Written Answers Nos. 638-657
638. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 65 years of age inappropriately placed in nursing homes who will be supported to leave nursing homes using the €5.5 million funding allocated in budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57362/21]
View answerNursing homes can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
The Programme for Government is committed to providing a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes.
€3m was allocated to a HSE led pilot project in 2021 to assist 18 people inappropriately placed in nursing homes to move to more appropriate housing options in the community. Budget 2022 provides an additional allocation of €5.5m to address the situation of such young persons.
The 2022 HSE National Service Plan is being developed. The Plan will set out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided by the HSE in 2022, in line with priorities set out by the Minister for Health, and the longer-term transformation agenda for health and social care services in Ireland. The quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is being considered as part of the National Service Planning process. The Service Plan will be finalised in the coming weeks.
639. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health when the budget 2022 changes to the thresholds for the drug payments scheme are expected to take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57367/21]
View answerThe Drugs Payment Scheme provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed drugs, medicines, and medical/surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. All persons ordinarily resident in Ireland can apply for eligibility regardless of their means.It was announced in Budget 2022 that the maximum payable by individuals and families under the Drugs Payment Scheme will be reduced from €114 to €100 per month.
This reduction in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold will commence on 1 January 2022.
641. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position with regard to the east Meath primary care centre; when it will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57371/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
642. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners currently practising in Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington and Donacarney, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57372/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
643. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health the planned number of general practitioners who are to be based at the east Meath primary care centre when it is operational; the number of general practitioners planned for the centre who will be in addition to the general practitioners already based in Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington and Donacarney, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57373/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that a stroke discharge plan is put in place for each person who has suffered a stroke leaving an acute hospital setting. [57393/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
646. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the recommendations of the National Ambulance Service emergency service baseline and capacity review. [57394/21]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service of Ireland emergency service baseline and capacity review, undertaken by Lightfoot Solutions UL Ltd and published in May 2016, was commissioned by the HSE. Its purpose was to examine overall ambulance resource levels and distribution against demand and activity.
Given that the recommendations contained in the review relate primarily to operational matters for the NAS I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in the matter, as soon as possible.
647. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for an ophthalmology operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57398/21]
View answerUnder 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.
648. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the location of the site in Ratoath, County Meath purchased by the HSE with a view to building a primary care centre; the status of plans to deliver a primary care centre on this site; if the HSE will engage with the local community with a view to allowing the use of the space as public greenspace in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57400/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
649. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 951 of 2 November 2021, if in each case in which a baby survived the abortion procedure medical assistance or palliative care was given to the baby; if the baby was entitled to or issued with a death certificate and if an inquest was held into their death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57401/21]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service area, I have referred it to the HSE for response.
650. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will he consider making a statement and taking questions in Dáil Eireann on the contract issued by his Department to a company (details supplied) given the clear concerns that have arisen around the miscategorisation of statements made by Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas with respect to Covid-19, vaccines and Government policy in this area more generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57408/21]
View answerA core element of the COVID-19 Vaccine communications strategy involved encouraging the public to get the vaccine, informing them who will administer it and where, identifying people of trust to act as ambassadors for the vaccine and addressing emerging mis and disinformation themes relating to the COVID-19 vaccine.
This work was supplemented by the work of Kinzen, a company engaged by my Department in early 2021 to monitor the online dissemination of mis and disinformation relating to COVID-19 and COVID-Vaccines.
The daily report of mis and disinformation topics and trends provided to my Department and the HSE by Kinzen, supported by a weekly meeting involving my officials and officials from the HSE to discuss current themes proved invaluable and, in my opinion, contributed to Ireland's extraordinary success of Ireland's Vaccination Programme.
This enabled my Department to work with public health doctors to address the mis and disinformation and direct the public to official sources of information, such as the Department’s own website, the COVID-19 Data Hub and the HSE’s website. The HSE also undertakes considerable social media advertising campaigns in order to promote public health guidelines, advice and vaccine uptake across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The partnership with Kinzen allowed my Department and the HSE to target communications messages in a given week to support vaccine uptake.
As public representatives, it is incumbent on us all to continue to support the vaccination programme and to encourage everyone to access the trusted sources of information made available by my Department and the HSE as we progress rapidly through the booster programme.
651. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the waiting list numbers in Cork University Hospital transferring from paediatric diabetes care to adult diabetes care. [57412/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
652. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants needed in order to assure sufficient care for all diabetics in Cork University Hospital. [57413/21]
View answerIn 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.
653. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to launch a national recruitment strategy for general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57420/21]
View answerThe Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas. We are working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP.
Several efforts to increase the number of practising GPs have been undertaken in recent years. The number of entrants to GP training has increased from 120 in 2009 to 233 this year, with large increases made in recent years. Further increases are expected as responsibility for training has transferred from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners. Changes have been made to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to facilitate more flexible/shared GMS contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme. An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was also introduced.
There are no plans to launch a national recruitment strategy, however recent developments in relation to general practice, in particular the 2019 Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development, have helped to re-establish general practice in Ireland as an attractive career choice. The additional investment, which will amount to €210 million annually once the Agreement is fully implemented, provides for an increase in capitation fees, improved maternity and paternity arrangements as well as enhanced supports for rural practices. In addition, targeted funding of €2 million will also be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas. The wider reforms in the health service will also help to provide an atmosphere in which the practice of medicine in Ireland will remain attractive. The additional investment in general practice provides a sound basis for ensuring that GPs have access to a credible and rewarding career path in Ireland.
654. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the capacity for MRI diagnostics and treatments for public patients is short of what is needed; if he has plans for new investment in capacity or initiating new operating protocols; and the way such extra capacity, when planned, is allocated between different regional hospital groups. [57421/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
655. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 551 of 16 November 2021, if he will provide the details of the notifications to date in 2021 given that he has advised that a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to him within 28 days of it being carried out. [57446/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, under section 20 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be sent to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out. Section 20, subsections (3) and (4), require the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received in a given year not later than 30 June the following year and thereafter to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. This report may then be published.
In line with section 20 of the Act, therefore, the Annual Report on Notifications 2021 will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on or before 30 June 2022. No information on notifications received under the Act will be released until after that report has been laid.
656. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 9 November 2021, the model of care, clinical pathways or guidelines the national clinical programme plans to create to address as per its remit (details supplied) given that insulin pump uptake is extremely low with only 15 of the 31 acute diabetes services providing insulin pump initiation and-or follow-up to patients using insulin pumps and the fact that diabetes teams need specialist training. [57447/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
657. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 655 of 16 November 2021, his plans to carry out or commission a national audit to determine the number of stroke survivors in Ireland particularly in view of the fact that the most recent estimation of this kind was undertaken in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57454/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
