Barry Cowen
Ceist:184. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment. [35299/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (184)
Freagraí 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.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data
Ceisteanna (185)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have applied for the fair deal scheme from 2010 to 2016 to date in counties Cavan and Monaghan, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35304/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Hospital Consultant Recruitment
Ceisteanna (186)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if further efforts are being made to fill the positions of consultant child psychiatrists here following a failure by the HSE to fill these positions despite advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35308/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Carer's Allowance Waiting Times
Ceisteanna (187)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for carer's allowance and carer's benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35316/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
For future reference, the issue of carer's allowance and carer's benefit is a matter for my colleague Mr Leo Varadkar T.D., Minster for Social Protection. However, my Department has received a response to your question from his Department which I hope will be helpful to the Deputy.
I have been informed by my colleague Mr Varadkar that the Department of Social Protection is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
The average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications at the end of September was 14 weeks and 9 weeks for carer's benefit (CARB). At the end of September, there were 4,146 CA and 484 CARB applications awaiting decision. The volume of claims on hands are a consequence of continued strong claim intake and the delays in processing are frequently caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
Applications for CA by the end of September 2016 are 20% higher than in the same period in 2015 while applications for CARB are 24% higher. This has impacted on the timely processing of applications.
Reducing these waiting times is a priority for the Department and it is working hard to make this happen. As part of its programme of service delivery modernisation, a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the processing of claims, supported by modern technology, have been implemented by the Department in recent years. Operational processes, procedures and the organisation of work are continually reviewed to ensure that processing capability is maximised.
In addition, staffing needs are regularly reviewed, having regard to workloads and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources. Where additional staffing is deployed to a scheme, such as has happened for carer’s allowance, there is a time-lag involved while those staff are trained and build up expertise.
The Department has seen a significant reduction in CA processing from 22 weeks at the end of May to 14 weeks at the end of September and expects the processing times for both schemes to reduce further, as recently assigned staff get up to speed with the work involved in claim processing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Medical Card Applications
Ceisteanna (188)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for a medical card application to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35317/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As at week ending 11 November 2016, 99.67% of medical card applications received by the Primary Care Reimbursement Services were processed within a 15 day timeframe.
All applications or reviews concerning medical and GP visit cards must be supported with a range of documentation, as outlined on the application forms. Where such supporting documentation is not supplied or is incomplete, to enable the assessment of the application, in accordance with the National Assessment Guidelines, the HSE will issue correspondence to the applicant specifying the additional information required to progress the assessment of their application. Clearly the processing time for incomplete applications is dependent on the furnishing of the required documentation by the applicant.
The HSE provides weekly statistics on turnaround times on its website http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/schemes/mc.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (189)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:189. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the criteria and procedure for applying for a disabled parking permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35324/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Disabled Parking Scheme operates under Road Traffic legislation and comes within the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Appeals
Ceisteanna (190)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an appeal for assistance under the fair deal scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35325/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Ceisteanna (191)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:191. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be supplied with a replacement artificial limb. [35328/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Administration
Ceisteanna (192)
Robert Troy
Ceist:192. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for an MRI scan in respect of a person (details supplied) without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35335/16]
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.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Question No. 193 answered with Question No. 174.