Results 4,401-4,420 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Other Questions: Autism Support Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Only at the point of diagnosis can we get the absolute data the Deputy is looking for. If we make the interventions before we make the diagnosis, the data will take a bit longer to collect. That is not to say we should not have it. I believe if we do not know where and what the need is and if we cannot absolutely put our hands on that type of data, we cannot plan properly. If we do it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Everyone agrees that the current scheme is unsustainable. We do not have enough money. Delayed discharges are a major difficulty for the entire health service. However, this is not just a question of the fair deal scheme. As I have been saying for a considerable time, it is also a question of the community-based services that each and every one of us would prefer were we to need them. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I am sorry.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I apologise for not answering the question on the review. As we speak, the review is on the desk of the Secretary General of the Department of Health. I have not seen it. I have heard snippets of what is in it, but that is about it, and it would be unfair to comment further at this stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I will not. I have not seen them, so I am not certain that they are correct. I will get the review shortly and it will go to the Cabinet. I am not certain that it will give us or recommend what is necessary. Rather, I believe it is an examination of how the scheme has operated and whether we need to change it. I do not believe that it will recommend, for instance, that the way of...

Other Questions: Autism Support Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy. Health-related supports and interventions for children with disabilities, including those with autism, are generally accessed, depending on the level of need, through primary care and specialist disability services. Information on waiting times for primary care and specialist disability services is not generally collected in terms of specific disabilities, such as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The nursing homes support scheme is a key component of our health service and a recurring theme of our discussion this morning. While older people prefer to remain at home if possible, there will always be a need for long-term nursing home care. The scheme's introduction in 2009 relieved families of potentially very onerous expense and ensured equity of treatment based upon means,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service without fees on a phased basis. The first phase will be for all children under six years of age and all persons aged 70 and over to have access to GP care without fees. These arrangements will come into operation in quarter 2 of 2015, subject to the conclusion of contractual discussions. I expect the Bill to extend GP...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Inequality in general has an impact on health, and this is an issue for the entire Government, not just the Department of Health. I think the Deputy would agree with me on that. The system that is in place and which we hope to expand has ensured that the number of discretionary medical cards has increased enormously. There is a more compassionate way of looking at it. It is about the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The argument that we should not provide free GP care to healthy children when there are others in need is sometimes a false one. As SUN, or Scaling Up Nutrition, tell us - one sees it in all the advertisements now, but we have been looking at it for years - proper nutrition and proper care are essential in the first thousand days of a child's life. If a child does not get the essential...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE National Service Plan 2015 aims to improve placement of children in age appropriate mental health settings. The 95% target indicated in the Plan allows for some flexibility surrounding emergency placements in Adult Units. The corresponding target set in the 2014 Service Plan was 75% or above. It is generally accepted that it will be most challenging for the HSE to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to introducing a universal GP service for the whole population. This is being introduced on a phased basis. The objective is to have universal GP care without fees for children under 6 years in place in Quarter 2 of 2015, subject to the conclusion of discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation and the completion of a fee-setting process. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The establishment of the Clinical Advisory Group for Medical Card Eligibility was announced by the HSE on 28 January. Its membership includes clinical experts from specialist services and professions, as well as patient representatives so that the views of patients are central to the process. As recommended by the Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centre Data (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The development of Primary Care Centres, through a combination of public and private investment, is supporting the delivery of an enhanced range of multidisciplinary, locally accessible primary health care services. To date, there are 86 Primary Care Centres in operation throughout the country, 43 of which have opened since 2011. The HSE uses three mechanisms to deliver primary care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The budget for the Scheme in 2015 is €948.8m, which reflects an increase of €10m from the 2014 position. This increase of €10m is part of the initiative to tackle delayed discharges and has provided for an additional 300 long stay care places under the NHSS. The budget for 2015 is expected to provide long-term residential care for 22,361 people. The review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: In 2012 the HSE launched a public consultation process regarding a proposal to consolidate the number of public nursing units in the Midlands. At the time almost 100 submissions were received and over 60 meetings took place with interested parties, 55 of which were with residents and next of kin. The HSE is in the course of considering all of the available relevant information with a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Investigations (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Government for National Recovery, 2011-2016 commits to developing and implementing national standards for home support services which will be subject to HIQA inspection. Primary legislation and resources will be required for the introduction of a statutory regulation system for home care services. This will be considered by Government on a prioritised and phased basis as resources,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services (25 Feb 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance Scheme, in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. The Government decided that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (25 Feb 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.