Results 4,701-4,720 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Care Packages (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I do not know whether I can add too much to what I have already said. The initial question related to the introduction of paediatric care packages for children. The national policy is in place and is being implemented. This is undoubtedly an important issue. No one can disagree with the general thrust of what Deputy Kelleher has said. We are always trying to identify more resources as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: St. Michael's House received more than €70 million in 2012 in funding from the HSE to provide a range of services to approximately 1,660 children and adults with an intellectual disability in more than 170 centres in the greater Dublin area and in Navan, County Meath. The HSE and St. Michael's House work in close collaboration in regard to the funding and delivery of services to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I cannot disagree with the Deputy. There are real challenges here. Everybody understands that and, as public representatives, we are all aware of the incredible work St. Michael's House does. In circumstances where costs are being reduced, no one can deny but there is an impact. As I said, the HSE is trying to ensure services are impacted only as a very last resort. A concerted effort is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I will take note of what the Deputy said in his rejoinder. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is genuinely indisposed on this occasion and no offence should be taken by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Care Packages (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The issue of the provision of home care packages for children with life-limiting conditions is complex, encompassing those requiring short to medium-term care, those with a disability requiring long-term care and also sick children for whom sadly there is no reasonable hope of a cure. Palliative Care for Children with Life-limiting Conditions in Ireland – a National Policy, published...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: When decisions were made a decade ago in respect of the over 70s, I do not believe the Government of the day consulted GPs as to whether it should make the relevant policy choice.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: No Government would consult on such a policy choice. GPs and all other relevant practitioners are entitled to be involved in the discussions and, where appropriate, negotiations relating to the roll-out of any policy decision which affects them. However, policy decisions are a matter for Government and the Deputy can expect the relevant decisions to be brought forward in early course. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal general practitioner, GP, service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. It is a matter for the Government to determine policy in this area. There has been no Government decision at this stage on the details of the roll-out of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I assure Deputy Kelleher there is no question of a delaying tactic in this regard. In fact, I discussed this matter with the Minister for Health as recently as this afternoon. We are actively considering this question in terms of the approaches, the timing and the financial implications of the phased implementation of the universal primary care health service. As I said previously, it must...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Will the Deputy support us on it?

Written Answers — Department of Health: Chronic Disease Management Programme (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The National Clinical Programme for Asthma, which commenced in 2011, is one of a number of chronic disease programmes established in the HSE's Clinical Care Directorate aimed at bringing a systematic approach to changes in how services for patients are delivered. Current estimates suggest that there are approximately 450,000 people with doctor-diagnosed asthma in Ireland. The initial focus...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 27 and 275 together. The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. It is a matter for Government to determine policy in this area. There has been no Government decision, at this stage on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The prices of drugs vary between countries for a number of reasons, including different prices set by manufacturers, different wholesale and pharmacy mark-ups, different dispensing fees and different rates of VAT. The State has introduced a series of reforms in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical prices and expenditure. These have resulted in reductions in the prices of thousands of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which came into operation on the 24th of June, introduces a system of generic substitution and reference pricing. This legislation will promote price competition among suppliers and ensure that lower prices are paid for these medicines resulting in further savings for both taxpayers and patients. Under the Act, the Irish Medicines...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons of any age with a specific illness, such as cancer. However, under the legislation, there is provision...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review, which is near completion, will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best possible model of care delivery, given the current resources available and future demand for services.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I have been advised by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service that it is unaware of any incident where a medical card has been cancelled or withdrawn without any notice. If you have a particular instance, you should forward the medical card number or PPS number of the person concerned and PCRS will investigate further. In circumstance where eligibility is rescinded following a review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Report of the Working Group on Drug Rehabilitation (2007) defined rehabilitation in terms of 'providing a continuum of care to problem drug users, enabling them to address their needs as most appropriate for them. These needs may include health, social, housing, employment, education and /or vocational'. Arising from this report and in line with the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. One of the recommendations of the Forum was to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Issues (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I announced details of a series of measures last December arising from a review of Drugs Task Forces and the national structures under which they operate.   These measures included the extension of the remit of the Task Forces to include alcohol addiction and the establishment of a National Coordinating...