Bernard Durkan
Ceist:182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when he will issue a medical card to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (182)
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 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.
Treatment Abroad Scheme
Ceisteanna (183)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:183. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome; the supports available to sufferers of the syndrome; why there is no specialist clinician to treat sufferers and when they make an application for treatment in the United Kingdom under the Health Service Executive’s treatment abroad scheme, their applications are refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulation 987/09, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland through the issue of form E112 (IE) where the treatment is:
- Among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation,
- Not available in Ireland,
- 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.
Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The presence of a rare illness, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, is not of itself criteria for availing of treatment abroad: most rare diseases are treated without any need for recourse to services in other jurisdictions. It is not possible to give a “blanket” statement on applications to TAS for patients with a particular condition.
All patients in conjunction with their Irish based public referring hospital consultant have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State. Each application to the HSE TAS is reviewed individually on its own merits and there are no restrictions on a person making an application to the HSE TAS for review and decision. Each application is for an individual episode of care unless otherwise specified by the consultant on the application form.
As the other issues raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Ceisteanna (184)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:184. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade or change the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11116/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015.
The Review included a general examination of the operation of the Scheme, as well as the balance between residential care and care in the community. A number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies.
In this regard, an Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. These recommendations include the implementation of administrative reforms to the Scheme, and a review by the National Treatment Purchase Fund of the pricing system for private long-term residential care facilities.
The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This Group is due to report on progress to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.
However, there are no plans to change the level of contributions made by participants in the Scheme towards their cost of care, and this is not part of the Working Group's remit.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (185)
Noel Rock
Ceist:185. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health to re-open an application by a person (details supplied) under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/16]
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 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.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (186)
Noel Rock
Ceist:186. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health to re-open an application by a person (details supplied) under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11144/16]
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 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.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (187)
Noel Rock
Ceist:187. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health to re-open an application by a person (details supplied) under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11146/16]
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 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.
Community Care
Ceisteanna (188)
John McGuinness
Ceist:188. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will conduct an audit to ensure that the buildings it uses to house community primary care teams are fit for purpose; if it will review the grade system across therapists and if therapists will be treated equally in the context of consideration for lead positions or the lead position of primary care teams; if it will include training for the various grades of therapist; if all the community primary care teams have their full compliment of professional and trained staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11161/16]
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.