Thomas Gould
Question:663. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the HSE writes to State bodies to inform them of the death of a person and to ensure the family does not receive unnecessary correspondence. [6108/22]
View answerDeath Certificates
Questions (663)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (664)
Charles Flanagan
Question:664. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when speech and language therapy will be provided to address the complex needs of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6109/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply
Question No. 665 answered with Question No. 631.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (666)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:666. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of the Covid recognition payment will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6133/22]
View answerWritten answers
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The cost of providing a recognition payment of €1,000 to all eligible public servants working in the health and ambulance services depends on the number of staff who are eligible for the payment. If there were 100,000 WTE deemed eligible, the estimated cost would be approximately €100 million. This figure of 100,000 WTE represents approximately 75% of the HSE/Section 38 workforce and would be the minimum expected to be eligible for this recognition payment.
Similarly, the cost of providing an equivalent recognition payment to relevant staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19 depends on the number of staff deemed eligible for the payment. The estimated cost set out above does not include the cost in respect of nursing homes and Defence Forces staff. This measure will exclude all private sector health workers except those working in nursing homes and hospices affected by Covid-19. This measure, including costings, will be progressed by the Department of Health.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services but did not work in such exposed areas. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (667)
Alan Dillon
Question:667. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview on patient waiting lists for cataract surgery in the HSE west region; the number that are waiting; the efforts that are being considered to reduce waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6134/22]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2018. At the end of December 2021 there were 4,614 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,440 in December 2018.
In addition, the Department of Health, 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 the Department of Health 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 regarding cataract surgery in the HSE west region is outlined in the attached document. The data contained in this document shows the IPDC cataract waiting list for each hospital within the HSE West Region and also shows the IPDC cataract waiting list for patients with an area of residence within the HSE West Region.
IPDC Cataract waits in HSE-West-Region hospitals, as at 23/12/2021
|
Sum of Count |
Column Labels |
|||||
|
Row Labels |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
18+ Mths |
Small Vol TimeBand |
Grand Total |
|
Galway University Hospitals |
329 |
23 |
9 |
10 |
371 |
|
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
7 |
7 |
||||
|
Nenagh Hospital |
195 |
69 |
43 |
307 |
||
|
Sligo University Hospital |
173 |
38 |
21 |
28 |
260 |
|
|
Small Vol Hospital |
9 |
9 |
||||
|
University Hospital Limerick |
105 |
19 |
7 |
20 |
151 |
|
|
Grand Total |
809 |
149 |
80 |
58 |
9 |
1,105 |
IPDC Cataract waits by Patients with Area Of Residence in HSE-West-Region, as at 23/12/2021
|
Row Labels |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
18+ Mths |
Small Vol TimeBand |
Grand Total |
|
Clare |
88 |
28 |
10 |
126 |
||
|
Donegal |
61 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
100 |
|
|
Galway |
202 |
9 |
5 |
216 |
||
|
Leitrim |
16 |
16 |
||||
|
Limerick |
150 |
44 |
24 |
13 |
231 |
|
|
Mayo |
102 |
20 |
6 |
7 |
135 |
|
|
Roscommon |
39 |
6 |
45 |
|||
|
Sligo |
79 |
16 |
7 |
102 |
||
|
Small Vol AOR |
7 |
16 |
2 |
25 |
||
|
Tipperary (North) |
56 |
17 |
13 |
10 |
96 |
|
|
Grand Total |
793 |
155 |
78 |
64 |
2 |
1,092 |
|
Note: |
||||
|
There is likely to be some overlap in the above data. Patients with a HSE-WEST AOR waiting in a HSE-WEST hosptal will feature in both tables. |
||||
Hospital Equipment
Questions (668)
Alan Dillon
Question:668. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if there are proposals to replace the CT scanner at Mayo University Hospital; the details on the age of the scanner and the associated performance KPIs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6135/22]
View answerWritten answers
Saolta University Health Care Group advise that the CT scanner in Mayo University Hospital is 12 years old and that, in 2021, technical issues resulted in some level of disruption to the CT service on 20 days.
Saolta University Health Care Group further advise that replacement of the CT scanner is the top priority for Mayo University Hospital under the Equipment Replacement Programme 2022. Mayo University Hospital are currently working in conjunction with HSE Estates to progress the supporting infrastructural works. The intention is to maintain the existing CT in operation until the replacement CT is provided.
Health Services
Questions (669)
Denis Naughten
Question:669. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for occupational therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6136/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (670, 671)
Denis Naughten
Question:670. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6137/22]
View answerDenis Naughten
Question:671. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6138/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 671 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 671 answered with Question No. 670.
Health Services
Questions (672)
Niamh Smyth
Question:672. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if an update will be provided on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6139/22]
View answerWritten answers
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Under 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.
Medical Cards
Questions (673)
Thomas Gould
Question:673. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners can charge medical card patients for the health check needed for over 70s applying for a drivers licence. [6140/22]
View answerWritten answers
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". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. The contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract . Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.
