Niamh Smyth
Question:146. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48532/21]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (146)
Written answers
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.
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (147)
Mark Ward
Question:147. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 852 of 31 March 2021, if the tender has finished; the services each hospital has been providing since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48533/21]
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.
Medicinal Products
Questions (148)
Colm Burke
Question:148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will review the decision not to allow for reimbursement of cannabidiol, epidiolex in view of the fact that there has been clear evidence to show that this drug is extremely effective in the management of care for patients with dravet syndrome and lennox-gastaut syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48542/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (149)
Bernard Durkan
Question:149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an appropriate occupational therapy service will be provided to a person (details supplied) who requires such a service as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48544/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (150)
Robert Troy
Question:150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [48560/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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.
Health Services
Questions (151)
Seán Canney
Question:151. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that diagnostic services for testicles is not available in County Galway; the steps will he take to rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48563/21]
View answerWritten answers
We are advised by University Hospital Galway (UHG) that ultrasounds for the diagnosis of testicular cancer are carried out in UHG/Merlin Park. They advise that a total of 163 testes ultrasounds were carried out in the past 3 months. Additionally, hospital and GP patients may be referred to Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, and some GP patients are also referred to private providers for ultrasound scans.
Departmental Data
Questions (152)
John Lahart
Question:152. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours for persons with disabilities that were provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the projected out turn for 2021. [48567/21]
View answerWritten answers
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Data
Questions (153)
John Lahart
Question:153. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistance hours for persons with disabilities that were provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the projected out turn for 2021. [48568/21]
View answerWritten answers
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (154)
Pearse Doherty
Question:154. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no consultant ophthalmologist located permanently at Letterkenny University Hospital; if an assessment of need was carried out in respect of this decision; if that assessment will be made available; and if he will liaise with the Health Service Executive to recruit a consultant ophthalmologist to be located permanently in Letterkenny University Hospital. [48582/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (155)
Pearse Doherty
Question:155. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on an ophthalmology appointment for less than six and more than six months by county in tabular form. [48583/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre-cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid protocols.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2019. At the end of August 2021 there were 4,511 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 5,528 in August 2019.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department is working with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop a two-pronged approach to tackle the rise in waiting lists. Firstly, with the finalisation of a Waiting List Action Plan which will cover the rest of the year, until December 2021. Secondly through the development of a longer-term Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the of persons waiting on an ophthalmology appointment for less than six and more than six months by county, is outlined in the attached document.
Health Services
Questions (156)
Pearse Doherty
Question:156. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant ophthalmologists working within the Health Service Executive; and the location of each such consultant by hospital in tabular form. [48584/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Health Services
Questions (157)
Pearse Doherty
Question:157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of clinics and visits made by the consultant ophthalmologist to Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [48585/21]
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.
Health Services
Questions (158)
Pearse Doherty
Question:158. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a consultant ophthalmologist cannot assess children (details supplied) at Letterkenny University Hospital before a scheduled date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48586/21]
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.
Medical Cards
Questions (159)
Robert Troy
Question:159. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will address a situation whereby many dental surgeries in an area are no longer taking on medical card patients; and if advice will be given to a person (details supplied) who cannot secure the services of a dentist through the medical card scheme. [48596/21]
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 (160)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:160. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the €50 million allocated to the provision of new medicines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48600/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. 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 (161)
Michael McNamara
Question:161. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when the dental treatment services scheme which was cut back significantly during the financial crisis will be restored given a restoration schedule for funding for general practice has been agreed by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48603/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. In 2010 the range of treatments provided under the Scheme was reduced in order to cap expenditure at the 2008 level of €63 million.
The approach to future oral health service provision will be aligned with Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs.
The current DTSS is based on outdated approaches from the 1990s and is no longer suitable. I am committed to ensuring the sustainability of the DTSS, but recognise that it needs to be aligned with the best international evidence and practice, as outlined in the new Policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the roll-out of the National Oral Health Policy to be delayed, and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred. Officials in my Department and from the HSE are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association on matters relating to the provision of services under the DTSS.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (162)
John Lahart
Question:162. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting placement under the fair deal scheme as of 30 September 2021 or the latest date available; the average waiting time; the number of persons currently awaiting placement under the scheme by LHO in tabular form; and the length of time waiting. [48675/21]
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.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (163)
David Cullinane
Question:163. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of active contracts or tenders for health ICT or eHealth projects by software, hardware or similar typology; the length of contract and start date or year; the value of the contracts; the locations in which they are public knowledge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48714/21]
View answerWritten answers
The table below outlines the information requested by the Deputy in relation to active contracts or tenders within my Department. All figures are inclusive of VAT. In respect of hardware, my Department draws down from Office of Government Procurement Frameworks as required.
In respect of the HSE, as this is a service matter, I have asked them to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
|
Typology |
Start Date |
Length of contract |
Value of contract |
|
Software |
01/01/2019 |
3 years |
€400K |
|
Software |
01/05/2020 |
3 years |
€120K |
|
Software |
01/01/2020 |
1 year |
€39K |
|
Software |
12/01/2021 |
1 year |
€14K |
Health Service Executive
Questions (164)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:164. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the guidance the HSE provides to community healthcare organisations on the provision of information and criteria to the general public on the technical aids grant scheme for visually impaired persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48715/21]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (165)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the registration fees for nurses can be waived (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48718/21]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011. While my Department is responsible for the oversight and governance of the NMBI, I have no role in setting or approving fees.
Under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, the NMBI is required to be self-financing, and the income from the Annual Retention Fee is required to carry out its statutory obligations to protect the integrity of the practice of the professions of nursing and midwifery, and to protect the public. The current annual retention fee is €100 and is unchanged since 2014. This fee is NMBI's main source of income.