Results 5,481-5,500 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Alex White: The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (28 May 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 689 and 696 together. The conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; Parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (28 May 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review 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. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Payments (28 May 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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: I endorse very strongly what the Minister said about the professional staff, including the management, right across the system in circumstances of enormous pressure. Right across the board, there has been an incredible sense of dedication and commitment to what needs to be done. It is worth stating that, at a time of enormous financial pressure and retrenchment, we still have managed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: There is a good chance that the memorandum will be signed off this very week. It will be ready in the next couple of weeks. It will deal with the issues of pricing, ease of access to alcohol, and advertising and sponsorship.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: Two issues were raised on medical cards. Deputy Naughten inquired about a differential approach to medical cards. First, I thought he was saying there should not be a differential approach but in fact he was saying the opposite, that the approach taken should have regard to region-specific issues such as access to services in one part of the country that are not available in another area....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: There are two areas I wish to address. First, I will address the question of dental services and then I will say something about the medical cards issue which has been raised by several members. Deputy Ó Caoláin raised the issue of dental services and I wish to give some context to my reply. It is worth pointing out that in the year to date, that is, to April 2013, of the 1.4...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: They have changed in many circumstances. People are written to and are given three months' notice. There are many anecdotes going around which are not true. People are written to and given three months' notice. They are written to again within one month. If people engage with the service and engage genuinely with the letter they receive and answer the request being made for further...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: I believe this issue is dealt with in a sensitive way. If there are issues about the language in letters-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: There is always room for examining such issues if particular words are used, but there is no question of a targeting of individuals or groups of people. That is not happening. I support the process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Update on Health Affairs: Discussion with Minister for Health and HSE (23 May 2013)

Alex White: Let me finish the point. I have one more sentence to add. I did not hear what Deputy Healy said but I will address it. If there is a question about lack of sensitivity or clarity about what is happening we will deal with it and address it if there is a problem.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (23 May 2013)

Alex White: Dental services to children up to 16 years are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE. The service is targeted at children at key stages in their development. Children are given dental examinations and any follow-up treatment required at these stages. When required, emergency dental treatment is available to all children up to 16 years. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (23 May 2013)

Alex White: Community chiropody is a discretionary service, which the Health Service Executive endeavours to provide on a prioritised basis within the context of available resources and competing needs for such resources. The HSE has been asked to examine the query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Review (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The current General Medical Services (GMS) GP Capitation Contract was introduced in 1989 and is based on a diagnosis and treatment model. Under the GMS contract, GPs receive a range of fees and allowances, including an annual capitation payment in respect of each medical card and GP visit card patient on their GMS list. Section 11 of the current contract states as follows: The medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review 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. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The name of the company that undertook the national audit of the fluoridation process at water treatment plants commissioned by the Irish Expert Group on Fluorides and Health in 2008/2009 is Tobin Consultancy Engineers. The annual budget for the full operational and labour costs excluding chemicals associated with the 250 water fluoridation plants nationally is €2.2 million.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The costs of €4,426 relate to the installation of dosing pipe work. The costs of €14,450 relate to the installation of the bulk tank, bulk tank bund, bulk tank seal, bulk tank level indicator, bulk tank security, day tank, day tank bund, day tank bund seal, weighing scales, dosing pump, transfer pump, dead man's handle, transfer pipe work, transfer pipe work security, dosing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Generic Drugs Substitution (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has been working with General Practitioners over many years to encourage better quality prescribing of drugs in Ireland. In 2012, the HSE’s Medicines Management Programme (MMP) was established to further this agenda and to communicate with prescribers regarding best practice. Over the coming weeks the MMP plans to attend a number of regional GP meetings to convey programme...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Generic Drugs Substitution (23 May 2013)

Alex White: The Department is committed to establishing high-level annual targets by the end of September for the share of generic penetration over the medium-term. These targets will be informed by the findings of a report currently being completed by the ESRI which is examining the usage of generics in Ireland and comparable EU jurisdictions.