Written Answers Nos. 508-520
508. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting list for audiology tests in Ennis, County Clare, is now only dealing with referrals from 2014; the action he will take to deal with those persons referred in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017 that have not yet been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
510. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for the processing of medical card applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16260/17]
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 was issued to Oireachtas Members.
511. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is subject to a full review of a medical card application due to the fact they mistakenly ticked the wrong box on a renewal application. [16262/17]
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.
512. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) with regard to the future direction of health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16272/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established in June 2016 to develop a single long term vision for healthcare over a 10 year period, with cross party support.
As the Deputy has stated, political consensus on the broad direction of health policy is crucial to delivering a real improvement in our health services. The Committee was established on this basis, and in a meeting with the Committee two weeks ago I reiterated my support for its work.
During the Committee’s previous public sessions, a number of people spoke about the issue of difficulties in implementation, and indeed the lack of implementation, of existing strategies and policies. Therefore, I believe that a strong implementation plan, well supported and properly resourced, and backed up with a genuine political and societal consensus to sustain it, is essential to making the necessary change happen. The benefit of a ten year horizon is that it provides a context for carefully planning the evolution of health services and structures so as to avoid unduly disrupting the primary focus on improving care delivery.
In relation to issues raised by the Deputy, it is worth noting that the Committee’s interim reports reference workstreams which include Funding Model, Resource Allocation, and Workforce Planning. Indeed the Committee’s Terms of Reference recognised “the need for consensus at political level on the health service funding model based on population health needs”.
As the Deputy will be aware, I had the opportunity to outline my views recently to the Committee on the future direction of the health service and a number of key priorities that I believe should underpin that future direction. As I expect to receive the final report and recommendations of the Committee later this month, I intend to await the outcome before moving ahead with changes in relation to system design, financing or governance.
513. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter with regard to health care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16273/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established in June 2016 to develop a single long term vision for healthcare over a 10 year period, with cross party support.
At a meeting with the Committee two weeks ago, I outlined my views on the future direction of the health service and a number of key priorities that I believe should underpin that future direction. In sharing my perspective with the Committee, I reiterated my belief that political consensus on the broad direction of health policy is crucial to delivering a real improvement in our health services.
I also acknowledged the importance of taking a planned approach to any reforms and improvements to ensure that the health service remains capable of delivering services. The benefit of a ten year horizon is that it provides a context for carefully planning the evolution of structures so as to avoid unduly disrupting the primary focus on improving care delivery.
During the Committee’s previous public sessions, a number of people spoke about the issue of implementation, and indeed the lack of implementation of existing strategies and policies. I agree with the Deputy that a strong implementation plan, well supported and properly resourced, is essential to making change happen. In this regard I also note that the Committee’s interim reports reference a workstream on Implementation and Monitoring.
As I expect to receive the final report and recommendations of the Committee later this month, I intend to await the outcome before moving ahead with changes in relation to system design, financing or governance.
514. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the care pathway and level of unmet need in primary and secondary care health services for children who could be diagnosed with ADHD, whose estimated number in the child population is reported as several multiples of the capacity of secondary care CAMHS services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16276/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
515. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the quoted CAMHS standard operating procedure. SOP, in terms of the proportion of CAMHS staff, including consultant child psychiatrists, that have signed agreement to the SOP as is required before implementation as per HSE policy and in terms of other issues (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16277/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
516. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a drug (details supplied) will be covered under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16279/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
518. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a physiotherapy appointment through the HSE in respect of a person (details supplied). [16281/17]
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.
519. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) and schedule an urgent appointment for this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16283/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
520. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if 95% of general practitioners with whom suicidal persons are registered will receive a completed emergency care plan within 24 hours, as recommended by the national clinical programme for the assessment and management of persons presenting to emergency departments following self-harm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16294/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
