Written Answers Nos. 793-815
793. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of monthly meetings of the HSE's national performance oversight group which have taken place to date and the dates of such meetings. [13088/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs monthly meetings of the National Performance Oversight Group (NPOG) is a Health Service Executive (HSE) operational matter, the question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
794. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions on which any senior manager or CEO of any hospital or hospital group has been brought before the HSE's national performance oversight group for underperformance. [13089/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs management of senior managers and Hospital and Hospital Group CEOs by the National Performance Oversight Group (NPOG) is a Health Service Executive (HSE) operational matter, the question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
795. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who have been waiting less than three months, between three and six months, between six and nine months, between nine and 18 months, and greater than 18 months for occupational therapy with occupational therapy services in County Sligo, in tabular form. [13094/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
796. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 March 2017; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [13115/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table displays the number of medical cards as of 1 March 2017. These figures were provided by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service to the Department of Health.
|
Type of Card |
Number of cards nationally |
|
Medical Cards (inclusive of discretionary) |
1,658,730 |
|
GP Visit Cards (inclusive of discretionary) |
475,184 |
|
Discretionary Medical Cards |
118,228 |
|
Discretionary GP Visit Cards |
35,350 |
797. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds and their location in County Kildare for persons with intellectual disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
798. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in County Kildare; the length of time the children have been waiting; if measures will be taken to deal with the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
799. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of the Alzheimer's day care centre for south Kildare which is currently being housed in Moore Abbey; if there are plans to move this specific service to Drogheda Street, Monasterevin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
800. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason for a three-year delay in patients being seen by the weight management multi-disciplinary team in St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13134/17]
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.
801. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations between his Department and pharmaceutical companies to secure an agreed price for the drug Sativex (details supplied). [13166/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the reimbursement of approved products in Ireland and suppliers of such products must apply to the HSE for reimbursement approval.
I am advised that, following receipt of an application from the supplier for the inclusion of Sativex on the High Tech Scheme, the HSE assessed the medicine in line with their statutory responsibility. The HSE issued the manufacturers with notice of its intention not to reimburse. It is open to the supplier to make a new application for this product, in the context of the previous findings.
802. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of regulation for the sale and supply of hearing instruments and hearing assessments; his plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13169/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am having the matters raised by the Deputy examined and I will reply directly to him.
803. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children currently on HSE waiting lists, by region and county, for hearing assessments and-or the fitting of a hearing aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13170/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
804. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the HSE's plans to reduce waiting lists for hearing assessments and the fitting of hearing aids for both adults and children; if these plans will include a public competitive tender whereby qualified personnel will be a prerequisite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13171/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
805. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the addition of the drug Questran light to the GMS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13172/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
806. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans for the introduction of the anomaly scan at Cavan General Hospital; if it will be available full time at the hospital; the number of days per week it will be available at the hospital; the date for introduction of this service in the last quarter of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13189/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Maternity Strategy is very clear that all women must have equal access to standardised ultrasound services and, consequently, the issue of anomaly scanning is a priority issue for the newly established HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP). An early priority for the Programme will be to develop clinical guidance regarding routine detailed scans at 20 weeks. In the meantime, the NWIHP will continue to work with the six Hospital Groups to assist in increasing access to anomaly scans for those units with limited availability.
One of the current challenges to increase access to anomaly scans is the recruitment of ultra-sonographers. In this context it is expected that the establishment of maternity networks across hospital groups will assist in developing a sustainable model that ensures that all women within each hospital group can access anomaly scans.
In relation to the particular query raised concerning Cavan General Hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
807. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a hospital appointment. [13193/17]
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.
809. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2016 the EU cross-border health care directive, which allows Irish citizens obtain treatment in other member states, cost the HSE €2.2 million, an increase of €500,000 on 2015; the detail of the services that were approved since the directive started; the amount that was allocated to mental health under the directive and in particular to residential addiction treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/17]
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 Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
810. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment and treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13207/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
811. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 524 of 7 March 2017, the details of the mechanism by which inflation in construction costs from 3% to 9% accounts for a cost increase for the new children's hospital from €404 million in 2012 to over €1 billion currently. [13208/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Final Project Brief for the new children’s hospital sets out the costs and funding proposals for the construction of the core hospital and satellite centres, including VAT provision, risk provision, all fees, decant, external works, enabling costs and project management costs. Importantly, it also includes commercial spaces (underground carpark and retail space), higher education facilities, the Children’s Research and Innovation Centre, and equipment.
I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government in the coming weeks on the new children's hospital, in which details of the costs and funding for the project will be set out. Following consideration of these matters by Government, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board will be in a position to respond to you directly regarding details of the inflation in construction coats and the impact on the overall project cost.
812. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 524 of 7 March 2017, the reason the €605 million estimate for the cost of the children's hospital calculated in 2015 was cited in that response and not the original estimate from 2012, of €404 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13209/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) was appointed in 2013 to design, build and equip the new children’s hospital at St James's Hospital.
€650 million of Exchequer funding was approved in 2014 for the core construction of the new children's hospital together with the two Satellite Centres on the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals. This funding was approved following a cost estimate that commenced in 2013 and was completed in early 2014. This relates to the project at the St. James’s campus.
813. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a wheelchair applied for in January 2017. [13218/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
814. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a full medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13222/17]
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 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.
815. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one child psychologist is employed by the HSE in Cork south to deal with over 200 referrals per year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
