Denis Naughten
Ceist:310. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a service for a child will be reinstated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61423/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Services
Ceisteanna (310)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (311)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:311. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a revised OT plan will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61424/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Promotion
Ceisteanna (312)
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
Ceist:312. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61428/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to your Representation no. HEA-MO-08185-2022 which you submitted on behalf of your constituent Sinead regarding folic acid fortification. I would like to inform you that this correspondence was responded to on Friday 2nd December.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Ceisteanna (313)
Robert Troy
Ceist:313. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if treatment for a person (details supplied) can be prioritised through the national treatment purchase scheme. [61434/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 or an outpatient waiting list for an appointment, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment.
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 Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
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.
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.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (314)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:314. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if there are any financial supports or grants available from his Department for persons to set up a GP practice and health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61448/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services, and GP practices also receive a range of financial supports.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria will qualify for an annual rural support allowance. In addition, contributions are made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.
As private practitioners, GPs are free to establish practice in the location of their choice. The Department of Health does not offer financial supports specific to the establishment of practices.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement, the Government is increasing annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023, providing for significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme. Furthermore, the rural support allowance has been increased by 10% for participating GPs, an additional financial support has been introduced for GPs working in disadvantaged urban areas, and improvements have been made to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.
My Department and the HSE are preparing to commence shortly a strategic review of GP services to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues that might hinder doctors from entering general practice, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a sustainable general practice.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (315)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:315. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the average response time for ambulances for 999 calls in CHO9 for each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61462/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (316)
Neasa Hourigan
Ceist:316. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the 2018 HSE review of hospital car parking charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61475/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, makes a commitment to introduce a maximum daily car parking charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue, including consideration of the review of hospital car parking charges, and how best to ensure this commitment is addressed, while building on the HSE’s Review and taking account of existing arrangements already in place.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (317)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:317. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of HSE contracts being awarded to a company linked to bribery (details supplied); the reason that the HSE continued to work with this company after the bribery was first exposed in 2015; the steps being taken to ensure that this is not repeated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61481/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.