Results 3,201-3,220 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: Persons completing the Medical Card Review Application Form - Over 70 Years of Age - MC1a(R) - must provide details of investments in stocks, shares or savings with banks or building societies or other financial institutions.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 to 648, inclusive, together. While there is no statutory obligation to provide a chiropody/podiatry service, such services are provided by the HSE to medical card patients with the greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific queries raised by the Deputy and reply to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Diabetes Strategy (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme aims to 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. As part of the phased roll out of the Programme, funding has been provided to appoint 16 podiatrists. This will ensure improved access...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Local Drugs Task Forces Remit (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: In light of the acceptance by Government of the recommendations in the Report of the Steering Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy, the role of Task Forces in tackling the problem of alcohol misuse is currently being considered by the National Coordinating Committee for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. At the meeting of the Committee on 3rd April last, it was agreed that the titles of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (8 Apr 2014)

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: Medicinal Products Availability (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (8 Apr 2014)

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: Medical Card Eligibility (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: All medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility. A person (and their dependants, if it applies), the subject of a medical card/GP visit card eligibility review assessment, will continue to have their eligibility extended pending the outcome of a review assessment, provided 1. they have returned their review form...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (8 Apr 2014)

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: General Practitioner Training (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: There are 14 GP Specialist (Vocational) Training Programmes currently in operation in Ireland. Doctors who wish to pursue GP training in Ireland may apply for a general practice training post in one of the 14 GP Training Programmes. In July 2010, the GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 training places per year. As the breakdown by County of the number of GP training places is not...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: Where a GP, who holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, lives and practices in a centre with a population of less than 500 and where there is not a town with a population of 1,500 or more within a 4.83 km (3 mile) radius of that centre, the GP will be entitled to a Rural Practice Allowance. The Rural Practice Allowance under the capitation agreement is currently set at...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees, on a phased basis, within its term of office. As announced in the Budget, the Government has decided to commence the roll-out of universal GP services by providing all children under six years with access to a GP service without fees. The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (8 Apr 2014)

Alex White: The April figures requested by the Deputy are not as yet collated. The most current figures available relate to 1 March 2014 and are set out in the table below: Card type Number of cards Medical cards 1,826,578 of which granted on the basis of discretion  50,009 GP Visit cards 124,512 of which granted on the basis of discretion  28,301

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: As the Minister and I have both said repeatedly, there is, and could be, no question of a gagging order being imposed on general practitioners. There is no intention to interfere with the professional independence and integrity of general practitioners. As to whether the particular clause in the draft contract can be interpreted as a gagging clause, that is open to argument.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: Exactly. Could I just conclude because I am trying to get to the table where we can get this thing resolved? We are having great difficulty in doing that. I will not extract one-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: I have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: I have. I will mention that when I come to the conclusion of my remarks. In the course of the engagement that we have to have on the draft contract, this particular clause, which has been described as a gagging clause, is one that we will clearly have to address. I think we may well be persuaded that it should be reworded. Conceivably, we may well be persuaded that it should be removed....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: It was not a concession. The Deputy should give it a fair chance. How else will we address the two-tier system? If Deputy Kelleher says it should not be through insurance, what is the alternative for addressing the two-tier system we undoubtedly have? Let us have that debate. I mentioned the wider context and the reduction in pay in the public service. The clear stated position of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: There are people whose medical cards have been removed across the board, including those who do not have illnesses or conditions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Minister for Health (3 Apr 2014)

Alex White: It always sounds a bit harsh to make the point this way but I will state the reality. We do not have an illness-based scheme.