Written Answers Nos. 658 - 675
658. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if support and funding will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20184/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and their family to pursue this matter with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at Disability Services, HSE Kerry, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry, telephone 066-7199721.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the 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.
659. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the supports being extended in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Cork who has special needs; when an assessment for autism spectrum disorder will be carried out; the steps being taken to ensure the ongoing needs of the child are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20195/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
660. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the reason the hospital groups do not have the same designated geographic area as the community health care organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report “The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a Transition to Independent Hospital Trusts” was published in February 2013. This report recommended the establishment of seven Hospital Groups which have now been set up on a non-statutory administrative basis.
In October 2014, the HSE launched the Community Health care Organisations (CHO) Report. The Report sets out plans for a comprehensive reorganisation of health services outside the acute hospital system into nine CHOs. The primary focus is to meet the maximum proportion of people's care needs in the communities where they live and to achieve joined-up, integrated services.
In determining the optimum organisational model for the CHOs, the HSE identified a requirement for integration between the different parts of the community health care services; between community health care services and acute hospitals; with wider public service organisations such as local authorities, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), the education sector and An Garda Síochána, and with local voluntary organisations.
The option selected was arrived at after consideration of a number of options, details of which are contained in the HSE report on Community Health care Organisations. The option selected was deemed the most appropriate on the basis that it met a key requirement of linking primary care teams and networks with acute hospitals; it provided a strong basis for linkage with local authority boundaries and it struck an appropriate balance between an organisation of sufficiently large scale to support organisation and business capability, while at the same time being of sufficiently small scale to provide the local community connection and response required to deliver integrated care.
The CHO structures became effective in January 2015. It is envisaged that the principal day-to-day linkages at clinical and patient level will be between the primary care networks and the relevant service within the Hospital Group. There will also be significant inter-Hospital Group interfaces for certain national services and it is envisaged that individual CHOs will interface with hospitals from more than one Hospital Group. Work to give effect to these interfaces is comprehended by the reform programmes currently underway in the HSE.
661. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for cataract operations, per county; the length of time they are waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20204/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra662. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the cost to clear the current cataract waiting list; if he will provide funding for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20205/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra663. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting times for cataract operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20206/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 661 to 663, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
664. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, who was previously waiting for three years for a cataract operation, has now been placed on a new list and informed that she will be waiting a further two years; if this case will be reviewed for priority treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20207/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. In relation to the specific case 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.
665. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason some general practitioners are charging medical card patients for taking blood; his views on whether this is acceptable; if he will instruct general practitioners to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20210/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition.
I have been advised by the HSE that its Local Health Offices will fully investigate any reported incidents of eligible patients being charged for phlebotomy services which form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2015 commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract commencing no later than 31 March 2015 with a view to concluding within 12 months. These discussions have commenced and the appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will be considered in this context.
666. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a link to where the medical card assessment guidelines are currently published on the Health Service Executive website. [20212/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe links for the HSE's Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines and the HSE's Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines for People aged 70 years are as follows: www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/mc/forms/medicalcardguidelines2015.pdf and www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/mc/forms/over70guidelines.pdf.
667. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive will not agree to an independent psychologist conducting a cognitive assessment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo which the family has offered to fund and make the information fully available to the executive. [20213/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
668. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who is in extreme pain has to wait an estimated eight months for an urgent lumbar discectomy operation, either in the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, or in Cappagh Hospital, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20214/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 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.
669. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the fact that there are not sufficient general practitioners outside the Dublin area who have level 1 or 2 training to dispense methadone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20224/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
670. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange a review of a case in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20227/15]
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.
671. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for treatment by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
672. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason persons who are in possession of a medical card are required to pay extra charges for blood tests, particularly those persons who require blood to be taken regularly. [20274/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is required to pay an extra charge for blood tests. [20275/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 together.
Persons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition.
I have been advised by the HSE that its Local Health Offices will fully investigate any reported incidents of eligible patients being charged for phlebotomy services which form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2015 commits the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO to substantive negotiations on a new comprehensive GP contract commencing no later than 31 March 2015 with a view to concluding within 12 months. These discussions have commenced and the appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will be considered in this context.
674. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons diagnosed with phenylketonuria in the years 2012 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; the number who have been referred to the national centre for inherited metabolic disorders in those years; the overall number of citizens with phenylketonuria who register at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20296/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
675. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive a hospital appointment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20300/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. In relation to the specific case 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.
