Bernard Durkan
Question:209. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2308/17]
View answerMedical Card Applications
Questions (209)
Written answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (210)
Bernard Durkan
Question:210. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a review will be concluded in respect of an application for a medical card in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2314/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.
Hospital Services
Questions (211)
Niamh Smyth
Question:211. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status for the delivery of the anomaly scan on site at Cavan General Hospital; if there is a timeframe for when this type of scan will be available on site at Cavan General Hospital to expectant mothers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2333/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Questions (212)
Niamh Smyth
Question:212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his plans to have the provision of home care by families included in the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2335/17]
View answerWritten answers
Government policy is to promote care in the community for older people so that they can continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible and long-term nursing care should be a last resort after home support and other community based supports have been exhausted.
However, the main statutory scheme of care for older people is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), which is confined to residential care.
The Department of Health has commenced examination of options to bring greater national consistency to the regulation and financing of home care. It is considered that the best option for the future may be a statutory home care scheme specifically designed for home care. A review by the Health Research Board of how home care is regulated and funded in comparable jurisdictions, commissioned by the Department in 2016, will be finalised shortly and will be used to inform the development of policy proposals for the regulation and funding of these services.
Ambulance Service
Questions (213, 214, 215)
John Brady
Question:213. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reason for changes made to the ambulance service at Arklow, County Wicklow; when these changes were made; the reason the public were not informed of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2340/17]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:214. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore 24-7 ambulance cover in Arklow and Baltinglass, County Wicklow to ensure that an adequate ambulance service is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2341/17]
View answerJohn Brady
Question:215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the current ambulance service in place in County Wicklow including the hours in which each service operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2342/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 to 215, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Charitable and Voluntary Organisations
Questions (216)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:216. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will consider appointing an official from his Department or some independent person to carry out an investigation into the treatment by the HSE of a charity (details supplied) since 2008 and to report to him on their findings with a view to addressing the serious issues that have been raised by the charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2375/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has been informed by the HSE that it has had a number of discussions with Hand in Hand regarding the funding of the organisation. I understand that the issue relates to funding the organisation hoped to receive following the closure of another charity.
I trust that this engagement will continue. No grounds have been suggested to my Department to date that would require the consideration of an investigation.
Services for People with Disabilities
Questions (217)
Michael McGrath
Question:217. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in the HSE disability complaints office involved in processing complaints relating to delays in carrying out assessments of need under the Disability Act 2005; the number of complaints currently with that office; the number of such complaints dealt with on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2380/17]
View answerWritten answers
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 to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
National Children's Hospital Expenditure
Questions (218, 220, 221)
Jack Chambers
Question:218. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the detail of all sunk costs associated with the construction of the new national children's hospital at the St. James’s Hospital site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2381/17]
View answerJack Chambers
Question:220. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the costs to date spent on consultants or experts associated with the construction of the national children's hospital at the St. James's Hospital site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2383/17]
View answerJack Chambers
Question:221. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health projected costs yet to be paid to consultants or experts associated with the construction of the national children's hospital at the St. James's Hospital site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2384/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 218, 220 and 221 together.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body charged with delivery of the capital project. I have asked it to respond to you directly regarding costs to date and expected expenditure on consultants and experts.
National Children's Hospital
Questions (219)
Jack Chambers
Question:219. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the projected costs associated with the construction of the new national children's hospital at the St. James's Hospital site, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2382/17]
View answerWritten answers
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body charged with delivery of the capital project. The NPHDB has recently completed evaluation of the tenders, received at the end of October 2016, for the main & specialist contractors for the new children’s hospital and for the two Paediatric OPD and Urgent Care Satellite Centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals.
Final capital costs will be available following completion of the tender process. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of cost estimates cannot be provided at this stage.
Questions Nos. 220 and 221 answered with Question No. 218.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Questions (222)
Brendan Griffin
Question:222. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to reduce the number of patients not presenting for outpatient appointments in the public health system; the annual cost of this nationally; the number of no shows per annum nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2403/17]
View answerWritten answers
In November 2016, the HSE launched the Strategy for the design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020. This programme will include strategies to address the issue of patients not presenting for appointments.
In addition, last year I asked the HSE to consider what digital solutions can be implemented into the health system to assist in the reduction of times to access the healthcare service. The solutions under development will include measures in the area of patients not presenting for appointments.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (223, 224)
Micheál Martin
Question:223. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has sought any reports on trials in the usage of medicinal cannabis on children in Colorado; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2405/17]
View answerMicheál Martin
Question:224. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the European practices that are being examined or followed in relation to the provision of medicinal cannabis to children with epilepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2406/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
Cannabis is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 - 2016. However, I am conscious that some patients believe that cannabis should be available as a treatment for a range of medical conditions and I have initiated a review of policy in this area.
On 3 November 2016 I asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) for expert advice. The HPRA’s statutory role is to protect and enhance human health by regulating medicines and other health products and it has the necessary clinical and scientific expertise to advise on this issue. In particular, I have requested that the HPRA provide advice on recent developments in the use of cannabis for medical purposes including an overview of products that have been authorised in other countries and an overview of the wider on-going and emerging clinical research in new indications and evidence of efficacy. I have also requested information on the different regulatory regimes in place in countries which allow cannabis to be used for medicinal purposes.
I expect to receive an initial report from the HPRA by the end of January. I will then be in a position to consider future policy and progress any legislative changes that may be appropriate.