David Cullinane
Question:842. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average cost per annum incurred by the State for a general practitioner card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4323/21]
View answerGeneral Practitioner Services
Questions (842)
Written answers
GPs who hold GMS contracts are remunerated by the HSE for the services they provide without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Under the GMS scheme GPs receive a range of capitation rates, fee per service payments, as well as practice and other supports.
The cost of GP visit and medical cards varies significantly with the age of the cardholder. The table below shows the average annual cost per medical card and GP visit card holder, by age group, based on all claims for the 12-month period to September 2020.
|
Age Group |
Average Cost per GP Visit Card |
Average Cost per Medical Card |
|
0 – 4 Yrs |
€248 |
€444 |
|
5 – 15 Yrs |
€176 |
€349 |
|
16 - 44 Yrs |
€202 |
€815 |
|
45 – 64 Yrs |
€294 |
€1,439 |
|
65 – 69 Yrs |
€339 |
€1,858 |
|
Aged 70 and over |
€653 |
€2,373 |
Note: Costings compiled by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service.
Ambulance Service
Questions (843)
Gerald Nash
Question:843. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service and HSE estates are working to identify a site in Drogheda, County Louth, to accommodate a modern, purpose-built ambulance service base; if a site has been identified; when the process will conclude; if such a commitment is included in the HSE's current programme of capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly in relation to this matter.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (844)
David Cullinane
Question:844. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current known length of time that immunity is provided by the different Covid-19 vaccines; if it is considered to be an annual vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/21]
View answerWritten answers
Currently, because the virus is so novel, there is not enough knowledge on how long the immunity conferred by the authorised vaccines will last after vaccination.
The people vaccinated in the clinical trials for each vaccine will continue to be followed for 2 years to gather more information on the duration of protection.
The scientific community, the manufacturers and regulators will monitor the changes in the virus which causes COVID-19 over time and whether the authorised vaccines can protect people from infection with new variants, or whether a change in vaccine composition is needed, and booster vaccinations.
Medicinal Products
Questions (845)
David Cullinane
Question:845. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE drug group has met to date in January 2021; when the group will next meet; if the drug dupilumab will be approved for reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4328/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (846)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:846. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who has received a Covid-19 vaccine and is travelling to Ireland for an essential purpose will still need to provide a negative PCR test on arrival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4334/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is not yet understood whether available vaccines prevent vaccinated persons from being infected or transmitting the disease to others. As such, the impact vaccinations will have on travel policies internationally is yet to be determined. The WHO has continues to caution governments against introducing immunity passports at this time.
The test requirement for international arrival is given effect under SI 11/2021. Given the preceding points, there is no exemption for vaccinated persons at present.
The Government gives continuing consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice.
Hospital Services
Questions (847)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:847. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 17 November 2020, when the feasibility study in a hospital (details supplied) will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4335/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (848)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:848. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of a plan to identify a site for a new hospital in Cork city as per the reforms under Sláintecare; if there are any suitable sites on the northside of the city that are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4336/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Development Plan stated that, “New dedicated ambulatory elective only hospital facilities will be introduced in Dublin Galway and Cork. These facilities will provide high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and outpatient basis, together with a range of ambulatory diagnostic services. The high volume of demand for such services in these major urban centres is sufficient to justify the construction of dedicated ambulatory centres.”
The introduction of these dedicated elective/ambulatory sites is also in line with the recommendations of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review and the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy (August 2018).
In 2019 the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office (SPIO) established an Elective Hospitals Oversight Group, under the joint governance of the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Sláintecare, to guide the development of the elective/ambulatory sites, as outlined in the National Development Plan (February 2018).
The Elective Hospitals Oversight Group has the following terms of reference:
1. To develop the elective hospital capacity with a ten-year horizon of need, which facilitates the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care.
2. To provide quicker, higher quality, safer care for selected, elective patients.
3. To create capacity for acute hospital sites and reduce/eliminate outlier boarding (trolleys).
4. To drive down waiting lists, both outpatient and inpatient/day case.
5. To reduce cancellations.
6. To reduce acute hospital footfall.
The Oversight Group is following the process outlined in the Public Spending Code. As required under the Code, a Strategic Assessment Report has been drafted for the development of Elective Hospital facilities. This sets out the rationale for investment, the alignment of the programme with strategic requirements of Government, some initial options and potential costs, and the governance of the programme. This document is complete and is currently going through the approval channels.
