Results 4,021-4,040 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will improve patient access and manage patient care in an integrated manner across service settings, resulting in better outcomes, enhanced clinical decision making and the most effective use of resources. The Government has approved funding for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 548 together. The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The drug Lyrica is on the HSE's list of reimbursable items and is available under the Long Term Illness Scheme. I understand that this question refers to an individual case and is a matter for the relevant Local Health Office. The issue has, therefore, been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: In 2012, the HSE completed a detailed analysis of the numbers and distribution of public health nurses, registered general nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists. The analysis revealed considerable variation across the HSE's 17 Integrated Service Areas in ratios of health care professionals to population, and to population numbers in areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533, 537, 545, 557 and 568 together. The conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; Parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Current legislation allows registered nurses or midwives who: have completed an approved education programme; have appropriate clinical experience; have registered with An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) as a Registered Nurse Prescriber (RNP); and have authority from the health service provider who employs them to prescribe a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (19 Jun 2013)

Alex White: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (19 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Community chiropody is a discretionary service, which the Health Service Executive endeavours to provide on a prioritised basis based on medical need and within the context of available resources. The services are provided by chiropodists/podiatrists employed by the HSE, chiropodists/podiatrists contracted under the GMS Scheme and through grant-aided voluntary agencies. In the past when...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (19 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (19 Jun 2013)

Alex White: 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. This is the first Government in the history of this State to commit itself to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy referred to credibility. Not only did the Government of which he was a supporter and a member not get around to extending universal GP care but it had a policy opposing it. It is extraordinary for him to raise the credibility of this Government in those circumstances, given the policy position of the previous Government in opposition to universal health care. He will be wiser...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: People who are entitled to a medical card will retain it. The Deputy is misleading the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy is being irresponsible in the language he is using.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy should not use words like "terrorise" in this context. An additional 100,000 medical cards are being issued this year, although I accept that 40,000 have been reduced to GP-only cards. Additional cards are being issued all the time by the Health Service Executive.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: To be clear, any person who is entitled to a medical card will retain it. I absolutely support the HSE's efforts to ascertain people's continued entitlement to a medical card. This will ensure that the huge resources necessary to maintain the medical card system will be used in the best way, for the benefit of those who are genuinely entitled to it. That is what the Government is about,...

Other Questions: Obesity Strategy (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Hear, hear.