Results 221-240 of 1,052,527 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Seán Crowe OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Violet-Anne Wynne) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

James O'Connor: I see the point the Minister is making. It does not necessarily mean I wholeheartedly agree with it, but he is right to outline that. We do this best on the basis of age. I acknowledge the Department with its enormous resources has to prioritise what it feels is in the best interests of caring for the needs of our population around this expenditure and providing the best access to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will make two points. The first is on the discretionary cards. One in eight medical cards is discretionary, and that is meant to speak to exactly the kinds of cases the Deputy talks about. The discretionary medical card is issued to patients with big medical expenses. They might satisfy the gross income criterion but not the net income criterion. Once they have to pay all these medical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

James O'Connor: I know I have raised this with the Minister previously, but in that specific area around Rathcormack and in north Cork generally, people accessing healthcare services has been a huge difficulty and a huge challenge. In particular, I think of the town of Mitchelstown. I have raised here many times cases of a concentration of the healthcare resources in a primary care centre that is privately...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: I strongly support the sentiments expressed by the Deputy. This applies not only to north Cork but all over the country and has been raised numerous times in the health committee over recent years. The Minister himself has identified the word "discretion". The request has to be that the criteria need to be broadened to take into account the fact, as described by Deputy O'Connor and as we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Our clear goal is universal healthcare. One of the three pillars of universal healthcare is that it is affordable, so a lot of what we are doing is trying to make sure that people can access care quickly, that it is great care when they get it and that they can afford it. Any debate like this is very important to constantly reviewing and finding those patients who find themselves outside of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Health Services

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: 9. To ask the Minister for Health to indicate the treatment pathways available for patients who suffer from scoliosis, cataracts and spina bifida, public or private, to help deal with the current backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39443/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: This is a similar question. It seeks reassurance for patients who suffer from various illnesses, from scoliosis to cataracts, to spina bifida. Whether they are public or private patients, their concern is for access to treatment within a reasonable time. Do we have the facilities to treat them within this jurisdiction? My belief is that we do. Whether they are public or private, can the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We could do an entire Dáil statement and debate on this issue, so I thank the Deputy for raising it. The Deputy has raised several areas: cataract services, orthopaedic services, spinal care and more. As I just said, our goal is universal healthcare. One of the pillars is affordability, which we just discussed, and another is rapid access. A huge amount of what we have been doing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister's reply shows an intimate knowledge of the system and its flaws and weaknesses and so on, which we all accept. We have to strive towards universal healthcare. However, it is no good telling that to the patient who has to wait, whether it is scoliosis or whatever else. I had spinal surgery during the summer. It was not possible for somebody to say to me, "We are working...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: 7. To ask the Minister for Health if he can guarantee when inpatient residential dual diagnosis services will resume in a treatment centre, details supplied; the reason for the delay in reopening these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39162/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Will the Minister confirm that the inpatient dual diagnosis service will resume at the Keltoi treatment centre in St. Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park? When will the residential service reopen?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: I acknowledge the Deputy's continued interest in this matter. The model of care in regard to dual diagnosis was launched only last year. In 2021, I launched the model of care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, for adults, with four new teams in place this year. We will continue to complete that roll-out. Given the model of care for dual diagnosis was launched only last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: I have been working on this issue since the service closed during the Covid crisis in 2020. We were told at the time by the now Taoiseach and then Minister for Health, Simon Harris, that it would be open as soon as the Covid crisis finished. I raised the matter again with the former Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. I expected the Minister of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: I do not disagree with the Deputy. The Keltoi rehabilitation centre is hugely important. It is recommended in the model of care that the centre provide a dual diagnosis service. It is intended to be used for rehabilitation of those with serious and significant mental health difficulties and substance use disorders. It will accept referrals from across Ireland, which is really important....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mark Ward: Keltoi is a facility I know very well from my professional life before I came to this House. I know the important role it plays. I am still concerned about the funding coming from different Departments and the question of who is responsible. Where does the buck stop when it comes to reopening the residential service? The centre is back open as a day facility but the residential service is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mental Health Services (3 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: As the Deputy said, the day service is open. My understanding is that the submission we received was not sufficient at the time to enhance the residential element of the service. That is still being worked on, as I said, between social inclusion, the HSE and the Department of Health. I expect the mental health unit within the Department to take the lead on this. We are driving it on....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medical Cards (3 Oct 2024)

James O'Connor: 8. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the eligibility rules for medical cards and GP cards for those with chronic and incurable autoimmune diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39429/24]