Written Answers Nos. 1502-1523
1502. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths from Covid-19 in nursing homes in 2020 and 2021; the number of deaths in each year involving patients with dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63419/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1503. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the HSE and the designers and architects of the National Children’s Hospital at St. James’s Hospital consulted with the gardaí responsible for policing the area regarding the suitability of the site for parking and traffic management in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63422/21]
View answerAs the NPHDB has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital, I have referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.
1504. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if a daily breakdown of both the number of patients who are in hospital as they are receiving medical treatment for Covid-19 in addition to the number of patients who contract Covid-19 in a hospital setting will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63438/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1505. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many healthcare and social care workers are slipping into poverty as a result of low wages; his views on the contribution that these workers, many of whom are on the frontline have made during the Covid-19 pandemic; the steps that will be taken to address issue of low pay for workers in these sectors; the further steps that will be taken to ensure they have a living wage; his further views on the fact that low pay is forcing many to leave these sectors to seek alternative higher paid employment and the gap that is left in the sectors as a result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63442/21]
View answerEmployees in the public health sector are paid in line with the Department of Health consolidated salary scales which are available to view online here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b556a-application-of-1-october-2021-pay-adjustments/
All grades in the public health sector are paid in excess of the national minimum wage, and receive pay increases as set out in the public service agreements and associated Acts such as the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
Since 2016 there have been 12 separate pay increases to public health sector grades, with 9 of those applying specifically to lower paid public health sector grades as appropriate. Further increases are planned for 2022.
Any calls in respect of increases in rates of remuneration cannot be addressed under the terms of the current public service agreement.
Rates of remuneration in the private health sector are a matter between the employer and the employee and are outside of my remit.
1506. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department will liaise with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland with a view to issuing a refund to front-line nurses who have once again been forced to pay their €100 registration fee, despite a difficult period of work for the sector. [63455/21]
View answerUnder the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland. While my Department has responsibility for oversight and governance matters regarding the NMBI, I have no role in setting or approving fees.
The 2011 Act requires the NMBI to be self-financing, and the income from the Annual Retention Fee is required to carry out its statutory obligations to protect the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and to protect the integrity of the practice of nursing and midwifery. The current annual retention fee is €100 and is unchanged since 2014. This fee is NMBI's main source of income.
1507. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the measures he and the HSE can take to improve the difficulties that paramedics encounter when they are looking to transfer from the ambulance service in Northern Ireland or Britain over to the National Ambulance Service in this State. [63456/21]
View answerThe Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for standards, training and education in pre-hospital emergency care. This includes assessment of equivalence of professional qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care obtained from institutions outside the State. Accordingly, I have asked the PHECC to respond to the Deputy on this matter directly, as soon as possible.
1508. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if synarel can be prescribed by a consultant as a hormone treatment for a person who is transitioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63458/21]
View answerThe use of a medicinal product outside of the specific terms of its marketing authorisation is often described as “off-label use”. This is a not an uncommon practice and reflects the fact that there are not enough approved products to deal with every medical need and proposed practical usage of the product to deal with all patients’ needs.
A different indication for the use of a product other than that described in the marketing authorisation would be the responsibility of the prescriber to satisfy him/herself that the indication was supported by good quality information from the scientific literature. The off-label use therefore falls within the professional, clinical judgement of the prescriber.
Where a product is used by a healthcare practitioner for patients under his or her care outside of the terms of the marketing authorisation, such usage is not covered by nor prohibited by medicines legislation. No specific provision is mentioned in the legislation either at national or European level with regard to the practice of “off-label use”.
The medical decision to prescribe, or not prescribe, any specific treatment for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Department of Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process.
1509. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for children with autism trying to access speech and language therapy in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63462/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1510. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the procedure if a speech and language therapist leaves the role with the HSE with regard to the children being treated by the therapist; if the children being treated by that therapist go back to the bottom of the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63463/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1511. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if there is a pathway for persons with chronic health conditions to receive a medical card that is ongoing, that is, not subject to regular review; the conditions regarding the way that pathway may be identified and utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63464/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
Furthermore, the HSE also has a system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e. in circumstances where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or are receiving end of life care. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. Additionally, patients who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less to live are also now eligible for a medical card without a means assessment.
Finally, it should be noted that since 2015 medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer, for a period of five years.
1513. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 12 October 2021, when a full paediatric dental service will be restored; the alternative options being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63469/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1514. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63474/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1515. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 522 of 16 November 2021, if routine appointments are taking place in Tuam or Ballinasloe as a result of the Mountbellew closure; if only emergency dental care is available; when this situation will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63477/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1516. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received for homecare support in 2019, 2020 and 2021, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63478/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1517. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been granted homecare support in 2021 who are still waiting on their care packages to be fulfilled by a carer and home support agency by county and waiting timeframe in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63479/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1518. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received in 2021 for respite care; the number of persons currently on the waiting list for respite care services by county and waiting list timeframe in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63480/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1519. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received for a physical care needs assessment in 2019, 2020 and 2021, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63481/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1520. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a physical care needs assessment in 2021, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63482/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1521. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a clinical assessment in 2021, by waiting list timeframe and by county; the wait time involved, that is, by one, three, six, 12 and greater than 12 months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63483/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1522. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if B12 injections for patients receiving cancer treatment are covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63485/21]
View answer1523. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if B12 injections will be covered by the medical card scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63487/21]
View answer1554. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the medical card covers the administration of B12 injections which are prescribed by a consultant; and if general practitioners are entitled to charge a fee for this service. [63584/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1522, 1523 and 1554 together.
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for medical services provided under the contract.
It is a matter for the treating GP to determine in the case of each individual patient what is proper and necessary care. In circumstances where a GP, in the exercise of his/her clinical judgement, determines that a particular treatment or service requested by a patient is not clinically necessary, but the patient still wishes to receive the treatment, it is at the GPs discretion as to whether he/she imposes a charge for providing the service/treatment in question.
Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. My Department has no role in relation to such fees.
Vitamins and minerals do not generally need a prescription. However, there is a limited range of products that were historically available on the GMS reimbursement list. Injectable Vitamin B 12 is one such product on the reimbursement list and, subject to the statutory prescription charge, is available to medical card holders without charge where appropriate.
