Results 14,261-14,280 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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: Orthodontic Service Provision (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. Under EU Directive 201/24/EU, now commonly referred to as the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 to 144, inclusive, together. As these are service matters they have 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: Medical Card Eligibility (2 Dec 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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I recently announced an additional €300m capital allocation for refurbishment or replacement of social care facilities for older persons’ units and disability units to allow such facilities to comply with relevant National Standards by 2021. The HSE is formulating its plans for the application of this funding, and once these plans are ready they will be discussed in detail with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Contracts (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I assure the House that the Government is strongly committed to the future of rural Ireland. We recognise the contribution that rural communities have made to overall national economic development and the development of local areas. Our vision is of rural areas that are vibrant, inclusive and thriving economically . People in rural communities should experience a quality of life that is at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Contracts (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: This is a very extensive process because of the generalist nature of the work of GPs, which has changed dramatically in recent years. Things such as the minor surgery piece and the chronic care cycles will be rolled out into primary care and GP services. It is an incredibly wide brief. On the other hand, we do not have control of all of this process. The negotiations between the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: We had difficulty at the outset, which I encountered very quickly, apart from having no money which was the biggest difficulty of all, as there was a difference of opinion as to how it should be delivered. It is very difficult to say to one specialist that what he or she is saying is wrong and say to another specialist that he or she is right. There was a clear difference of opinion as to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I believe some of it has been put in place, based on a personal family experience. There is not one of us who will not have had such an experience as we go through life in whatever form. This will have involved going to an accident and emergency department at 12 o'clock on a Saturday and walking out, having been discharged, at 12 o'clock that night.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision (2 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The difficulty is that it is like suicide in that we will never know how many people we divert from the path of disability. It is difficult to know. However, we need to treat differently those whom we do not divert. The implementation plan and strategy must be published as quickly as possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas, and that general practice is sustainable in such areas in future. It is imperative that services meet patient needs, that existing GP services are maintained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly-qualified...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: It is one of the central issues under negotiation with the IMO. The figures are important. As of 1 November 2015, 20 GMS lists do not have a permanent GP in place, eight of which are in rural areas with populations of fewer than 1,500. However, each of the lists has either a locum GP or a neighbouring GP who has taken over the list and provides the full range of GP services to patients....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Again, the GP vacancy rate in England is 8% compared to 1% here. The population across the country is aging. There are exceptional circumstances in rural areas and this is why we have additional allowances and give additional leave allowances regarding employment of staff and locums. Although a substantial grant is available, it is not just about money, as we know. Maybe, people do not...

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The development of primary care remains central to the Government's objective of delivering a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care service at community level. This involves shifting the balance of care from a hospital-centered service to one located in the community to enable people easily to access a broad spectrum of services at local level. The development of primary...

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The number of primary care centres being built is ahead of profile and the process is working extremely well. We are proposing to build even more under an operational lease which also has to go through a process. The issue is not just about buildings, it is also about ensuring GPs in a certain area are prepared to co-operate and avail of the facility. Then and only then will other services...

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The only way hospitals will have respite is, for instance, if various chronic illnesses are treated in primary care centres. That should give us some breathing space. Minor surgeries will be performed in primary care centres more often in 2016 than in 2015. There were 20 in 2015 and the proposal is to have 80 in 2016. There will always be vacancies for nurses, junior doctors and...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. While most GPs provide phlebotomy services for their medical card and GP visit card patients without charge, I am aware that there have been instances where some GPs have charged such patients for these services. It is not acceptable for patients in these categories to be subject to a charge for procedures associated with routine diagnosis and...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for that information, but I, again, point out that under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract, a medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever in reward for services provided by him or her or for travelling or other expenses incurred by him or her for the use of any premises, equipment or instruments in making the service available. I...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The contract is very clear and explicit. I will bring the information the Deputy has produced to the notice of the HSE and we will make sure it is acted on.