Written Answers Nos. 294-303
294. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the occupancy rates of paediatric critical care beds averaged across each quarter for 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51746/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to a measure in Budget 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51751/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort; accordingly, funding for free contraception, starting with women aged 17-25, has been allocated in 2022.
The scheme will provide for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception and administration of contraceptive injections plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove long-acting reversible contraception;
- The cost of a maximum of two consultations per annum with GPs and other doctors to discuss forms of contraception suitable for individual patients and to enable prescription of same.
- Training and certification of additional GPs to fit long-acting reversible contraception
It is envisaged that a wide range of contraceptive options, currently available to medical card holders, will be made available through this scheme. This includes contraceptive injections, implants, various types of intrauterine system (IUS) or device (IUD; commonly known as the coil), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill.
The initiative is gradually being introduced by age cohort, starting with younger women who are least likely to be financially independent and where cost has been shown to be a greater barrier to accessing the most effective forms of contraception, long acting, reversible contraception, or LARCs.
Providing free contraception to the age cohort of 17-24 year old women was one of the recommended options in the Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception This was extended to 17-25 year-olds in the Program for Government and this is the rationale for the initial rollout announced in Budget 2022
296. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to chemotherapy services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51756/21]
View answerThe HSE's National Cancer Control Programme, in conjunction with University Hospital Kerry (UHK) have advised that UHK, as part of the South-South West Hospital Group (SSWHG), has provided both Oncology day-care and Outpatient Department (OPD) clinics on the hospital campus, with visiting Consultant Oncologists and on-site nursing and administrative staff, for many years. The service has grown over the years in line with the national oncology services.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Oncology day ward services were delivered on half a ward on the third floor of the main hospital building. Following a risk assessment with the onset of the pandemic, the day ward service was temporarily re-housed in the Palliative Care day ward. This was never envisaged to be a long-term solution and UHK had linked with HSE Estates to plan for a dedicated Oncology Development on-site, incorporating both Oncology day services and OPD. This process is at planning stage and UHK has also collaborated with the local ‘Comfort for Chemo Kerry’ charity organisation seeking their support and input.
It is accepted that approval, planning and construction/fitting out of a dedicated unit on the UHK campus will take some time, and it is also acknowledged that the Palliative Care Day Ward service requires access to their unit again. In these circumstances, UHK has linked with the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee (BSHT), to provide temporary accommodation. Plans are now at an advanced stage to move the day ward service to a unit on the BSHT campus when it is refurbished. The service will continue to be fully staffed by HSE/UHK personnel at the new location. OPD services will remain at UHK. Both the National Cancer Control Programme and SSWHG are fully supportive of this plan.
297. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied) to improve the provision of neurology nurse specialists at Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51759/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
298. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention had been drawn to the lack of neurology nurses at University Hospital Limerick in view of the fact that there are only three nurses in the unit that requires eight nurses; his plans to alleviate the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51762/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will commence the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51765/21]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021 was enacted on 22 July; as per the amendment to the Act introduced at committee stage in the Dáil, it will be brought into effect 90 days after its signing into law, on 20 October 2021.
The principal amendment introduced under the Act extends the three-year cap on contributions to farms and businesses owned by scheme participants, on the condition that these continue to be managed by a family successor for a certain period. The goal of this amendment is to assist in protecting the viability and sustainability of family farms and family run businesses.
The Act also introduces changes that cap contributions from the proceeds of sale of a principal residence to be capped at three years in care. This will remove a disincentive to selling homes that might otherwise remain vacant.
300. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue raised in 2018, 2019 and 2020 through parking charges by each hospital in tabular form; the number of patients this was raised from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51767/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
301. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue raised in 2018, 2019 and 2020 through private charges by each hospital in tabular form; the number of patients this was raised from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51768/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
302. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue raised in 2018, 2019 and 2020 through public inpatient charges by each hospital in tabular form; the number of patients this was raised from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51769/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
303. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue raised in 2018, 2019 and 2020 through emergency department charges by each hospital in tabular form; the number of patients this was raised from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51770/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
