Written Answers Nos. 1484-1501
1484. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the services that are in place for adults and children who have received a diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; if there are plans to further develop these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63379/21]
View answerAll matters relating to the provision of services for the treatment of foetal alcohol syndrome are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply.
1485. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a referral in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63380/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the chronic disease management programme allocates dedicated resources, staff and training to the treatment of asthma specifically; if recommendations by an organisation (details supplied) in the reference guide Asthma-Diagnosis, Assessment and Management in General Practice published in November 2020 have been taken into account as part of the provisions for asthma contained in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63381/21]
View answerThe Irish College of General Practitioners is the professional body for education, training, research and standards in general practice. In addition to its teaching, training and education activities the College regularly produces general practice publications, guidelines and protocols to assist GPs in their everyday work.
The purpose of the “Asthma-Diagnosis, Assessment and Management in General Practice” quick reference guide is to assist healthcare professionals to improve diagnostic accuracy; assess, treat and monitor asthma; develop an asthma management plan for individual patients; optimise asthma control; and manage exacerbations in line with approved protocols. The document is targeted at those delivering asthma care in primary care and those responsible for training these professionals.
Successful asthma management involves guideline-based treatment and regular follow-up. A significant development in general practice has been the introduction of a new Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme in 2020. This Programme is being rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS and GP visit card patients over a 4-year period.
Patients with an existing diagnosis of one of the specified conditions, including asthma, those who are assessed by their GP on an opportunistic case finding basis, as well as those identified as high risk, will benefit under the programme. In order to support patients in managing their chronic condition(s) there are two scheduled reviews with the GP in a 12-month period, each preceded by a practice nurse visit. These reviews include patient education, preventative care, medication review, physical examinations, scheduled investigations and individual care planning.
GPs participating in the new CDM programme receive enhanced capitation fees as well as an increased practice nurse subsidy.
1487. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the implementation to date of the chronic disease management programme across age cohort and conditions covered; if the programme has met its targets to date in terms of key milestones; his plans for the future roll-out of the programme to cohorts and conditions not yet covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63382/21]
View answerThe initial phase of the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme commenced on schedule in 2020 with adult GMS and GP visit card patients aged 75 years and over who have a diagnosis of one or more of the specified chronic diseases: type 2 diabetes, asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease.
In July 2020, a modified porgramme to facilitate remote reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic was added and the programme was expanded, ahead of schedule, to include adults aged 70 and over. Under this modified programme, patients could undertake their reviews either in person or remotely.
In January 2021, the programme was further extended to patients aged 65 years and over. In 2022, the final phase of the treatment programme is being extended to all GMS patients aged 18 years and over. Opportunistic case finding and prevention for those at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease will also commence this year.
Notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19, there has been considerable progress in the roll out of the CDM and Modified CDM programme. Targets have been met in terms of key milestones. Over 90% of eligible GPs are enrolled in the GP Agreement for CDM to date. In 2020, an estimated 115,000 patients were registered on the programme, and GPs and practice nurses undertook over 126,000 consultations for people aged over 70 years. Programme data shows that 90% of people with these conditions are being managed solely in general practice for their non communicable diseases. Between January and October 2021, an estimated additional 59,130 new patients have been registered on the programme with GPs and practice nurses providing over 178,000 consultations for people aged over 65 years during this period.
There are no plans at present to extend the programme further.
1489. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is giving consideration to extending the national counselling service along with the provision of the necessary extra resources in order to provide therapeutic support for the large number of the grieving families who have lost loved ones in difficult circumstances in nursing homes as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63391/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1490. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the date for commencement for the citizens’ assembly on drugs which the Government has committed to holding in 2022. [63398/21]
View answerConsideration is being given to the appropriate methodology for future citizens' assemblies, including one on drugs use. Decisions will be guided by the experience of the Gender Equality Assembly which completed earlier this year. An independent researcher was appointed by the Assembly to monitor and record, amongst other things, the perceived deliberative quality of the Assembly. This report, published in July 2021, will assist in decisions on future Assemblies use of virtual meetings.
By their very nature, citizens assemblies require large gatherings to be truly effective. Therefore, there has been an unavoidable delay in the establishment of the next citizens' assembly due to public health restrictions arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to liaise with the Department of the Taoiseach on the timing and format of the proposed citizen assembly on drug use. It is envisaged that the remaining citizen assembly, including the citizen assembly on drug use, will be established after the Dublin mayor citizens' assembly has completed its work. The specific timing of each assembly has yet to be confirmed.
The Department of Health's approach to the citizen assembly on drugs use will be informed by the Government's health-led approach to people who use drugs, as outlined in the national drugs strategy. An important component of the health-led approach is the Health Diversion Programme. The Health Diversion Programme offers compassion, not punishment, to people who use drugs and connects them with health services and provides a pathway to recovery, thereby avoiding a criminal conviction. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the programme will be reviewed after the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes. This review could usefully inform the deliberations of the citizen's assembly on drug use.
A strategic priority for the implementation of the national drugs strategy for 2021-2025 is to promote alternatives to coercive sanctions for drug-related offences. This will include the exchange of best practice with EU member states, as part of the EU Drugs Strategy 2021 – 2025.
I believe that a citizen's assembly could usefully consider the learnings from the health diversion programme and other similar alternatives to coercive sanctions. It could also inform the development of the next national drugs strategy, to replace the existing strategy in 2025.
