Áine Collins
Ceist:133. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for an emergency medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork [17953/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (133)
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.
HSE Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (134)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:134. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will liaise with the Health Service Executive to ascertain if a person (details supplied) in County Cavan is entitled to a pension in respect of that person's employment over a 14-year period with the old health board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17955/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I 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.
General Practitioner Data
Ceisteanna (135)
Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:135. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who are in receipt of an allowance (details supplied); who have made a legal challenge for entitlement to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17956/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues and is not routinely provided to my Department, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (136)
Joe Carey
Ceist:136. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 12 March 2015, when it is envisaged that a patient (details supplied) in County Clare will undergo a procedure, in view of the fact that the person has been classified as an urgent clinical priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17957/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to my answer of 5 March and 12 March and to the response issued by the HSE on 10 March, which noted that the hospital concerned has a policy for the management of scheduled inpatient care based on clinical prioritisation as indicated by the admitting Consultant specialist at the time of consultation. This is in line with HSE best practice. I also note that the HSE has highlighted that, depending on the specialty involved, the inpatient waiting time can vary and can also be impacted by unscheduled care, which is emergency driven and unpredictable in nature.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
Health Services Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (137)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:137. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take with the Health Service Executive to ensure that moneys in the sum of €7.5 million owed to social care workers in counties Galway and Roscommon in respect of twilight premium time payments, and which have been confirmed by the Labour Court as being properly due and owing over the past eight years, will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17960/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has advised that following a national engagement with staff representatives, agreement was made by the HSE to pay unsocial hours to designated staff.
This payment commenced on 1 January 2015 and no agreement was made in relation to arrears.
Currently the issue of a backdated claim for arrears is being reviewed by the State’s industrial relations processes and the claim is currently before the Labour Relations Commission.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (138)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:138. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a Medical Card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17970/15]
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.
Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (139)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:139. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if there is a specific protocol in place within the Health Service Executive to provide extra support to recently bereaved spouses and their dependent children in cases where they are already in receipt of medical, disability or respite supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17973/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
Orthodontic Services Provision
Ceisteanna (140)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:140. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic braces in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17974/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (141, 165)
Ciaran Lynch
Ceist:141. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided an appointment to treat a spinal injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17976/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCiaran Lynch
Ceist:165. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an appointment for eye treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18018/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 165 together.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The 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 should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific cases raised, 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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (142)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:142. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the removal of amalgam fillings for dental cavities, which have mercury in the debris of these fillings, which is found to be harmful if it leeches into the gums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17978/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minamata Convention on Mercury - a globally binding agreement on mercury was concluded in January 2013. This agreement was introduced for environmental reasons. Among the key points agreed is a phase-down of the use of dental fillings containing mercury amalgam taking into account the domestic circumstances of individual countries. The need to ensure environmentally sound storage and final disposal of the product was also agreed.
The detail of the phase-down of the use of mercury in dental fillings in Ireland is being considered and planned. There are no plans to remove existing dental amalgam fillings. Consideration is being given to the use of alternative materials in new fillings.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (143)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, despite that person being refused and assigned a general practitioner visit card only, in view of the fact that the person receives a disability payment and the person's spouse has a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17980/15]
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.