Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Róisín Shortall.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
I have held detailed discussions with the HSE regarding the ongoing backlog in medical card
appeals. The HSE is moving additional staff to this area to help address the unsatisfactory
waiting times.
Health Services
633. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a review
in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; when a decision will issue; and
if he will make a statement on the matter. [7586/12]
Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch): As the Deputy’s
question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health
Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
634. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in receiving
surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; when the person may expect
the surgery to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7620/12]
Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): I am determined to address the issues which
cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have
established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute
services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining
waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies
— mainly the HSE and the NTPF.
As a priority, public hospitals were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had
no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of
hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery
of a nine-month maximum wait time for inpatient or day case surgery.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the
patient’s general practitioner consider that the patient’s condition warrants an earlier appointment,
he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and
facility involved.
Departmental Bodies
635. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health if the moneys collected as part of
the pension levy from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service were passed on to the Department
of Finance or if the IBTS retains the money as part of its own pension plan; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [7623/12]
Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly): The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is a
public service body as defined in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act,
2009 and consequently its employees are public servants within the terms of that Act. To date,
the Pension Levy deducted has not been remitted by the IBTS to the Exchequer. My officials
are in discussion with the Board of the IBTS on how best to resolve the issue of the deficit in
the IBTS pension fund, and this may involve using a proportion of pension levy funds. The
Irish Blood Transfusion Service pension scheme comes under the scope of a public service
pension scheme as defined in Section 1 of the Act.
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