Written Answers Nos. 445-461
445. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breast-fed exclusively and not exclusively at first PHN, postherpetic neuralgia, visit at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available [30183/18]
View answer446. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breast-fed exclusively at first PHN visit at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30184/18]
View answer447. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively and not exclusively at three month PHN visit at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30185/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 445 to 447, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have referred these 3 PQs to the HSE.
448. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the percentage of babies breastfed exclusively at three month PHN visit at the end of June 2018 or the latest date available. [30186/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it is being submitted to the HSE.
449. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in receipt of an intensive home care package; and the percentage of same with a key worker assigned. [30187/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
450. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours provided from intensive home care packages to date in 2018. [30188/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
451. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing ten community physiotherapists or hospital physiotherapists at entry level, and five and ten years of experience, respectively. [30189/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
452. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated saving if the full economic cost for the use of beds in public and voluntary hospitals for the purposes of private medical practice were paid for by private insurance operators. [30190/18]
View answer453. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated savings if all private patients in public hospitals were charged in full for services provided rather than being charged a maintenance or per diem charge. [30191/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together.
The information requested is not currently available. The cost of all inpatient and daycase activity is calculated as part of the Activity Based Funding (ABF) system for acute hospitals. However, the resulting ABF price only applies to public patients because certain costs which would be relevant to private patients are funded through the block grant to these hospitals. A new methodology and detailed costing study would therefore be required in order to accurately calculate the full economic cost of private activity. This matter will be considered as part of the further roll-out of the ABF funding model.
454. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding general practitioner training intake to 200. [30192/18]
View answer194 GP training places were funded in 2018. The HSE estimates that costs of approximately €367,926.67 and €389,093.30 would be incurred from 2021 and 2022 onwards to provide an additional 6 training places starting with the 2019 intake.
455. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the State directly employing a general practitioner inclusive of salary and PRSI costs. [30193/18]
View answerThis information is not available. General Practitioners are independent private contractors and there is currently no approved salary scale in the public service for this post.
456. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing practice nurses to work with 25 general practitioners, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period. [30194/18]
View answer457. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost and breakdown of providing medical secretaries to work with 25 general practitioners, including cost of their training and pay for work for that period. [30195/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs can claim practice support subsidies that contribute towards the cost of employing a practice nurse, manager and/or secretary.
The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the number of years experience the nurse or secretary has. The current full subsidy rates are:
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 1 year’s experience |
€30,945.86 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 2 years’ experience |
€32,665.07 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 3 years’ experience |
€34,384.29 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) 4 or more years’ experience |
€37,822.72 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 1 year’s experience |
€20,630.57 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 2 years’ experience |
€22,349.80 |
|
Secretarial subsidy (per year) 3 or more years’ experience |
€24,068.99 |
|
Practice manager subsidy (per year) — based on first point in the nursing subsidy |
€30,945.86 |
As GPs are independent private contractors and employ their own practice staff, the terms of the contract of employment are negotiated directly with each employee.
Given the variation in payment rates that may therefore apply to each contract, the Department cannot estimate the cost of employing and training 25 practice nurses or secretaries beyond the payment of the above subsidy rates.
458. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of midwives by 100, 150 and 250, respectively in tabular form. [30196/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
459. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of nurses by 100. [30197/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
460. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of obstetricians and gynaecologists employed by ten. [30198/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
461. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of obstetricians and gynaecologists employed by 47. [30199/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
