Michael Healy-Rae
Question:751. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for an insulin pump by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6548/22]
View answerMedical Aids and Appliances
Questions (751)
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.
Question No. 752 answered with Question No. 719.
Question No. 753 answered with Question No. 720.
Question No. 754 answered with Question No. 720.
Question No. 755 answered with Question No. 724.
Disability Services
Questions (756)
Seán Canney
Question:756. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can have their funding transferred to the personalised budget demonstration pilot project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6558/22]
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 Expenditure
Questions (757, 782)
Duncan Smith
Question:757. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the travel costs, accommodation costs and other costs related to his visit to the United Arab Emirates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6559/22]
View answer
Catherine Murphy
Question:782. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the persons from his Department that accompanied him to Dubai; and the detail of the costs for air travel and accommodation. [6633/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 782 together.
The Secretary General of my Department and two other officials accompanied me on my recent visit to Dubai. The programme for the visit included support for Enterprise Ireland's clients attending the Arab Health Conference, participation in the Health Week at the Dubai Expo and a number of other engagements.
My Department purchased economy class tickets for all four members of the delegation. The Irish team at Expo have arrangements in place with a number of hotels for the duration of the Expo. The delegation stayed at a hotel recommended to the Department based on value for money, availability, and suitability in terms of the programme for the visit.
Medicinal Products
Questions (758)
Seán Canney
Question:758. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a drug used to treat hyperemesis gravidarum (details supplied) will be made available on the medical card and drugs payment scheme to women; if his attention has been drawn to the additional financial hardship this lack of funding is placing on women suffering from this extremely debilitating condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6560/22]
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 (759)
Steven Matthews
Question:759. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of existing healthcare options available for transgender children and adolescents (details supplied); if a review of services is proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6565/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (760)
Seán Canney
Question:760. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State of the motorised transport grant scheme per annum since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6567/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Motorised Transport Grant was an administrative scheme established in 1968. It was administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and operated as a means-tested grant to assist persons with severe disabilities with the purchase or adaptation of a car, where that car was essential to retain employment. The maximum grant, payable once to an individual in any three-year period was €5,020. Prior to the closure of the Scheme in 2013, approximately 300 people per annum qualified for a grant at an estimated cost of €1.3 million per annum.
The Government decided to close both the Motorised Transport Grant and Mobility Allowance administrative Schemes in 2013, on foot of the Ombudsman reports in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Staff
Questions (761)
Brian Stanley
Question:761. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the refurbished unit 2 of Abbeyleix Hospital which is designated for 18 acute beds will be staffed by multi-task assistants and healthcare assistants who have been based in the Abbeyleix facility. [6568/22]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (762)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:762. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding and supports for mental health services in Dublin city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6569/22]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (763)
David Cullinane
Question:763. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff by staffing grade and management level required to fully staff the complex menopause clinic at the national maternity hospital; the number of staff by grade currently in place; the number recommended by the model of care; the estimated payroll and non-payroll cots in the first year and in subsequent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6570/22]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (764)
David Cullinane
Question:764. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide specific funding to hire additional nurses and midwives across women's health and menopause care area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6571/22]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (765)
Cathal Crowe
Question:765. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department can conduct a report into the treatment of women living with severe endometriosis in the workplace given the difficulties they may have in holding down a full-time job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6573/22]
View answerWritten answers
Improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.
We have made a specific commitment to supporting "the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, including the development of a Women’s Health Action Plan, to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health outcomes in Ireland". A number of initial priority areas for action were determined by the Taskforce, with the issue of endometriosis recognised and included as part of a priority workstream on improving gynaecological health for women and girls.
The Healthy Workplace Framework, published in December 2021, aims to support the growth of effective approaches to enhance health and wellbeing in the workplace. The Framework is underpinned by robust evidence and consultation. An Implementation Group is in the process of being established, which will hold responsibility for developing an action plan. It is envisaged that a representative from Women’s Health will be included on the Implementation Group to help ensure the needs of women in the workplace are incorporated.
In relation to the treatment of endometriosis, I am advised that a GP referral to a gynaecologist is the standard pathway of care for the management of endometriosis in Ireland. This is similar to the pathway in place for the management of other gynaecological conditions.
Information provided by the HSE indicates that endometriosis is a difficult condition to diagnose and treat because of the variation of presentations, impacting the physical and mental wellbeing of patients at varying levels. Treatment may include pain medications, hormone treatment and surgical interventions. The time to diagnose endometriosis varies by patient due to its varying and ambiguous symptom presentation. The HSE's National Women & Infants Health Programme has advised that the best way to help the majority of patients with endometriosis is to improve access to gynaecology services.
As such, the Programme has developed an Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care which centres on the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics. An ambulatory care model is a more efficient and effective use of resources than the traditional outpatient model and it is also better for the patient as it reduces the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments.
Building on progress made in rolling out these ambulatory gynaecology clinics in 2020 and 2021, funding has been provided under Budget 2022 which will facilitate the establishment of additional ambulatory gynaecology clinics, thereby completing the implementation of the Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care. This will bring the total number of these clinics to 20 nationally.
As part of the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, in April 2021, I announced the expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) to deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there is no ready access in Ireland.
Further to the above, funding provided under Budget 2022 will enable the expansion of the endometriosis service at TUH as well as the establishment of a new service for more complex endometriosis cases at Cork University Maternity Hospital
The issue of endometriosis has also been highlighted through the nationwide “Radical Listening” exercise carried out by the Women’s Health Taskforce. This exercise enabled women across the country to share their views and experiences of the health sector and health services. This was a large-scale consultation process intended to maximise the participation of women across all life stages from 18 years upwards, including minority and disadvantaged women. 278 women participated in open interviews and workshops. A report on the findings of the ‘Radical listening’ exercise on September 14th can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ebe3e-significant-milestone-as-minister-donnelly-publishes-a-report-of-womens-voices-on-womens-health-following-a-radical-listening-exercise-this-year/.
Question No. 766 answered with Question No. 686.
Dental Services
Questions (767)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:767. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an urgent dental appointment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in Shantalla Health Centre, Galway in view of the person's exceptional medical circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/22]
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.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (768)
Seán Sherlock
Question:768. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Cork who requires cataract surgery and who has been on a waiting list since 2019 may be in a position to avail of this under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [6587/22]
View answerWritten answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (769)
James Lawless
Question:769. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to the complaints made and if he will make an investigation into the fact that there were no ambulances available in Carlow on 16 October 2021 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6592/22]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that the National Ambulance Service is aware of the incident enclosed with the Deputy's question and is looking into the matter raised. I have therefore asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (770)
Marian Harkin
Question:770. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if staff in the intellectual disability sector employed directly by the HSE have been excluded from the €1,000 once-off tax free bonus payment to front-line healthcare workers and also section 38 disability workers; if so, if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6599/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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.