Written Answers Nos. 310-334
310. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to allow IVF treatment be made available to persons with a medical card that are unable to afford it; when this treatment will be covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2790/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research in October last year. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill. The General Scheme is published on my Department’s website and the Joint Committee on Health began pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme on 17 January 2018. The introduction of legislation in relation to AHR and associated research is a priority for me.
In order to support the commencement of the legislation, officials in my Department will work during 2018 with the HSE to develop a model of care for infertility to ensure the provision of safe, effective and accessible services through the public health system as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology. As part of this work officials in my Department are developing policy options for a potential public funding model for AHR treatment.
As such no specific decision has been made at this time in relation the parameters of any potential public funding model, including what eligibility criteria may be included.
It should be noted that any funding model that may ultimately be introduced would need to operate within the broader regulatory framework set out in the AHR Bill and a model of care for infertility.
While IVF treatment is not currently provided by the Irish public health service, there is some support available in that patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the HSE. Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is eligible for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2796/18]
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.
312. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the inpatient and outpatient waiting times for all specialities at Louth County Hospital. [2797/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTPF publishes the Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient waiting list figures by specialty for each hospital on its website each month. This information is available at www.NTPF.ie. The most recent figures published by the NTPF for the end of December 2017 indicate that there is a total of 535 people on the Inpatient/Day case waiting list for Louth County Hospital and a total of 2274 people on the Outpatient waiting list for Louth County Hospital.
313. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in Louth County Hospital in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [2798/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra314. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the level of funding to Louth County Hospital in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [2799/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra315. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of surgical beds located at Louth County Hospital; the number and type of surgical procedures which have been undertaken in Louth County Hospital in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and the comparable surgeries undertaken at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for the same period. [2800/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra319. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the protocol regarding treatment and care for persons hospitalised with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in County Louth. [2814/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update following the recent commitment given to reduce the age limit at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, County Louth; if this is still set to proceed in February 2018; if the age limit has been reduced from 14 years of age to four years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2822/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 313 to 315, inclusive, 319 and 322 together.
As the Deputy's questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for these questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
316. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for persons seeking consultation with geriatric consultants at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth. [2801/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
317. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for persons seeking consultation with geriatric consultants at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, County Louth. [2802/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
318. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an intake assessment to the north Dublin early intervention team; the number of children waiting more than a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2804/18]
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.
As the Deputy's question relate to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
320. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for persons seeking access to the COPD clinic at Louth hospital, Dundalk, County Louth. [2815/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
321. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented at the minor injuries unit, Louth County Hospital, Dundalk, County Louth in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [2821/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.
323. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for access to acute mental health support services and acute psychiatry services while patients are in a hospital on an inpatient basis for medical health or surgical interventions in which they have a dual need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2827/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
324. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for access to acute mental health support services and acute psychiatry services while patients are in a hospital on an inpatient basis for medical or surgical interventions and they are deemed to be resident in a hospital that is outside the catchment area for acute mental health support services and acute psychiatry services; the provision of intervention or care he has made for that cohort of patients; if he has identified the locations in which the cross-over of catchment areas issue arises; the units by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
325. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions of children to adult psychiatric units here; the number of days children spent in adult psychiatric units in each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2830/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
326. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of child admissions to adult psychiatric units with each readmission to count as a separate admission in each CHO for each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2831/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
327. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of child readmissions to adult psychiatric units and the number of readmissions for each child in each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2832/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
328. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if mental health services will be administered at the new Wexford town primary care centre; if so, the type of mental health services that will be administered there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
329. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount the existing new extension to the north east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford cost to construct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2835/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra330. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when the existing new extension to the north east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford was completed; when it was officially opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2836/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the value of the existing new extension to the north east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to offer offices within the existing new extension to the north east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford to health care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has sought expressions of interest regarding the existing new extension to the north east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department will agree to transfer part of the lands to the south east of the old health centre at Grogan’s Road, Wexford, County Wexford, which will soon be demolished, to a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that the school is landlocked and in need of extra space to expand to meet growing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2840/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 329 to 334, inclusive, together.
Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.
