Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

373 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 374County Monaghan and Dublin and other externalhospitals in 2004; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [5680/05]101. Mr. Connolly asked the Tánaiste andMinister for Health and Children the expenditureon privately hired ambulance journeys betweenCounty Meath and Dublin and other externalhospitals in 2004; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [5681/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos.91 to 101, inclusive, together.The Health Act 2004 provided for the HealthService Executive, which was established on 1January 2005. Under the Act, the executive hasthe responsibility to manage and deliver, orarrange to be delivered on its behalf, health andpersonal social services. This includes responsibilityfor the provision of ambulance services.Accordingly, my Department has requested thechief officer for the executive’s north eastern areato investigate the matters raised and to replydirectly to the Deputy.Hospital Services.102. Caoimhghín ÓCaoláin asked the Tánaisteand Minister for Health and Children if her attentionhas been drawn to the fact that it is impossiblefor electronic files on patients to be sharedbetween hospitals due to the fact that the primaryidentifier on a patient’s file is a number assignedto him or her by the hospital, which makes crossreferencingimpossible, so that if a patient is subsequentlytreated at a different hospital there isno efficient way to obtain his or her history; herviews on the establishment of a system wherebythe primary identifier would be the PPS numberor, in the case of tourists, the passport number; ifshe will take steps to have such a systemimplemented; and if she will make a statement onthe matter. [5684/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The health information strategypublished in 2004 provides for the introduction ofa system of unique identification of health serviceclients and patients which will be based on thePPS number. This will be critical to the reliableidentification of patients which is an essentialelement in the safe transfer of electronic patientrecords between health care providers. The questionof the identification of patients who are notIrish residents will be considered in detail as partof the process. It will also be necessary to ensurethat any system of transfer of electronic patientinformation between health care providers hasinbuilt safeguards regarding the appropriatenessof that transfer which will protect the privacy andconfidentiality of that information.Any necessary legislative or regulatory supportfor the implementation of the PPS number in thehealth service will be considered in the context oflegislation which my Department will be draftingto address any legal issues arising in the contextof the implementation of the health informationstrategy.103. Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children if her attention hasbeen drawn to the fact that the NationalMaternity Hospital, Holles Street is not acceptingpublic or semi-private cases for the next fewmonths; if her attention has further been drawnto the fact that this is causing distress for someexpectant mothers who have given birth to theirother children in this hospital; the action she willtake to resolve this problem; and if she will makea statement on the matter. [5688/05]Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children(Ms Harney): The Health Act 2004 provided forthe Health Service Executive, HSE, which wasestablished on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, theexecutive has the responsibility to manage anddeliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf,health and personal social services.Services at the National Maternity Hospital areprovided under an arrangement with the executive.My Department has requested the chiefofficer for the executive’s eastern regional areato examine the issues raised and to reply to theDeputy directly.The HSE is aware of the challenges facing theNational Maternity Hospital in meeting demandand will continue to work with the three Dublinmaternity hospitals to jointly address the issue ofhow best to manage the provision of maternityservices throughout 2005.Housing Aid for the Elderly.104. Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children when work will becompleted to a house (details supplied) in CountyLimerick under the special housing aid for theelderly scheme. [5694/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The Health Act2004 provided for the Health Service Executive,which was established on 1 January 2005. Underthe Act, the executive has the responsibility tomanage and deliver, or arrange to be deliveredon its behalf, health and personal social services.This includes responsibility for the provision ofthe housing aid scheme in County Limerick, onbehalf of the Department of the Environment,Heritage and Local Government. Accordingly,my Department has requested the chief officerfor the executive’s mid-western area to investigatethe matter raised and to reply directly tothe Deputy.105. Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Ministerfor Health and Children when work will becompleted under the special housing aid for theelderly scheme for a person (details supplied) inCounty Limerick. [5695/05]Minister of State at the Department of Healthand Children (Mr. S. Power): The Health Act