Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:131. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16783/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (131)
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.
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 (132)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:132. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if his Department has any responsibility for the monitoring of medical card patients' access to appointments in private GP facilities; specifically, if there is a practice of longer waiting times for patients in primary care on medical cards as opposed to for those paying full fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16796/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Medical card and GP visit card holders are registered onto the panel of the GMS GP that provides their GP care. In accordance with the GMS contract, GMS GPs must ensure there is no discrimination or differentiation between the treatment of medical card or GP visit card holders and private patients within the practice.
Where a medical card or GP visit card holder attends a GP practice in a private capacity, this is a private matter between the patient and GP concerned. Neither the Department of Health nor the HSE has a role in monitoring medical card or GP visit card holder access to GP services that are provided in a private capacity.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (133)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:133. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans to develop a dedicated pathway for adult ADHD assessment services in Fingal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16808/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (134)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:134. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health any initiatives he plans to introduce to increase resources for adult mental health assessments in the Fingal region, including a focus on ADHD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16809/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (135)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:135. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for adult mental health assessments within Fingal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16810/24]
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 (136)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health how many adults are currently waiting for audiology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16815/24]
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 (137, 138)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting times for audiology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFergus O'Dowd
Ceist:138. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the development of any future national hearing care plan will include consideration for adult medical cardholders to be assessed and treated by community audiologists, who currently provide care to working age adults under the Department of Social Protection’s treatment benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
The Department is committed to developing a national hearing care plan and is establishing a joint working group with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to progress this important work.
The Department has received proposals regarding the membership of the working group and is currently finalising the proposed membership and Terms of Reference for the working group for the approval of the Minister.
Once established, the working group will develop a hearing care plan that will consider the current status of hearing care provision and the appropriate linkage between public and private provision of care to support improved access to services.
The initial consideration of the hearing care plan will be on the provision of care to adults, and the working group will make recommendations to the Minister in that regard. The Department will then engage with all relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the recommendations made.
This work will take place in tandem with other efforts to improve health outcomes for all those suffering from hearing loss.
Question No. 138 answered with Question No. 137.
State Properties
Ceisteanna (139)
Robert Troy
Ceist:139. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the future plans the HSE has for the old GP building on the Galway Road, Kinnegad (details supplied). [16818/24]
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 Services
Ceisteanna (140)
Mark Ward
Ceist:140. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he was aware that the phone service for families of immunocompromised children in Crumlin hospital has been stopped (details supplied); the reason for same; if the service will return; and, if so, when. [16820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (141)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:141. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16826/24]
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.
Medical Internships
Ceisteanna (142)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:142. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the internship placement allocation to allow Irish graduate medical students who trained in Derry or Belfast equal status to other Irish graduate medical students, as this will offer those graduates the opportunity to return to the State as doctors, to continue speciality training here and serve our local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16838/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Irish medical students who graduate from Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for internship in the Republic of Ireland. Under the current application process, all eligible CAO and EEA work permit exempt applicants have been allocated an intern post each year since 2016.
All eligible EU citizens and UK citizens, which include eligible medical students holding Irish citizenship, who have applied for internship in Ireland have received an offer of internship. This has allowed those Irish medical school graduates the opportunity to return to the State as doctors and, following successful completion of internship, continue specialty training in Ireland.
The number of internship posts has been permanently increased since 2021 with the establishment of 145 new intern places. Since 2021 every eligible applicant, both EEA and Non-EEA, who has applied has received an offer of an internship. In 2022 and 2023, despite all eligible candidates receiving an offer of internship, there were vacancies remaining in the intern programme.
My department in consultation with the HSE will review the current policy on intern allocation to ensure that the policy continues to support the development and growth of the medical workforce.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (143)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment can be offered to a person (details supplied); the options available in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16863/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (144)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:144. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the independent abortion review with respect to recommendations concerning necessary legislative amendments, including the ambiguity for clinicians interpreting section 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16864/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The final Report of the Review was submitted to me at the end of February 2023. It made a range of recommendations, most of which are operational in nature, with some proposing legislative change.
The Report was considered by Cabinet on April 25th 2023. Following the meeting the Government agreed that the HSE would establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations, while the proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration.
The Joint Committee on Health submitted a report on the proposed legislative recommendations in December 2023, which was considered by me and my Department. I have now asked for further consideration of this issue at the Cabinet Committee on Health
The HSE has established the national Termination of Pregnancy Service Improvement Group to oversee the implementation of the operational recommendations from the O’Shea Report.
An action plan for the implementation of the recommendations has been developed.
This action plan comprises 10 workstreams which are in various stages of implementation. There have been 12 meetings related to these workstreams since December 2023.