Written Answers Nos. 646-663
646. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the occupational therapy first-time assessment waiting list by each local health area as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; the number waiting less than four months, four to 12 months, and more than 12 months, respectively; and the number waiting aged zero to four, five to 17, 18 to 64, and more than 65 by category in tabular form. [23319/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
647. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a counselling appointment in primary care as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12 weeks, 12 to 26 weeks, 26 to 52 weeks, and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [23320/20]
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.
648. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a child and adolescent mental health services appointment as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12 weeks, 12 to 26 weeks, 26 to 52 weeks, and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [23321/20]
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.
649. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a psychology appointment in primary care as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to 12 weeks, 12 to 26 weeks, 26 to 52 weeks, and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [23322/20]
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.
650. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of children admitted to adult mental health units to date in 2020. [23323/20]
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.
651. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours being provided in each LHO area as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; the way in which the number compares with the target in each LHO for the same time period; the number of persons on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three months, three to six months, six to 12 months, and more than 12 months, respectively. [23324/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
652. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 31 August 2020 or the latest date available; the average waiting time; the number of persons awaiting placement under the scheme; and the length of time waiting by LHO area in tabular form. [23325/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
653. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if doctors can charge for blood tests for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23333/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition and the HSE has advised GPs accordingly.
I am aware that, nonetheless, some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances. The GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in from this year will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
However, it remains a matter of concern to me that a GMS and GP visit card patient might be charged for blood tests which are clinically necessary and I have asked my officials to discuss with the HSE what further solutions to this issue may be possible. If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office.
654. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to releasing suicide figures on a county basis in order for NGOs and charities working in this field to target support and respond to geographic trends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23334/20]
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.
655. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for a facility (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23337/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
656. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when prescription charges will be reduced for medical card holders and persons over 70 years of age as per measures announced in budget 2020; the reason for the delay in the implementation of the budgetary measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23345/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra711. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when the promised reduction in prescription fees for persons over 70 years of age will be introduced. [23578/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra757. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health when the proposed reduction in prescription charges will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23841/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 656, 711 and 757 together.
Budget 2020 provided for a number of measures to reduce the cost of medicines for the general public including a €0.50c reduction in prescription charges for medical card holders.
This would have represented a reduction of €0.50c to €1 per item for persons aged over 70 years, and a reduction of €0.50c to €1.50 for persons under 70. The intention was that the maximum monthly charge would also be reduced to €10 for the over 70’s and to €15 for the under 70’s.
Although it was intended that these measures would be implemented from July, funding of this Budget 2020 commitment was contingent on the achievement of certain savings within the health budget.
However, these savings have not been achieved as the Pandemic has placed a significant demand on public finances, a substantial proportion of which has been allocated to the health system. In that context, decisions on the associated funding and a potential implementation date are being actively considered.
657. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of day care centres for persons with intellectual disabilities that have reopened in County Tipperary since their closure due to Covid-19; and the number that are due to reopen in tabular form. [23348/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the overall effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and in line with public health advice, day service locations closed in March.
Since then, HSE Disability Services have been working to develop national guidance on the part of the disability sector to direct how all day services can be delivered. The Guidance to support the Framework for the Resumption of Adult Disability Day Services was published by the HSE on 8th July 2020.
In developing the guidance document to guide providers, the HSE worked closely with service providers through representative organisations such as the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, Disability Federation of Ireland and the Not for Profit Association, in addition to Inclusion Ireland, who represent people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
The guidance document seeks to support the safe return of services in the context of ongoing public health guidance. It also recognises that the impact of public health guidance will result in services being provided at a reduced level and will require changes in how people are supported, increased use of technology where appropriate and more use of outreach supports.
Day services began to gradually resume during the month of August and will continue to do so throughout early September. Service providers are working to get day services ready to reopen safely, and in line with public health guidance. Service providers will be in touch with all families and service users to discuss when they may expect the resumption of their service and what that service will consist of.
I want to acknowledge the many challenges experienced by individuals and their families over this difficult time. Families across the country have had their routines upended due to the impact of COVID-19 and I hope that this will be the first step towards returning to some sense of normalcy.
The Guidance to support the Framework for Resumption of Adult Disability Day Services is available on the New Directions website: www.hse.ie/newdirections. The HSE have also issued monthly communications updates for service users and their families, and the latest update, a video message from the Head of Strategy and Planning HSE Disability Services, is available at the above link.
An information portal that contains the dates on which the 966 disability day service locations will reopen around the country is now available. Service users and families can access this information on www.hse.ie/newdirections.
As the Deputy's question also pertains to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
658. 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. [23353/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause most elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.
To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24 June. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. Further detail regarding the phases of service resumption are contained in the HSE’s ‘A Safe Return to Health Services’ document, published on their website on 22 July.
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 is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
659. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be referred for treatment under the treatment purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23354/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
In respect of the patient's appointment at Cork University Hospital, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
660. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place for those who do not drive or have access to a car to travel to Covid-19 test centres for testing; the way in which such provisions can be accessed in a timely fashion for those who require them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23366/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
661. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an out-of-hours doctor service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23370/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
662. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a reassessment of eligibility for a medical card can be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23371/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
663. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23372/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
