Written Answers Nos. 571-592
571. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the oncology step-down area in Ennis General Hospital; the number of additional whole-time equivalent posts that will be needed to resource the unit; the estimated capital investment for the budget in 2022; the estimated current investment for 2022; the projected timeline for the service being on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62760/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
572. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the public information campaign his Department or other public bodies are undertaking as per section 11 of the Public Health Alcohol Act, 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62763/21]
View answerThe minimum unit pricing provision of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 will come into effect on 4 January 2022. Minimum unit pricing targets the strong and cheap alcohol products favoured by high-risk drinkers and sets a "floor-price" beneath which alcohol cannot legally be sold.
My Department, in cooperation with the Environmental Health Service which is the enforcement authority for the Act, has published guidance on minimum unit pricing which is available on the gov.ie website.
The HSE Alcohol Program is finalising a national poster campaign on minimum unit pricing aimed at heavy drinkers, which will provide information and advice along with contact information for the HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline. In addition the HSE Alcohol Program is working with Alcohol Action Ireland and the Alcohol Health Alliance to develop a video and infographics to promote the benefits of the measure.
573. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the long delays being experienced by a person (details supplied) who has been waiting over two years for speech and occupational therapy in view of the fact that this person was diagnosed with autism in 2019 and their condition is deteriorating; if the family will be contacted without further delay with an update on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62769/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
574. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if occupational and speech and language therapy has resumed fully to pre-pandemic levels; if a proportion of these staff members are still redeployed in Covid-19 related posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62772/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new operating theatre to be developed in Ennis General Hospital; the capital funding that will be made available through the Budget 2022 overall health allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62773/21]
View answerAs 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.
576. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments of needs are being carried out in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise, County Laois; the number of same carried out to date in 2021; the longest waiting time; and the number of persons on the waiting lists. [62779/21]
View answer584. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in the Spraoi Centre, Portlaoise including all posts that are in place; and the number in each one. [62830/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 584 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
577. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if an application by a person (details supplied) for a HSE mobility scooter will be expedited as they are currently living with serious mobility issues and have a dependent partner. [62780/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
578. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the wait time of three years for a person (details supplied) to receive dialectical behaviour therapy from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62783/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can expedite access and reimbursement for new and orphan medicines with particular reference to an accelerated programme for testing and make such medicines available to the public as soon as it is safe to do so; if the new drugs targeting particular conditions can be made available sooner subject to the necessary tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62795/21]
View answerThe Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 gives full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on the reimbursement of all medicines taking account of a range of objective factors, clinical benefits, cost effectiveness and expert opinion as appropriate.HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The role of the Drugs Group is to make a recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) in relation to each individual application having considered the criteria under the 2013 Act. The Drugs Group considers the NCPE assessment, the outputs from commercial engagements, patient interest group submissions, any inputs provided by the Rare Disease Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) and any other pertinent information in advance of providing its recommendation to the HSE EMT. As the decision-making authority within the HSE, the HSE EMT decides on the basis of all the demands with which it is faced (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new uses of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the 2013 Act. The HSE strives to reach reimbursement decisions on all medicines, including orphan drugs, in as timely a manner as possible. However, it must ensure that the best possible price is achieved, as these commitments often represent multimillion-euro investments on an ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process. The 2013 Health Act does not include provision for a different ruleset when assessing orphan medicines. However, the criteria that apply to the evaluation process allow the HSE to have particular regard for the unique circumstances surrounding orphan drugs, such as small patient populations and unmet clinical need.
In fact, fifteen of the forty-three new medicines approved by the HSE in 2021 (up to 12 November) were orphan medicines. That represents over one third of approvals this year.
The budget allocation of €30m funding for new medicines in Budget 2022 will provide for the reimbursement of both orphan and non-orphan new medicines.
I am prepared to consider any ideas or proposals that might improve on our existing pricing and reimbursement assessment processes, including those with the aim of providing access for Irish patients to orphan medicines.
580. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if all student occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and radiology students will be paid for the work they do in hospital and healthcare settings as part of mandatory placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62817/21]
View answerAcross the health and social care disciplines, there are approximately 7,330 Health and Social Care Professional students in training who will, at different stages, require clinical placement in hospital and healthcare settings. The length of placements and the activities performed during these placements varies between disciplines. Students are not employees and in many cases the nature of the placement can, in the main, be limited to participation in an observing and a learning capacity. This is a key part of the learning in all undergraduate programs.
There are only a small number of healthcare courses where the students receive allowances to support clinical placements during training. These allowances have been in place for a number of years and based on specific requirements of the individual training program. Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Radiography students similar to many other healthcare students do not receive an allowance to support time spent on clinical placements as part of their training.
Student Nurses and Midwives are an example of undergraduate students that do get support in the form of allowances associated with some clinical placements. The clinical hours component of undergraduate training for nurses and midwives is almost 50% of the course. Student nurses and midwives must undertake placements across a wide variety of care areas to fulfil course requirements and often these placements are away from their normal place of residence. In these instances, travel to, and alternative and additional accommodation to normal place of residence is required for a number of weeks. This is supported by an allowance towards the cost of additional accommodation. Additional support is being provided to student nurses and midwives needing overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. This is a vouched system of support in place since 2004 and only applicable for some clinical placements.
581. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the programme for Government to provide free contraception, starting with women aged between 17 and 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62818/21]
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 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 access contraception.
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.
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, including emergency contraception.
Funding for free contraception in Budget 2022 also includes an allocation for training of additional GPs in fitting and removal of various forms of long-acting reversible contraception (e.g. various forms of the coil and contraceptive implant). It is envisaged that this will commence in 2022.