A high-level facilities spatial brief, including costs, a functional description and process flow, a site options appraisal and a Preliminary Business Case (PBC) in accordance with the public spending code has been drafted. The site option appraisal was carried out to explore indicative sites and was not a site selection process.
HSE Staff
Questions (849)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:849. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of children's disability network teams in CHO5. [4338/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, 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.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Staff
Questions (850)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:850. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant nursing posts in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; and the steps being taken to fill these vacant posts. [4339/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (851)
Bernard Durkan
Question:851. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of reimbursement applications currently being processed in respect of orphan new drugs; the length of time to deal with individual applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter [4345/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Question No. 852 answered with Question No. 807.
Eating Disorders
Questions (853)
Mark Ward
Question:853. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the plan will be put in place to have eight adult eating disorder teams across the country in line with the model of care for eating disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4368/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service, matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (854, 855)
Pauline Tully
Question:854. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of a full medical card; the number of persons on a full medical card; the average cost of a general practitioner visit only card; the number of persons on a general practitioner visit only card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4374/21]
View answerPauline Tully
Question:855. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the differential between the average cost of a full medical card and the average cost of a general practitioner visit only card; the number of persons in receipt of both cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4375/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 855 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Respite Care Services
Questions (856)
Pauline Tully
Question:856. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average cost of formal out-of-home respite service; the average cost of formal in-home respite service; the average cost of recreation and holiday respite breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4376/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (857)
Colm Burke
Question:857. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of orthodontic treatment in County Cork; his views on whether, due to the long delay in getting access to this type of treatment, those who are on the waiting list could attend for the treatment privately and receive reimbursement from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4381/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Questions (858)
Colm Burke
Question:858. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will correspond with An Bord Altranais in respect of a 16-week delay in the registration of nurses who have trained and worked abroad and have now returned to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) endeavours to process all applications for registrations, including overseas applications, in a timely manner.
The processing of overseas applications from within the EU is provided for under the EU Directive 2005/36/EC which has strict timelines. The NMBI has advised my Department that it is currently up to date with all of the initial administrative assessments of Directive applications. Occasionally, delays can occur in cases where the application is incomplete. Currently, the NMBI has 294 Directive applications, out of which 106 are in an ‘incomplete’ status requiring additional documentation from the applicant or documentation from a competent authority in another jurisdiction.
Although the processing of non-EU applications is not governed by legislative time limits , the NMBI endeavours to process these applications in a similarly prompt manner.
I understand that the NMBI is in contact with the Deputy regarding an individual case and the matter is being examined.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (859)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:859. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the status of a person (details supplied) who is waiting for a MRI scan to determine the efficacy of their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4387/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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 Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (860)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:860. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if patients are tested for Covid-19 on their release from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4388/21]
View answerWritten answers
The National Testing Strategy for COVID-19 involves testing people who meet the case definition. Currently, this is those with COVID-19 symptoms or as part of established serial testing programmes including residential care facilities, schools and food production facilities,
Hospitals have developed new ways of working to continue reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19. For patients attending for a day-case procedure or planned hospital admission, their healthcare team will contact them regarding their appointment and make the arrangements for a COVID-19 test if required, prior to their attendance at the hospital.
Infection prevention and control practices are of critical importance in protecting the function of healthcare services, and hospitals are required to have a COVID-19 plan to ensure an appropriate response to the threat posed by the virus. Patients who are discharged from hospital will be provided with the requisite advice to follow by their healthcare team. Where a discharged patient develops any symptoms of COVID-19, they are directed to contact their GP and to disclose any recent hospital appointments or procedures. Any requirement for testing at this point will be based on the criteria set out in the national testing strategy for COVID-19.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (861)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:861. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the volume of faulty equipment purchased by the HSE since the start of 2020; the type of equipment; the quantity that is faulty; the value of the faulty equipment; the persons or bodies that supplied the faulty equipment, that is, manufacturer and intermediary; and if there is recourse to recover the costs. [4397/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.