Wednesday, 15 Jul 2020

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (135)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

135. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a procedure will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16166/20]

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Written answers

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause most elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.

To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24th June 2020. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. The HSE is currently developing a Service Continuity Roadmap for the resumption of services across the health system. My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are currently working together to evaluate the impact of Covid 19 on Scheduled Care waiting lists, in order to be prepared to address pent up demand.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to investigate the matter and provide you with a direct response.

Hospital Services

Questions (136)

Neale Richmond

Question:

136. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when day services will resume at St. John of God Hospital for those who regularly attended services there prior to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16167/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Questions (137)

David Cullinane

Question:

137. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on an issue raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16169/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to advise you that there has been no change in policy by either the Department of Health or the HSE in relation to this issue. It has always been the position that only one month supply should be dispensed under the community drugs schemes.

In relation to PPE charges, the Department of Health has no role in the setting of fees charged by private dentists to their private patients. The Dental Council has a Code of Practice relating to the display of private fees in dental practices.

The Dental Council advises that dentists should take a case by case assessment when deciding if additional PPE is warranted. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has advised that regular PPE, which has always been used, is generally sufficient for usual orthodontic procedures.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (138)

David Cullinane

Question:

138. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding the pricing review of the National Treatment Purchase Fund in respect of the nursing homes support scheme; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

The Report of the NHSS Review published in 2015 identified a number of issues for more detailed consideration, including a review of the pricing mechanism used by the NTPF, with a view to:

- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;

- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and

- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.

A Steering Group was established to oversee and manage the pricing review. The Steering Group is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As part of its work on the review the NTPF sought various inputs including external expertise and stakeholder engagement to inform the review. These inputs were considered in detail. It is recognised that any change to any part of the Scheme must be considered in terms of the short- and long-term impact on the viability of the Scheme and accessibility of long-term residential care in general. It is therefore important that the relevant issues are considered thoroughly.

The NTPF has now completed its report and the Steering Group has completed its consideration of it, the report has been submitted by the NTPF to the Department. An examination of this review by my Department has also taken place. Any recommendations included in the report will be appraised before publication.

However, further progress on this work has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with focus entirely on responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority.

Medical Cards

Questions (139)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review eligibility for a full medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) who currently has a general practitioner card, which was awarded in 2018, but whose medical circumstances have deteriorated significantly in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Mental Health Services

Questions (140)

Mark Ward

Question:

140. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if priority will be given to recommendations on access to counselling services in the community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16184/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision – A National Mental Health Policy for Everyone proposes that a National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) be established to oversee implementation of the policy. The Committee will be mandated to drive reconfiguration, monitor progress against outcomes and deliver on the commitments made in this policy. It is expected that the Committee will work with partners to evaluate performance against the key performance indicators, check overall progress guided by research and learning from best practice, and gather information on examples of both good and bad practice. It is only when these mechanisms are in place that the system will be in a position to respond effectively to support the mental health needs of the whole population.

The revised policy contains an implementation roadmap that organises recommendations into short (0-6 months); medium (6-18 months) and long term (beyond 18 months), which will serve as a directional guide to the work of the NIMC in implementing the recommendations of the policy.

The HSE will assist the Department in drafting appropriate support structures for the NIMC, to operate within the overall implementation structure outlined in the policy. Work on this is already underway. Recommendations for the establishment of this will be submitted to Government for approval in due course.

In order to work as an accredited counsellor/psychotherapist in Ireland a counsellor must have completed an accredited training course in counselling/psychotherapy and complete the accreditation process with one of the main accreditation bodies.

Accreditation criteria differ between the various accrediting bodies but in general for a counselling/psychotherapy course to be accredited it must:

- be of a specified number of course contact hours which cover counselling/psychotherapy skills, theory and self development [typically 450 hours]

- detailed study of one core theoretical model of Counselling/Psychotherapy with an introduction to other theoretical models

- involve the applicant completing a specified number of counselling hours with individuals whilst working under supervision [typically 100 hours]

- include the applicant attending group and individual supervision

- the applicant is generally required to attend personal therapy for the duration of the course

Completion of training does not automatically entitle a person to be accredited. Most counsellors/psychotherapists can join their relevant professional body as a pre-accredited member. They then work towards full accreditation gaining clinical experience whilst working under supervision.

The HSE National Counselling Service only employs accredited counsellors and psychotherapists (I.e. they must have completed an accredited training, met the criteria for full accreditation and be a member of the relevant professional body). It recognises the following accreditation bodies for counsellor/therapists, the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the Irish Council for Psychotherapy and the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (141)

Brian Stanley

Question:

141. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Laois awaiting assessments for intellectual disabilities, including autism. [16188/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The recently published Programme for Government document "Our Shared Future" recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

Reflecting this and having regard to Children's Disabilities Services, the Government commits to;

- Prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children,

- Ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes,

- Seeking to reduce the waiting times for Assessment of Need under the Disability Act 2005, through the full year provision of additional therapy posts,

- Fully implementing the new Standard Operating Procedure for assessment of needs for all applications, and,

- Completing the establishment of the network of Children's Disability Network Teams throughout the country.

As the remainder of the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (142)

Brian Stanley

Question:

142. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Offaly awaiting assessments for intellectual disabilities, including autism. [16189/20]