Results 5,321-5,340 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Other Questions: Obesity Strategy (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: People who are entitled to a medical card will retain it. The Deputy is misleading the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy is being irresponsible in the language he is using.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy should not use words like "terrorise" in this context. An additional 100,000 medical cards are being issued this year, although I accept that 40,000 have been reduced to GP-only cards. Additional cards are being issued all the time by the Health Service Executive.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: To be clear, any person who is entitled to a medical card will retain it. I absolutely support the HSE's efforts to ascertain people's continued entitlement to a medical card. This will ensure that the huge resources necessary to maintain the medical card system will be used in the best way, for the benefit of those who are genuinely entitled to it. That is what the Government is about,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the programme for Government and the future health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. This is the first Government in the history of this State to commit itself to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Primary Care Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Deputy referred to credibility. Not only did the Government of which he was a supporter and a member not get around to extending universal GP care but it had a policy opposing it. It is extraordinary for him to raise the credibility of this Government in those circumstances, given the policy position of the previous Government in opposition to universal health care. He will be wiser...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Issues (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme allows GMS patients (medical card and GP visit card holders) to choose their GP from a list of locally based contracted doctors, or GMS patients may be assigned to a GP contractor's panel in certain circumstances specified in the contract. The purpose of a GMS patient either choosing or being assigned to one GP is to ensure continuity of care. A...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy 2012. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing; controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship; labelling of alcohol products, and measures on access and availability of alcohol. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The National Model of Care for Asthma is currently being finalised and will be sent for stakeholder consultation after 30th June 2013. The Model of Care cannot be completed until stakeholder responses have been received and considered.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Pharmacists play an important role in the delivery of healthcare in Ireland. Over the past two years, I have broadened the range of services provided by community pharmacists. They now provide the seasonal flu vaccination to patients, including adults in “at risk” groups. Pharmacists have recently commenced emergency hormonal contraception services. They provide advice on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales Legislation (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group, 2012 is the road map for the future direction of policy to deal with the use and misuse of alcohol. The Report specified that adults in Ireland drink in a more dangerous way than in any other country. In effect, Irish adults drank 11.6 litres of pure alcohol per capita in 2011. The Steering Group reported that if every...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Prices (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 was published on 14 June. The Bill was read a second time in the Seanad on 20 June. It is envisaged that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the Summer session and that the charges would take effect shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: Persons suffering from prescribed conditions, who are not already medical card holders, can get free drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. The HSE Local Health Office is responsible for approving medication to be supplied to a patient under the scheme. A patient who has been prescribed new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so. As the provision of public dental services...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Issues (25 Jun 2013)

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: Health Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: As this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The National Integrated Care Diabetes Programme is being implemented on a phased basis. The programme will 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. The Government has approved funding for the appointment of 17 Integrated Care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (25 Jun 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 with a specific illness, such as cancer. However, under the legislation, there is provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss and prescribes hearing aids as required. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy...