Bernard Durkan
Ceist:492. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be renewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20180/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Cards
Ceisteanna (492)
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 (493)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:493. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE funds adult disabilities day care centres within CHO8 that are opened on the weekends; and if so, the location of same, in tabular form. [20181/24]
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.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (494)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:494. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to psycho-oncology services in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [20182/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (495)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the impact of the recruitment embargo on cardiology services; the number of positions that cannot be filled; and if services have been affected. [20183/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (496)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:496. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will explain a reduction in travel expenses for a HSE home help worker (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20187/24]
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 Services
Ceisteanna (497)
James Lawless
Ceist:497. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (498)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:498. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason patients with medical cards are continuing to be charged for services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20192/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
Where 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, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of a GMS patient, shall contact the GP concerned and carry out an investigation into the complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by that GP.
Fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. The HSE does not have any role in relation to such fees.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (499)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/24]
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 Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (500)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:500. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/24]
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 Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (501)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:501. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20202/24]
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 Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (502)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted psychiatrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20203/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (503)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20204/24]
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 Services Staff
Ceisteanna (504)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of vacancies within the HSE for speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20205/24]
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.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (505)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:505. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Kerry (details supplied) will be assessed and will receive a new wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20207/24]
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 Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (506)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:506. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health for an update on the physiotherapy appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20208/24]
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.
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (507)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:507. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reporting arrangements in place for the HSE public-only consultant contract; the persons responsible for oversight and reporting; the most recent reporting in this regard; to whom these reports are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20220/24]
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 Strategies
Ceisteanna (508)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:508. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of a national rare diseases strategy for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20225/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In February, on Rare Diseases Day 2023, I announced a plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.
Since then, a Rare Disease Policy unit has been established in my department. This unit liaises with the National Rare Disease Office in the HSE and relevant stakeholders.
A National Rare Disease Steering Group was established in December 2023, and it has met seven times since it first convened.
The Steering Group has been tasked with developing the new National Rare Disease Strategy and an associated Implementation Plan.
The New National Rare Disease Strategy is envisaged to be published in 2024, this will be dependent on the work of the Steering Group in the development of the Strategy.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (509)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:509. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health when the plans to add additional space at Letterkenny University Hospital will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20227/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Departmental Inquiries
Ceisteanna (510)
John Lahart
Ceist:510. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the person who has been appointed to chair the Epilim inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20230/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Memo for Government to establish a Non-Statutory Inquiry into historical use of Sodium Valproate was brought to cabinet in July 2023, and Government approval to proceed was secured. The inquiry is being designed to provide a safe and supportive environment in which affected patients and their families can provide personal statements about their lives and experiences. The inquiry will appoint an independent Chair of the inquiry. The Chair will need to be a person of relevant experience, who will conduct a fair and independent process. There is a substantial time commitment involved, and it is essential that the right person is secured for this role.
An Expressions of Interest document for appointment, on a contract for service basis, for the position of Chair for a non-statutory inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State was published on 26th March 2024 by the Department of Health. Interested applicants were required to submit their applications by 24th April. Following receipt of applications, a selection process is underway with an inquiry Chairperson expected to be appointed as an outcome of that process. The patient groups are being kept informed of progress.
I will provide an update on the matter to the Houses of the Oireachtas when this process has been concluded.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (511)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:511. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether injections for osteoporosis with the medication festeo are still reimbursable for medical card holders; to provide a rationale for their removal if these injections are no longer available for medical card holders; what recourse medical card holders who have previously required such injections have if they have been removed from the list of reimbursable medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20232/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.