Results 10,341-10,360 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Written Answers — Department of Health: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. The previous...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Discharges (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Delayed discharges arise when a patient has been clinically discharged from an acute hospital but remains in an acute hospital bed, thus rendering that bed unavailable for patients who need admission. In Budget 2015 the Government allocated €25m to tackle the problem of delayed discharges and this additional funding is being applied across residential and community services to reflect...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Beds (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE National Assessment Guidelines state that applicants whose weekly incomes are derived solely from social welfare allowances or benefits or Health Service Executive allowances, which are in excess of the income guidelines (either at first application or on renewal), should be granted a medical card. People aged 16 to 25 years who are eligible for a medical card are those who are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Consultations (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Ongoing consultation with all stakeholders and the public in general is already a standard feature of our approach across policy areas. The Minister for Health and myself as well as officials from the Department regularly meet with stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary sector to discuss policies, services and developments including those for older people. While...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As was outlined in the reply to your question of the 5th November 2014, a revised application was received by the HSE on the 25th July for the inclusion of Fampridine (Fampyra) on the community drugs schemes. The HSE's Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit has since been engaging with the company seeking improved commercial offering. These engagements have been completed and the HSE is now...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Help Service Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centre Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The delivery of primary care infrastructure is currently underway at Kildare town, Rathangan/Monasterevin, Kilcock, Blessington and Wicklow town. The Kilcock development will be delivered as part of the PPP PCC project and it is expected to be completed by early 2017. The other locations are expected to be delivered in 2015/Q1 2016. Please see the HSE NSP 2015 page 77. As regards the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Administration (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: GPs are private contractors and issues relating to payment of fees outside the terms of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract are a matter of private contract between the clinician and the patient. Under the terms of the GMS contract which general practitioners (GPs) hold with the Health Service Executive (HSE), a GP shall ordinarily accept all eligible persons, who so request, onto...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Investigations (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. Like others, I was shocked and distressed by the revelations of extremely poor and unacceptable standards of care and mistreatment of vulnerable adults at Áras Attracta. Every person who uses our disability services - as the Deputy is aware and as I have stated regularly - deserves not just the best standard of care but also to be treated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Investigations (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: If the Leas-Cheann Comhairle does not object, I wish to make a final point which is key in terms of answering the question the Deputy tabled. The HSE is considering plans to monitor practices at social care facilities through the use of surveillance cameras, undercover persons or any other means. However, we are very conscious of potential difficulties that could arise in the context of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Investigations (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I am always conscious of what I say in the media, but especially in the Chamber where I am more accountable. I did not quite say what the Deputy stated I said. Rather, I said that we were considering all mechanisms in order to ensure the safety of vulnerable people. These may include technologies of which we do not yet know. We have employed consultants to advise us. We have not rolled...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Investigations (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I have had dealings with Mr. Lynch on several issues since getting my post. He has never been behind the door in telling us where he believes we have done something wrong. I am not certain that he feels he has any dependency on the HSE. The job he does for the Government is second to none. It is we who owe him, not the other way around. We may pay for the service that he provides, but it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Home Beds (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for her question. Delayed discharges arise when a patient has been judged clinically to no longer have a requirement for acute hospital care but remains in an acute hospital bed, thus rendering that bed unavailable for patients who need admission. In budget 2015, the Government allocated €25 million to tackle the problem of delayed discharges. This additional...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Home Beds (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy rightly stated, the registration fee issue is for another discussion. The €25 million has resulted in 300 extra approvals, with 65 approvals to come on stream in March. On top of these is the ongoing fair deal scheme allocation of 515 beds per month, as I outlined before Christmas when this issue was being discussed. The initiative should make some impact, but we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Home Beds (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: It is a different subject but it is all connected. I understand we have a plan in regard to HIQA, standards and nursing home units, or long-stay units. As we all know, events can happen completely unexpectedly, or out of the blue, in the area of health that we do not know about and for which we are not planning. The difficulty is that there are times when we know exactly what we need to do...

Other Questions: HSE Expenditure (21 Jan 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I disagree with the Deputy's behaviour. She should show a little respect.