Written Answers Nos 1549-1568
1549. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if, in the event of a paediatric endocrinologist not being found to replace a person (details supplied), the Dublin hospitals will take back persons repatriated to County Sligo due to Sligo not having an adequate service comparable to Crumlin or Temple Street, the original centres of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28894/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1550. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae 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. [28904/17]
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.
1551. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment. [28905/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
1552. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the position of community medical officer in County Mayo is vacant; if so, the length of time the position has been vacant; when the position will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28908/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1553. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the position of community medical officer in County Mayo is vacant in view of the fact the community medical officer is the official with responsibility for issuing primary medical certificates and who has responsibility for issuing the primary medical certificates in the county in the absence of the community medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28909/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question regarding the issuing of Primary Medical Certificates in County Mayo is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1554. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the community ophthalmic services scheme (details supplied); his views on whether the process could be accelerated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28912/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1556. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28918/17]
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.
1557. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for the Respreeza drug for persons suffering with emphysema or alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28919/17]
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.
1558. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours can be provided for a person (details supplied) who is visually impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28920/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1559. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to allocate additional home help hours to a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of one hour per week. [28921/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1558 and 1559 together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1561. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children in Cork city and county on a waiting list for orthodontic assessment and orthodontic treatment respectively; the number of consultants providing such services in Cork city and county; the vacancies for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28936/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1562. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [28943/17]
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.
1563. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the butterfly scheme dementia awareness programme to all hospitals nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28944/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1564. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address issues facing persons with dementia in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28945/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1565. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the legal position of drug-testing kits that would allow MDMA ecstasy users to test drugs for their safety; if a person may be arrested for possession of these kits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28953/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1566. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if there have been developments regarding the proposal to allow users of drugs in venues such as clubs to have them tested for potentially lethal ingredients. [28954/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1565 and 1566 together.
Possession of a drug testing kit is not prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2017, so long as none of the constituent chemical components or reagents are subject to control under that legislation. However, it is important to note that the possession of a controlled drug, other than for legitimate medical or scientific purposes, is prohibited.
As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee has been established to advise me on a new national drugs strategy from 2017 onwards. The development of the new strategy has involved a systematic review of international evidence on interventions to tackle the drug problem, including the use of harm reduction options such as drug testing kits. I expect to receive the Steering Committee's final report shortly. I hope to be in a position to bring my proposals to Government on the new Strategy thereafter.
1567. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [28955/17]
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.
1568. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied). [28959/17]
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.
