Tuesday, 26 Apr 2016

Written Answers Nos. 254-268

Ambulance Service

Ceisteanna (254, 255, 256, 257, 258)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

254. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance shifts in the north-east national ambulance service area which have not been covered per month since the beginning of 2016. [8005/16]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

255. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the location of the ambulance stations in the north-east national ambulance service area where shifts were not covered and the time of these shifts, since the beginning of 2016. [8006/16]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

256. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of incidents where an ambulance has not been operational in the north-east region since the beginning of 2016 due to lack of personnel to cover the shift. [8007/16]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

257. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of national ambulance service employees in the north-east region who are currently on long-term sick leave. [8008/16]

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

258. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of national ambulance service employees who are currently on long-term sick leave due to work related stress. [8009/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 to 258, inclusive, together.

With regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Ceisteanna (259)

Regina Doherty

Ceist:

259. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide for the funding and provision of special footwear to a person (details supplied) on the basis of ability matters; and the reason for the delay in same. [8010/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (260)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

260. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for orthopaedic hip replacement surgery in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8014/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Ceisteanna (261)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

261. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the latest plans and timetable to replace the accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital with a new and modern facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8015/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Ceisteanna (262)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

262. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be scheduled for an urgent spinal fusion operation required; if the person can access the required, urgent treatment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8020/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE operates two schemes for those seeking healthcare treatment outside of this State. I understand that the HSE has yet to receive an application for either scheme from this individual. 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 HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments through the issue of form E112 (IE) where the treatment is: among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation; not available in Ireland, and/or not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease. Under the TAS, an Irish based referring consultant must carry out a clinical assessment and certify that the treatment is: medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs; a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment; and provided in a recognised hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form E112 (IE) and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.

The Health Service Executive also operates the EU Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. The Cross Border Directive (CBD) allows Irish residents to avail of reimbursement for healthcare services in other EU or EEA Member States that they would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, which is not contrary to Irish legislation. The costs must be borne by the individual and he/she then seeks reimbursement for the cost of the healthcare upon return to Ireland. The cost of the services availed of under the CBD will be reimbursed at the cost of the service in the country where it is availed of or the identified cost here in Ireland, whichever is the lesser.

The HSE provides information on these schemes on its website, including application forms and contact details - http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatmentabroad/ and http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (263)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

263. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8022/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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 HSE, 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.

Medical Card Appeals

Ceisteanna (264)

Regina Doherty

Ceist:

264. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health if consideration can be given to reinstating a medical card to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [8030/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 recently 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Ceisteanna (265)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

265. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8031/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Ceisteanna (266)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

266. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [8035/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Ceisteanna (267)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

267. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment at Beaumont Hospital for a person (details supplied). [8036/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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 HSE, 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.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Ceisteanna (268)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

268. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8037/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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 HSE, 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.