Written Answers Nos. 332-345
332. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of counsellors and psychotherapists employed by the HSE nationally and in County Kildare; his plans to increase current levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20671/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
333. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of counsellors and psychotherapists employed by the HSE in each of the year 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20672/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
334. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Kildare approved and awaiting a home care package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/19]
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.
335. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a knee operation for a person (details supplied) in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20675/19]
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, since 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.
336. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting additional home help hours in County Wexford; the national average of the number of persons awaiting home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20692/19]
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.
337. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been granted home help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20694/19]
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.
338. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the actions carried out to bring about diagnosis and treatment facilities for those suffering from Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20697/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is a notifiable disease in Ireland since 2012. Lyme disease is a well-recognised infection, which is familiar to GPs and hospital specialists (especially those specialising in Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Dermatology Cardiology and Microbiology). Accordingly, such specialists would be very familiar with how to manage such patients, and as a result, all physicians deal with Lyme disease, as they would with any other infectious disease for which they have responsibility.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Department of Health have highlighted the issue of Lyme disease, and how to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease, since 2008. The HPSC publishes significant amounts of information on Lyme disease on its website - hpsc.ie - for the general public and health professionals. In addition, Public Health physicians give talks at medical conferences to junior physicians as part of their continuing medical education, bringing the issue of Lyme disease (along with the other wide range of infectious diseases) to the attention of established physicians and doctors in training. Also, the HPSC holds a Lyme Awareness Day each year to highlight this issue and is constantly adding new material to its website. This year a Lyme Awareness Day was held on Monday 29 April.
The Scientific Advisory Committee of the HPSC established a Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee to look at ways of increasing public awareness - that Subcommittee is due to report before the summer. Part of the work of the Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee is to ensure that all GPs are familiar with identifying and managing Lyme disease.
Tests used in Ireland conform to all international standards. Clinical laboratories in Ireland operate to the highest quality standards. Testing for Lyme disease in such laboratories is to an internationally accredited level. Microbiologists in all major centres would be familiar with Lyme testing and the tests they use are internationally recognised and eminently effective at differentiating those who truly have Lyme disease from those who truly have not. As testing and treatment for Lyme borreliosis is widely available in all major hospitals in Ireland there is no need for people to travel to other EU Member States for diagnosis or treatment.
339. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if treatment for a person (details supplied) will be approved under the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20715/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) which allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA Member State for treatment, in their public healthcare system, that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland. The treatment must be among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation. The HSE provides further information for patients on the TAS on its website.
The HSE TAS office require a completed application in order to determine if treatment abroad under the TAS will be approved. The patient should contact the HSE TAS office for advice on making an application for treatment abroad under the TAS. They can be contacted in writing at HSE TAS Office, St Canices, Laken, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, R95 P231 or by phone on 056 778 4551. Information is also available on the HSE's TAS website.
340. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a MRI scan in Cappagh hospital. [20716/19]
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, since 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.
341. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours will be allocated to a person (details supplied). [20718/19]
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 relates to a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
342. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the next start date of the dialectical behaviour therapy, DBT, programme at a hospital; if a person (details supplied) is on the shortlist to be included on that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20723/19]
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.
343. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20727/19]
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, since 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.
344. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health when an appeal regarding the blind welfare allowance will be decided upon for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20732/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
345. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect surgery in the University Limerick hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20734/19]
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, since 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.
