Barry Cowen
Ceist:631. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment with the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin. [26769/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (631)
Freagraí scríofa
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (632)
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:632. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health when the Wexford satellite dialysis unit will be in operation; if he is aware that the current location is experiencing planning difficulties; if he will seek to find an alternative site for this urgently needed facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26773/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as procurement of healthcare services is a matter for the Executive.
Psychological Services
Ceisteanna (633)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:633. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the interim measures in place to provide psychology services with Offaly early intervention team, EIT, and school age team, SAT, and Laois EIT and SAT until additional psychology posts have been filled. [26774/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (634)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:634. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26783/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Home Help Service Provision
Ceisteanna (635)
Pat Breen
Ceist:635. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will be facilitated with additional home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26792/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (636)
Marc MacSharry
Ceist:636. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26804/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Psychological Assessments
Ceisteanna (637)
Michael McGrath
Ceist:637. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when an application for an assessment of need for a person (details supplied) was received by the HSE; when the assessment will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26814/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Ambulance Service Data
Ceisteanna (638)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:638. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the total number of ambulances which have been dispatched to attend to situations in County Donegal for each month in 2016 to date, in tabular form; the number of these vehicles which were publicly and privately owned in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (639)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:639. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with the services that are appropriate to their assessment; the other options available and the timeframe involved in the absence of the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, providing support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26819/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (640)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:640. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will conduct a review of the services in the Kildare area for children presenting with some learning disabilities including ASD DSM V, including assessment of need and availability of psychologists, occupational therapists and waiting time for speech and language therapy; if there are gaps in service, the way in which and when those gaps will be filled; if other services can be used in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26820/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
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.
Question No. 641 answered with Question No. 558.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Ceisteanna (642)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:642. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) should expect to receive medical equipment from the HSE North-South Lee resource allocation group. [26826/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Drug Treatment Programmes Availability
Ceisteanna (643)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:643. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can remain on the drug Respreeza on compassionate grounds. [26827/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to deciding whether to reimburse a medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.
The NCPE is currently conducting an assessment of Respreeza as maintenance treatment of emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency. Once this assessment is completed, a summary report will be published on the NCPE website. The HSE will then consider the NCPE assessment as part of its decision-making process when considering the drug for reimbursement.
As the NCPE's assessment of Respreeza is ongoing, it is not possible to provide further details at this time.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (644)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:644. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26831/16]
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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
Maternity Leave
Ceisteanna (645)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:645. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provision made in terms of workforce planning for maternity cover in front-line therapy services that are positioned in primary care in view of the dominance of women in professions such as speech and language and occupational therapy; if this is not planned, if it is intended to plan for such events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26837/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With regard to strategic workforce planning, as set out in the Department of Health’s Statement of Strategy 2015 – 2017, the Department has committed to developing a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning, in collaboration with Government Departments and agencies. In the context of integrated models of care, the strategic framework will provide the overarching context for discipline-specific strategic workforce planning in the future.
A cross-sectoral Steering Group has been convened to undertake this work. The Group's deliberations will take into account the issues you raise including feminisation of the workforce and include consultation with key stakeholders.
Maternity cover along with other short-term leave in Primary Care is managed at local level within the Health Service Executive (HSE) and therefore I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (646)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:646. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will grant the HSE urgent funding in order to supply a care package to a person (details supplied) as recommended by the team currently looking after him at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. [26840/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (647)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:647. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26841/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.