Results 921-940 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The number of primary care centres being built is ahead of profile and the process is working extremely well. We are proposing to build even more under an operational lease which also has to go through a process. The issue is not just about buildings, it is also about ensuring GPs in a certain area are prepared to co-operate and avail of the facility. Then and only then will other services...

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The only way hospitals will have respite is, for instance, if various chronic illnesses are treated in primary care centres. That should give us some breathing space. Minor surgeries will be performed in primary care centres more often in 2016 than in 2015. There were 20 in 2015 and the proposal is to have 80 in 2016. There will always be vacancies for nurses, junior doctors and...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. While most GPs provide phlebotomy services for their medical card and GP visit card patients without charge, I am aware that there have been instances where some GPs have charged such patients for these services. It is not acceptable for patients in these categories to be subject to a charge for procedures associated with routine diagnosis and...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I thank the Deputy for that information, but I, again, point out that under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract, a medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever in reward for services provided by him or her or for travelling or other expenses incurred by him or her for the use of any premises, equipment or instruments in making the service available. I...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The contract is very clear and explicit. I will bring the information the Deputy has produced to the notice of the HSE and we will make sure it is acted on.

Other Questions: Primary Care Centre Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The development of primary care remains central to the Government's objective of delivering a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care service at community level. This involves shifting the balance of care from a hospital-centered service to one located in the community to enable people easily to access a broad spectrum of services at local level. The development of primary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: It is one of the central issues under negotiation with the IMO. The figures are important. As of 1 November 2015, 20 GMS lists do not have a permanent GP in place, eight of which are in rural areas with populations of fewer than 1,500. However, each of the lists has either a locum GP or a neighbouring GP who has taken over the list and provides the full range of GP services to patients....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Again, the GP vacancy rate in England is 8% compared to 1% here. The population across the country is aging. There are exceptional circumstances in rural areas and this is why we have additional allowances and give additional leave allowances regarding employment of staff and locums. Although a substantial grant is available, it is not just about money, as we know. Maybe, people do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas, and that general practice is sustainable in such areas in future. It is imperative that services meet patient needs, that existing GP services are maintained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for newly-qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015. The HSE aims to ensure that the resources available are used to best effect, in order to provide assessment and ongoing therapy to children in line with their prioritised needs. However, it is acknowledged...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The number of children on the waiting list for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has been a particular concern to me, and last March I asked the HSE to undertake a detailed validation of CAMHS waiting lists with the aim of minimising waiting times and, in particular, reducing the number of those waiting over 12 months. This exercise involved very intensive work on the part...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The HSE has recently reviewed its guidelines for dealing with applications for a Rural Practice Allowance from GPs applying for a GMS contract in remote rural areas. The purpose of the new guidance is to ensure consistency, transparency and fairness in decision-making in respect of the relevant discretionary provisions of the GMS contract pertaining to the granting or otherwise of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The position in regard to mental health posts nationally was outlined in my Parliamentary Question reply of 22 October last to the Deputy. The development of the mental health service in Co. Wexford has been underpinned by an overall budget allocation for Waterford/Wexford Mental Health services, which was increased by over €2m in 2015, from an allocation of just over €39m...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Service Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Orthodontics services provided by the HSE in the North West are based at Sligo University Hospital. A satellite service is provided to Letterkenny University Hospital. The unit in Letterkenny University Hospital has 3 Orthodontic Specialists and one Orthodontic Specialist who visits from Sligo once a week. This service is led by a Consultant Orthodontist based in Sligo who also visits...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Guidelines (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the written consent of a patient is required where a programme of Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT) is to be administered. However where an involuntary patient is 'unable' or 'unwilling' to give consent, the programme may be administered if it has been approved by the Consultant Psychiatrist responsible for the care and treatment of the patient and also...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Capital Programme (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: I recently announced an additional €300m capital allocation for refurbishment or replacement of social care facilities for older persons’ units and disability units to allow such facilities to comply with relevant National Standards by 2021. The HSE is formulating its plans for the application of this funding, and once these plans are ready they will be discussed in detail with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with special needs, including early intervention services, and to improving access by these children to assessments and therapeutic interventions insofar as possible within available resources. Health related therapy supports and interventions for children, such as speech and language therapy, can be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages (3 Dec 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: The Government is committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas, and that general practice is sustainable in such areas into the future. It is also imperative that services meet patient needs, that existing GP services are maintained and that general practice remains an attractive career option for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Service Provision (3 Dec 2015)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.