In the meantime, it should be noted that those with a medical card already have access to most forms of contraception at minimal cost (subject only to the prescription charge), while those with a GP visit card are also supported to some extent as the clinical cost element of contraception is reduced. Furthermore, the Drugs Payment Scheme, for which anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland is eligible, covers the cost of prescription items, if these exceed the monthly limit, which will be reduced from €114 to €100 through measures included in Budget 2022.
Some access to free contraception is already enabled in some contexts. the National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS), which was established by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) in October 2015, functions as a central point for distributing free condoms and lubricant sachets to HSE services and other organisations working with individuals and groups at increased risk of negative sexual health outcomes. The NCDS currently distributes free condoms through 25 HSE locations, 27 higher education institutions and 44 non-government agencies.
It should be noted that, while oral contraception and various forms of long-acting reversible contraception can be more effective at preventing pregnancy, condoms provide protection against STIs that is not provided by non-barrier forms of contraception.
In order to give time to bring forward the necessary legislative proposals and ensure the implementation of service delivery arrangements through the appropriate areas of the healthcare system, it is envisaged that the scheme will commence in August 2022, but this is dependent on legislative timelines. Work on the legislative process is commencing and engagement with relevant stakeholders in the healthcare sector will commence in Q1 2022.
582. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the issues raised in relation to the care afforded to vulnerable prisoners, notably those with a mental illness, in the Council of Europe anti-torture Committee’s seventh periodic visit report on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62819/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
583. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of adult persons currently on waiting lists to see a psychiatrist in each of the HSE regions in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62821/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
585. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the average wait times for inpatient and outpatients at Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62832/21]
View answer589. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the waiting list for elective surgery in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62836/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 589 together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last twenty 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.
The current surge in Covid-19 cases has put increasing pressures on hospitals and ICUs. As part of the response to this the HSE has advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which include a 14 day period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and time sensitive work in particular in Model 4 hospitals. The situation is to be reviewed after that period.
On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.
In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached documents. This information shows the number of patients on the Inpatient & Daycase (IPDC) waiting list at Mayo University Hospital. In regard to average wait times for inpatient and outpatients at Mayo University Hospital, the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
Mayo University Hospital IPDC Waiting List
|
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
18+ Mths |
Grand Total |
|
589 |
198 |
136 |
442 |
1365 |
Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) techniques have been applied to the data to preserve confidentiality and mitigate against identification or self-identification of individuals. In cases where there are less than 5 people in any particular cell, we have replaced that value with the average (mean) of all values that are less than 5 across that category. Any decimal values which arise have then been rounded. This may cause some rounding to occur when calculating sub-totals.
Where there are <20 patients waiting in a particular specialty/hospital, we have aggregated the numbers under a ‘Small Volume’ heading.
Mayo University Hospital Mean & Median Wait Times as of 25/11/2021
|
IP |
|
|
Mean |
396 |
|
Median |
278 |
|
OP |
|
|
Mean |
469 |
|
Median |
320 |
586. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if there is a diabetes team in the gestational diabetes clinic in Mayo General Hospital that allow for the provision of insulin on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62833/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
587. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the provision of the primary care centre scheduled for Bangor Erris, County Mayo; the timeline for the delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62834/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
588. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of, and waiting lists for, home care packages and home help hours in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62835/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
590. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE home help staff recruited in the past 12 months, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62837/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
591. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase bed capacity and address the overcrowding crisis in the Saolta Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62838/21]
View answerHospitals in the Saolta Group are dealing with increasing levels of attendances to their Emergency Departments. This increase is resulting in a higher number of admissions to the hospitals. The care needs of many of these patients require a greater length of stay in hospital. Covid-19 is also continuing to have a significant impact on bed capacity, either in caring for patients with the virus, or as a result of bed closures caused by Covid restrictions.
Bed capacity has also been impacted by staffing resources. A significant overseas nursing recruitment campaign is being progressed by the Saolta Group, with the intention of having additional resources coming into the service in the next 3 months. Interviews are currently in progress.
Plans for additional capacity across Saolta sites are outlined below:
University Hospital Galway:
Ahead of the proposed new Emergency Department development at University Hospital Galway, Saolta Hospital Group advises that the handover of the Temporary Emergency Department (Phase 1) in UHG is scheduled for end of April 2022, with the handover of the internal replanned area (Phase 2) scheduled for end of July 2022. The temporary ED facility, and in particular, the subsequent development of a new Emergency Department and Women & Children’s Block at the hospital, are key to addressing accommodation issues and meeting service demands.
Construction of a replacement cardiothoracic ward commenced in Q2 2021. This will provide 12 additional beds. The works are expected to be completed in Q2 2022.
Mayo University Hospital:
Funding is being provided for 40 beds off-site. At this point 18 are operational and a further 12 will be available early in 2022.
Portiuncula University Hospital:
A new ward block development will provide a 50-bed replacement ward. It is hoped to award a contract for this work early next year.
Also, the design of a 12 bedded isolation ward in a vacated area of the hospital is progressing.
Sligo University Hospital:
It is intended that enabling works for a medical block, consisting of 42 bedded single room accommodation with ancillary space, will begin in early 2022.
Letterkenny University Hospital:
An additional 39 beds have been approved for LUH. Of these, 16 are operational. The remaining 23 beds will become operational in Q1 2022.
592. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of new acute beds that have been provided in County Mayo in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62839/21]
View answerSaolta Hospital Group advise that funding is being to Mayo University Hospital for 40 beds off-site. At this point 18 are operational and a further 12 will be available early in 2022.
