Written Answers Nos. 403-424
403. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the need for keyhole surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25689/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 they will follow up the matter with them.
404. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25696/15]
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.
405. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health if certain public health services are unavailable to persons (details supplied) who lose a medical card due to exceeding the income thresholds, assuming they have the affordability to pay for any service required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25698/15]
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.
406. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive currently provides funding to fund general practitioner out-of-hours cover; if he will provide, in tabular form, the total amount of such funding which has been allocated per region since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25722/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding, which has been made available to the out-of-hours general practitioner service Now Doc Donegal, in tabular form, since the year 2010; the way this funding was utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 407 together.
As the information requested by the Deputy relates to service issues, 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.
408. 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 the relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25727/15]
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.
409. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is an over-reliance on nursing homes due to changes in payments and services for elderly persons living at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25732/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy will continue to prioritise facilitating older people to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, and ensuring that appropriate residential care is available when it is needed.
When the stage is reached where an older person can no longer remain at home, the State provides financial support through the Nursing Homes Support Scheme for those who need long-term residential care. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Scheme is currently the subject of a Review. This review is considering the Scheme’s long term sustainability as well as looking at how well the current model of provision is balancing residential care with care in the community, and whether this needs to be adjusted to better reflect what older people want.
While there will always be a need for long-term residential care, older people have consistently said that they want to be facilitated and supported to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
The HSE provides a range of community-based services aimed at ensuring older people receive safe, timely and appropriate care and treatment at the lowest level of complexity, and as close to home as possible. Services are provided on a prioritised basis based on a care needs assessment and availability of resources.
In its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2015 the HSE stated that it will continue to progress the strategic realignment of services to provide home care and community support services in order to maximise the potential of older people in their own homes and communities. The levels of home supports planned for in the NSP are: 10.3 million hours of home help service supporting 50,000 people - this is same level of service as 2014;13,800 people in receipt of a home care packages at any one time - this includes an additional 600 people supported under the delayed discharges initiative; 190 people in receipt of an intensive home care package at any one time - these packages were introduced for the first time in 2014 for people with more complex care needs.
410. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of employing an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthetist and support staff to fully staff a paediatric orthopaedic theatre for scoliosis corrective procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25759/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the 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.
411. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total number of corrective scoliosis procedures performed in a year by a team, including an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthetist and support staff; the total number (in tabular form) of staff and procedures performed in the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25760/15]
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.
412. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a knee operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25761/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. 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.
413. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position concerning taxi rank facilities at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25762/15]
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.
414. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment at Cork University Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25800/15]
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.
415. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans or the plans of the Health Service Executive to extend and refurbish the existing oncology room space in Kerry General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25838/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 they will follow up the matter with them.
416. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for April 2014 and April 2015 for each local health area the number of medical cards in circulation generally and for those over 70 years of age; and if he will provide for each of these the number which were issued on a discretionary basis [25874/15]
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.
417. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the reason Sligo General Hospital has suspended dermatology services in the outreach clinic at Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal; the reason the service was suspended; if he will ensure that the clinics are resumed as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25884/15]
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.
418. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment for orthopaedic surgery will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25886/15]
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.
419. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, for April 2014 and April 2015 for each local health area the number of general practitioner visit cards in circulation generally and for those over 70 years of age; and if he will provide for each of these the number which were issued on a discretionary basis [25887/15]
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.
420. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and expedite an application for a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25910/15]
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.
421. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the Health Protection Surveillance Centre's final report on Lyme borreliosis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25919/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has established a Lyme Borreliosis Sub-committee, the aim of which is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order to minimise the harm caused by of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland. These strategies will be published in a Final Report. The inaugural meeting of this group took place on May 6th 2015.
The initial work of the Lyme Borreliosis Sub-committee will involve a survey of laboratory methods for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis in Ireland, the development of Lyme borreliosis guidance for general practitioners, the publication of medical media articles to highlight diagnostics and laboratory methods relating to Lyme borreliosis available in Ireland for general practitioners, and ongoing work in drawing together the Final Report of the Sub-committee.
Given the extent of this work, it is intended that the group will have completed its work and will have made the draft Final Report available for consultation by the end of Quarter 2 2016.
422. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of persons registered with the health service as suffering from Alzheimer's disease and-or dementia who are living in their own homes in Dublin and in Ireland; if he will provide an estimate of the numbers suffering silently in their own homes and not registered with the health service; and if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the services that are currently available to such persons, including services available in a community setting and in their own homes. [25936/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is estimated that there are approximately 50,000 people living with dementia in Ireland today. These numbers are expected to increase to over 140,000 by 2041 as the number of older people in Ireland increases.
The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. This delivers on a commitment in our Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer’s and other dementia's strategy to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and develop enhanced community based services. The Strategy emphasises that most people with dementia live in their own communities and can continue to live well and to participate in those communities for far longer than many people appreciate.
The Strategy distinguishes between those Actions that can be progressed within existing resources and others to be addressed as more resources become available. An Office has been established within the HSE to lead the implementation of the Strategy. The consolidation of functions that were previously dispersed will have a very significant effect in generating and maintaining momentum and driving change.
A diagnosis of dementia is often accompanied by confusion and distress. Those affected and their families don’t know where to turn, and the very clear message from those affected by dementia was that clear information and guidance is critical. For this reason GPs are a key focus of the Strategy as they are very often the first port of call for people concerned about dementia. Work to deliver better information to GPs, both clinical and relating to relevant local services, is being lead by Dr. Tony Foley, who is himself a GP and was a member of the Group that advised on the Strategy's formal actions.
The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to accelerate the implementation of significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme will represent a combined investment of €27.5m, with the HSE contributing €15.5m and Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m.
Key elements of the initiative include the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Homecare Packages for people with dementia; the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia. The resource material will include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points, etc. Measures to raise public awareness, address stigma, and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia. A Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health, has been established to assist with and advise on implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, including the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme. This Group includes health professionals, administrators, researchers, and advocates. In addition, the Group includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia.
423. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the process for the implementation of the national drugs strategy beyond September 2016; if the new strategy will include alcohol prevention measures as part of the overall strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, I will be leading the development of the Drugs Strategy for the period after 2016. My intention over the coming months is to lay the groundwork for a concise and focused policy, placing a clear emphasis on the practical implementation of actions.
This work will include an assessment of the extent to which the current Strategy has provided an effective policy response to the drug problem. An examination of the approach to drugs policy and practice in other jurisdictions will also help to identify any additional evidence-based approaches which might be considered in an Irish context.
The new Strategy will provide an integrated policy approach to substance misuse, including a broad public health approach to tobacco and alcohol, as well as other substances which are subject to control or prohibition.
424. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update and timeframe as to when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive a refund of a prescription charge for which the person applied in October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25962/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (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.
