Written Answers Nos 1348-1367
1349. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the request by a person (details supplied) for HSE funding to assist with third level studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28076/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the provision of personal assistants is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for consideration of the particular circumstances in this case and direct reply to the Deputy.
1350. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an orthotics request by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28079/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1351. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the resources, including staffing levels, for the ambulance service in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28084/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1352. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the rate of admissions to stroke units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28085/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1353. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve inadequate levels of nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical nutritionists and speech and language therapists for stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28086/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1355. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the cost of standardising thrombolysis services across the hospital network in every hospital treating stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28088/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1356. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will standardise thrombolysis services across the hospital network in every hospital treating stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28089/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1360. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital community stroke liaison workers currently employed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28093/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1361. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the entitlement of stroke survivors to rehabilitation services; his plans to develop a system to monitor and improve these services with set objectives and timeframes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28094/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1365. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists serving stroke patients here; his views on whether this is adequate to treat the often complex emotional and psychological impacts of stroke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28098/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1352, 1353, 1355, 1356, 1360, 1361 and 1365 together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1354. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals that have access to a medical social worker; the number of hospitals that have access to a neuropsychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28087/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1357. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the success of the early supported discharge programme in the Galway region; his plans to roll this out further across rural areas of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28090/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1358. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the cost of rolling out early supported discharge programmes nationally for stroke patients in areas in which this would improve patient outcomes and free up acute hospital beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28091/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1359. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans for early supported discharge programmes nationally for stroke patients in view of the fact that this would improve patient outcomes and free up acute hospital beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28092/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1357 to 1359, inclusive, together.
As this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1362. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which persons with stroke living in nursing homes must pay for rehabilitation services privately or receive no services; if he will ensure that this practice no longer continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28095/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual's eligibility status is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive.
Persons with full eligibility are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service. Other services such as allied health professional services may be available to medical card holders. With the exception of prescribed drugs and medicines, which are subject to a €2.50 charge per prescribed item (maximum of €25 month per month per individual/family), for those under 70 years, and €2 per item (maximum of €20 per month) to those over 70 years, these services are provided free of charge.
Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €800 in any twelve consecutive months. There is also a charge of €100 for attendance at Accident & Emergency departments unless, inter alia, the person has a referral letter from their General Practitioner.
1363. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons under 65 years of age account for one in every four strokes, yet home care packages are not tailored to the specific needs of persons who could be living with the side effects of strokes for decades; his plans to create an entitlement to home care which is appropriate for stroke survivors of all ages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28096/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE’s Home Care Package scheme aims to help people with medium-to-high support needs to continue to live at home independently. Home Care Packages consist of community services and supports which may be provided to assist a person, depending on their individual assessed care needs, to return home from hospital or residential care or to remain at home where mainstream or normal levels of services are insufficient.
The services provided in a Home Care Package may include nursing and therapies (for example - physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy), respite care and aids or appliances which may be relevant to the needs of stroke survivors. The services delivered are based upon the assessed client needs and the level of other supports already provided such as Home Help services.
Intensive Home Care Packages is a limited service which allows people who require a very high level of assistance to be discharged home from acute hospitals or avoid admission. They include supports over and above those provided as part of a standard Home Care Package or current community services.
The Department is currently developing policy proposals for the future financing and regulation of home care, including the Home Help Service and Home Care Packages. An important step in this process is a public consultation process which will be launched shortly. The purpose of this consultation is to allow all those who have views on this topic to have their say, including older people themselves, their families, and healthcare workers.
1364. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund a properly resourced stroke register along with a rolling audit cycle incorporating acute, rehabilitation and community services every three years to ensure that service deficits are identified and addressed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the stroke register receives no dedicated funding and operates in only two thirds of hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28097/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Stroke Audit (2016) acknowledged that the care of people with stroke in Ireland has improved since the HSE established its National Clinical Programme for Stroke in 2010. Stroke deaths have reduced by more than 15%, less stroke patients are discharged to nursing homes and more directly to home. More stroke units have opened since the commencement of the programme and emergency thrombolysis rates are amongst the best in Europe. Funding for developments are considered annually by the HSE for submission to the Department as part of the service planning process. The HSE has advised my Department that no funding request was made for the Stroke register in 2017 and that a request for dedicated funding for the Stroke Register will be considered as part of the Estimates process for 2018.
1366. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards issued to persons resident here who qualify for same by virtue of the fact that their medical treatment services are paid for by the UK Government. [28103/17]
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.
1367. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the amount paid by the UK Government to the Exchequer annually for the past ten years to pay for medical services for UK social contributors who are resident here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28104/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland and the United Kingdom operate a bilateral healthcare reimbursement arrangement in respect of health services provided under EU Regulations, covering temporary visitors between the two countries, pensioners of one country and their dependants residing in the other country, and the dependant family members of persons employed in the other country. Under the arrangement net liability between the two countries is calculated on a lump sum basis rather than an individual basis. The amount payable in any one year is based on an estimate of the number of persons falling within categories eligible for reimbursement and for whom each country is liable and an estimate of the average cost of providing healthcare treatment. The amount payable is agreed following compilation of the necessary data and discussions between the two administrations. An initial payment on account is made for the relevant year and is subject to final settlement once all necessary statistical and financial information is complete. The finalisation of accounts is normally some years in arrears to facilitate collation of relevant statistics and for the approval of the average cost prepared by each country for the year concerned at EU level.
The amounts received from the United Kingdom in respect of reference years 2007 to 2016, attributable to UK pensioners and their dependents residing in Ireland, and to dependent family members residing in Ireland of persons employed and residing in the UK, are shown on the following table. Figures for reference years 2007 to 2011 represent final settled amounts while figures for reference years 2012 to 2016 represent initial payment on account.
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
€M |
|
320.8 |
318.6 |
317.8 |
336.2 |
326.7 |
243.2 |
211.2 |
198.4 |
180.0 |
180.5 |
