction has been restored to a significant degree, pursuant to a related recommendation by the MacCraith Group. In addition, on 1 July 2013 consultants' pay was reduced in line with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013.
An essential component of the approach to addressing the State’s fiscal difficulties has been the firm focus on improving public service efficiency and effectiveness. Consultants have been subject to changes in work practices under the Public Service Agreement and the HRA. These include the range of flexibilities agreed at the LRC in September 2012 to enhance productivity and efficiency and the additional hours under the HRA. I have no plans to reduce consultant pay any further.
461. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if acupuncture, massage-based therapy and reflexology will be available to Magdalen women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6975/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, which was published by the Minister for Justice, completed Report and Final Stages in the Dáil last week.
The Bill is to make provision for services to be made available without charges to certain women who were admitted to and worked in certain institutions. The Bill also ensures that those women shall not be required to pay charges for acute in-patient services, and to amend the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
While the final provisions of the Bill will be determined on completion of the Oireachtas debate, I am aware that there is no provision in the Bill for the services referred to by the Deputy.
However, as alluded to by the Minister for Justice during the course of the Dáil debates on the Bill, at her request, her officials will look at the question of providing some funding to the participants in the redress scheme so that they may avail of complementary therapies. This would be a separate scheme run on an administrative rather than statutory basis.
462. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the processing of first-time applicants (details supplied) for medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8065/15]
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.
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.
463. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views on the effects on services offered in physiotherapy in Ballymun Health Centre, Dublin 11, due to the moratorium on recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8067/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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.
464. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Health when the location of the 50 new paramedic posts for the west of Ireland will be posted; if he will provide this data, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8073/15]
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 with them.
465. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is within his remit to consider the health needs of preschool children, with special needs, starting their education in September 2015, if he will ensure enough assessments are made available in good time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8080/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the provision of health and personal social services including disability services for children. The Executive is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years). The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties, with health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential.
The Programme is a key priority for the HSE’s Social Care Directorate. An additional €4m was allocated in 2014 to assist in implementing the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. Further investment of €4 million will also be made to support the development of therapy services in 2015 (equating to €6 million in a full year). Close collaboration between the health and education sectors on children's disability issues is greatly facilitated by the dedicated Cross Sectoral Team, which is in place, comprising representatives of the Departments of Health, Education and Skills, and Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE, NCSE and NEPS.
My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the detailed operational issues that she has raised concerning health needs encompassing therapy supports and assessments for pre-school children with a disability or development delay. 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.
466. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the status of an application under the fair deal scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8081/15]
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.
467. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the overall cost of converting hospitals and community care databases to accommodate Eircode. [8090/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. 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.
468. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [8104/15]
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.
469. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a day care centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8111/15]
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 response within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
470. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will review the decision to decline the Resorcylidene Aminoguanidine, RAG, application in respect of a child ( details supplied) in County Cork. [8112/15]
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. 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.
471. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the timeframe which persons with dyslexia and dyspraxia typically wait to access therapies following their diagnosis; if he will provide information on the way persons are currently waiting to access such therapies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8117/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular issue raised by the Deputy 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. 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.
