Niamh Smyth
Ceist:163. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20238/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (163)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (164)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:164. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be referred to St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20239/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Medical Card Eligibility
Ceisteanna (165)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:165. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to raise the income limit for a medical card for persons over 70 years of age to €1,000 per week for a married couple in view of the fact that the limit for a single person is €500 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20243/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Act 2013, when a person attains the age of 70, the medical card income limits are €500 gross income per week for a single person and €900 gross income per week for a couple.
Persons aged 70 or older, who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds, may also have their eligibility assessed under the means-test medical card scheme if they so wish, for example in the event that they face particularly high expenses, e.g. nursing home or medication costs. This scheme is open to all persons, irrespective of their age and assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. The general scheme, although having lower income thresholds, provides for income disregards and relevant outgoings to be taken into account in the assessment process.
Furthermore, persons, including those aged over 70 years, may be deemed eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis, if they are judged to face undue hardship in arranging GP services as a result of medical or social circumstances. In addition, from August 2015, all persons aged 70 or older qualify for a GP Visit Card, regardless of income.
There are no proposals at present to amend the current limits for the granting of eligibility for medical cards for persons aged 70 and over. However, it should be noted that the gross income limits are reviewed annually and considered in the context of the budget.
Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (166)
Gerry Adams
Ceist:166. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to provide annual rheumatology assessment for children with Down's syndrome. [20244/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Ceisteanna (167)
Joan Collins
Ceist:167. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if contracts were renewed annually with a company (details supplied) from 2008; if he will provide the quality assurance certificate, that is, the screening process and laboratory performance expectation with each contract; and if he will provide the same information on the clinical pathology laboratory and other laboratories here or overseas for the years they had a contract to analyse Irish smear tests. [20258/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since 2008, CervicalCheck has undertaken tendering processes to award contracts for cytology testing of cervical smear tests. Such tendering processes have been undertaken biannually.
Yesterday I established a Scoping Inquiry, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, in relation to issues that have arisen at CervicalCheck. The broad Terms of Reference of the Scoping Inquiry include a range of issues pertaining to the cytology laboratory services contracted by CervicalCheck.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (168)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:168. 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. [20266/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 the Deputy directly.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (169)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:169. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of a residential place for person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20268/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 relates service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Home Help Service Eligibility
Ceisteanna (170)
Peter Burke
Ceist:170. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours for a person (details supplied) who has maximum dependency and was approved for an additional 17 hours in September 2017 will be expedited in order that they can be discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20271/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.