There are no plans at present to include the completion of medical reports required for driving licence applications as a service to be provided to GMS patients under the GMS or GP Visit Card scheme.
The requirements for the submission of a medical report from a registered medical practitioner with driving licence applications for certain categories of persons, including those aged 70 and over, is governed by the National Driver Licence Service and the Department of Transport.
Departmental Data
Questions (674)
Denis Naughten
Question:674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for an appointment for paediatric physical therapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6141/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Data
Questions (675, 677)
Denis Naughten
Question:675. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for speech and language therapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6142/22]
View answerDenis Naughten
Question:677. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the children’s disability network team will be established in the CHO2 area; when children referred to the service can expect to start receiving appointments; the interim plans in place to support such children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6148/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 677 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Policies
Questions (676)
Richard Bruton
Question:676. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider arrangements for prolonging a general practitioner card cover after a person ceases acting as a carer. [6143/22]
View answerWritten answers
Since 1st September 2018, persons in receipt of a Carer's Allowance (full or half rate) or a Carer's Benefit can apply for a GP Visit Card without the requirement of a financial assessment. In circumstances where the HSE is advised that a person is no longer in receipt of either Carer's Allowance (full or half rate) or Carer's Benefit, the HSE will advise the person that they will continue to hold eligibility for a further three months. Thereafter, they may apply for a medical card or GP visit card based on a financial assessment.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card and GP visit card is determined by the HSE. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue 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. Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply for a medical card or GP visit card can be found on the HSE website at www.mymedicalcard.ie.
Question No. 677 answered with Question No. 675.
Departmental Data
Questions (678)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:678. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of reports of alleged sexual abuse of residents in residential nursing homes or designated residential disability centres that HIQA has received since 2015 directly through unsolicited concerns and through its inspection work; the breakdown on the source of the allegations; the number of said reports that HIQA subsequently reported to An Garda Síochána.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6151/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by HIQA that, during the period from January 2015 to February 2022, unsolicited information (as set out in the attached file) was received and processed by HIQA and the Chief Inspector of Social Services in relation to reports of alleged sexual abuse.
In respect of the attached reports, HIQA found that there were six situations over the period in question where a referral to An Garda Síochána would have been appropriate but where the provider had not made such a referral. HIQA subsequently referred these allegations to An Garda Síochána.
Regulatory Bodies
Questions (679)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:679. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the way in which HIQA publishes its reporting policy and procedure used to decide the way that the allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, institutional abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse and neglect received in respect of nursing homes are reported to An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6152/22]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Health Information and Quality Authority that HIQA is guided by HSE national policy in relation to the reporting of abuse, both in terms of its own responsibility and that of providers in the sector.
I am further advised by HIQA that it is aware of its responsibilities under criminal justice legislation that may apply when it receives information on safeguarding matters. This includes assessment of the information and adhering to any reporting obligations that may arise as a result of provisions in the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the Criminal Justice Act, 2011.
HIQA has advised that all unsolicited information received in relation to its regulatory and monitoring functions is screened and responded to. This information is risk-rated and when it is substantiated, appropriate regulatory action is taken in response. HIQA has noted that this approach to unsolicited information was set out in the document: ‘The use of information gathered and received in the regulation of services’ (September 2018), provided to the Joint Committee on Health.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (680)
David Cullinane
Question:680. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the publication of the report by the independent chair of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
It is my intention to publish the report for the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in Q4 of 2022.
I look forward to receiving this report from the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (681)
Michael Collins
Question:681. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he misled the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 by claiming that an e-tender for the position of the independent chair of the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 would be uploaded online via the e-tendering public procurement process yet ultimately invited a small number of hand-picked candidates to privately apply for the role without the availability of a public e-tender advertisement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6155/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it was my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.
Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair.
I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating their conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (682)
Michael Collins
Question:682. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the details of the steps undertaken in the tendering process leading to the appointment of the independent chairperson of the three-year review of the abortion legislation; if the position was advertised publicly as the Minister assured the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health on 8 December 2021 would happen; the way that it meets the requirements of an independent and transparent process for him to contact a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience and invite them to tender for the position of chair; if one of the small number of candidates was the person eventually chosen as the chairperson; if other potential candidates outside of the small number of candidates identified by him were afforded the opportunity via advertisements or otherwise to be notified that a tendering process for the position of chair was underway and open to them to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6157/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it was my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.
Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair. The chair appointed was among those invited to tender.
Following the tender process, I have now appointed Ms Marie O'Shea B.L. as the independent Chair for the second phase of the review. Ms O’Shea has legal expertise, as well as experience in project management and in healthcare sector research. I look forward to receiving the Chair's final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.
Departmental Data
Questions (683)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:683. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the overall budget allocated to CAMHS in 2022 in the CHO8 region; the breakdown of the funding by county; the names of the individual CAMHS services provided with funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6168/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.