Written Answers Nos. 122-132
122. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason that, although a person (details supplied) in County Clare was told in July 2014 that he would have bypass surgery in September 2014, the person continued to wait for the surgery and passed away in April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17907/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sympathies to the family of the person concerned.
As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on the matter. 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.
123. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure that staffing levels and staffing arrangements are adequate in the acute psychiatric unit at Roscommon County Hospital in order that patients can be assured of safe care; if he is satisfied that the care, staffing and staffing arrangements at present are adequate, in view of the tragic passing of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17909/15]
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 within 15 working days please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.
124. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact that all the necessary documentation has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17913/15]
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.
125. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the medical card guidelines require the primary care reimbursement service to take account of a person's distance from medical care, particularly for chronic conditions; if he will confirm that in each individual case, transport and medical costs associated with ongoing care are taken into consideration when assessing an applicant for a medical card on discretionary grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17919/15]
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.
126. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the number and medical specialty and cost of locums for each acute hospital since 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17926/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an explanation of the workings of cost-neutral retirement pension schemes for nurses; if persons who took such an option have the option to seek a review of their pension entitlements or if they can alter their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17932/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2005, the Minister for Finance introduced cost neutral early retirement (CNER) for the public service. Subject to eligibility, the scheme was made available to eligible public servants aged 50/55 years or over (subject to preserved pension age). This facility allows public servants to retire with immediate payment of pension benefits subject to an actuarial reduction to take account of the longer period over which the pension would be paid.
There is no specific CNER scheme for Nurses. Should a retiree (either CNER or otherwise) have a query regarding their pension entitlements or calculations they should contact the Pension Unit of their former employer in the first instance.
I have asked the HSE to forward the relevant CNER Circulars to the Deputy for his information.
128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a nurse who retired early due to difficulties in the workplace in 2014 but did not disclose this at the time of retirement has the option of having his or her pension circumstances reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17933/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
129. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact the person has submitted all relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17935/15]
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.
130. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the lifetime community rating (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17939/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaking out health insurance is optional. Anyone ordinarily resident in the country is entitled, subject to certain charges, to receive public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. People who do not take out health insurance continue to have the same entitlement to services in the public hospital system.
Community rating, reflecting the principle of intergenerational solidarity, is a fundamental cornerstone of the health insurance system. This means that people who are old or sick do not have to pay more than the young and well. Under community rating, the level of risk that a particular consumer poses to an insurer does not directly affect the premium paid. Premiums for younger or healthier lives are typically higher than their expected claims would require, whereas for older or less healthy lives, premiums are typically lower than the expected claims would require.
For Community Rating to work we depend on adequate numbers of younger people taking out health insurance to help keep premium prices down for everybody. Lifetime Community Rating is being introduced to encourage people to take out health insurance at a younger age, thereby helping to spread the costs of older and less healthy people across society, to support affordable community-rated premiums for everyone who wishes to purchase insurance. It is a necessary measure to help support the viability of community rating within our system of health insurance.
It is worth clarifying that those who do not wish to avail of private health insurance will not face a financial penalty. They retain their full entitlement to use of public hospital services. Under Lifetime Community Rating, those who decide to take out health insurance later in life will face an added premium compared to those who have subscribed over a longer period. I am satisfied that this measure is fully justified for the purposes of maintaining a stable insurance market which provides equity of treatment between young and old.
131. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to restore the rheumatology outreach clinic in Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17944/15]
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.
132. Deputy Liam Twomey asked the Minister for Health when a charger for a spinal implant will be supplied in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17947/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. 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.
