Written Answers Nos. 257-274
257. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an over-80 discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35389/15]
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.
259. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the appropriate supports and interventions in the care of dementia, which affects a significant number of persons and their families, in particular for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35393/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. This delivers on a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer's and other dementia strategy to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and develop enhanced community based services.
The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement 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 Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m, and the HSE contributing €15.5m.
This programme will promote a greater focus on timely diagnosis of dementia and on the value of early intervention, along with the long-term objective of making people in Ireland generally more aware and understanding of the needs of people with dementia, and of the contribution that those with dementia continue to make to our society.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home-care 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. The Group also includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia. The most recent meeting of this Monitoring Group was held on 24 September 2015.
As the delivery of dementia services 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.
260. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will review the application procedures adopted by the Health Service Executive for an elective procedure abroad, to ensure these procedures are in line with the European Union Directive 2011/24/EU (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35394/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the guidelines published on the Health Service Executive website (details supplied) with regard to accessing health care abroad under the cross-border directive are sufficiently clear as to patient rights under the directive, and the mechanisms by which they can exercise those rights; and if he will consider ordering a review of the wording of those guidelines, so that patients' rights are clearly and simply outlined in them. [35500/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra316. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the national contact point system for co-ordinating Ireland's commitment to the cross-border directive does not contravene the European Commission's requirement that member states do not operate obstructive application procedures for citizens accessing public health care, given certain matters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35684/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 289 and 316 together.
The procedures employed by the HSE are in line with the requirements of the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare (2011/24/EU) and the Statutory Instruments which give effect to the Directive in this State. Those S.I.s ensure full conformity with the Directive and its aims of ensuring EU citizens may access safe and good quality healthcare across EU borders.
The measures employed by the HSE ensure Irish patients who seek to have healthcare abroad under the terms of the Directive are assisted with access to the information they need to make an informed choice, and following any episode of healthcare abroad in line with the Directive, they are promptly reimbursed for the cost of the healthcare upon return to Ireland. I am satisfied that the measures in place in respect of the application procedures are proportionate and do not constitute an unjustified obstacle to the free movement of patients. Furthermore, I consider the prior authorisation process provides patients seeking hospital care which requires overnight accommodation with an assurance on the level of reimbursement they will receive.
The HSE, in producing its website, including the pages relevant to this Directive, works at all times to use plain, understandable English, particularly in areas of the site that describe services for the public. This is with a view that the website is understandable to all. My Department and the HSE will keep the information provided on the Directive pages under regular review, as would be the case in respect of any new scheme, and will update them as required based on experience and feedback received. My Department has discussed the matters raised by the Deputies with the HSE and any updates required to those webpages will be promptly implemented.
The phone line provided for this scheme, 056 7784546, is constantly manned during working hours. Due to a high level of interest in this scheme, the number of calls can exceed the number of available personnel and on those occasions there may be a delay in calls being answered.
262. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a rheumatoid specialist nurse will be appointed to Kerry General Hospital, given the urgent need for this post to be filled due to the extended waiting list for rheumatoid diagnosis and treatment in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35401/15]
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.
263. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the representations of many disability organisations in relation to the 45,000 jobs under the capital investment framework; when the plans for employment in the disability sector will be announced for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35408/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn his statement on the launch of Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016 – 2021 (29 September 2015) my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin T.D., indicated that an estimated 45,000 construction jobs will be supported as a result of the Exchequer investment across the public sector. While the remit of the Department of Health does not encompass issues relating to open labour market employment, I support any measures aimed at promoting the employment of people with disabilities. I also welcome the publication of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015-2024) which was launched by An Taoiseach Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. on 2nd October 2015. The strategy was prepared under the aegis of the National Disability Strategy and the Department of Justice & Equality and requires a cross-government approach that brings together actions by different departments and state agencies to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities.
264. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if he has had meetings, or is proposing to meet with, an association (details supplied) in Dublin 20 regarding home help hours, the occupational therapy access service, independent living and or housing exchange, to meet the needs of their members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35409/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to meet with this Group at present. Work is currently underway in the Department of Health in relation to the preparation of budget estimates for 2016. As part of this process, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016, including health and personal social services for people with a disability. As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing within the Department of Health, with the HSE and with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of the process at this stage.
265. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in developing support and advocacy services for older persons; if these services are available in all care settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35412/15]
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.
266. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health given that there are 4,000 persons under 65 years of age diagnosed with dementia, if he will outline the assessment and diagnostic and post diagnostic supports available for younger persons with dementia; how accessible these supports are; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35428/15]
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.
267. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm if the practice of on-call or sleepover duty is permitted in residential care facilities; if so, if this leads to staff exceeding a 48-hour working week; the rates of pay for sleepover duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35441/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver 8,000 people with disabilities in Ireland live in over 900 residential settings of various types. These include homes that provide a 24/7, 365 days a year service and community based models which are staffed for certain parts of the evening, night and weekends. Residential services are provided by over 60 agencies. Residential settings vary in size from large congregated settings defined as 10 or more bedded facilities to community group homes to supported independent living.
In community group homes, the model of care is based on providing a family type residence with a house parent who sleeps over in the house but is very rarely required to be active during the night. The rate of payment for the sleepover has been determined by the Labour Court Recommendation 20837 which states that ‘Having regard to all the circumstances currently prevailing, the Court recommends that, with effect from the date of this Recommendation, staff should be paid an hourly rate in respect of each hour spent on sleepover in excess of 39 hours equal to the national minimum hourly rate.’
The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) provides that workers shall not be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week. It is currently not clear what proportion of these staff are compliant with the EWTD. However this is being addressed by a data collection exercise which the HSE has commenced. Using the results of the data collection exercise, the HSE will draw up an EWTD compliance plan for the disability sector for approval by my Department. This plan will establish clearly what the overall level of compliance is within the disability services and will set out a timeline for compliance with the EWTD.
268. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the north Dublin area who suffer with autism and have not yet been allocated an adult service after moving from a service in their childhood and teenage years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35442/15]
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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
269. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment in Tallaght General Hospital in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35445/15]
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 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 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.
270. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of surgical procedures that were carried out in each of the past two years for scoliosis of the spine; the locations where these procedures took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35447/15]
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 days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
271. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants available who carry our surgical procedures for scoliosis; the hospitals where these consultants are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35448/15]
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 days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
272. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding dental services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35449/15]
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.
273. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has to wait so long for spinal surgery; when the person will be called for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35450/15]
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.
274. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the return of a person to employment in the Health Service Executive (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/15]
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.
