Thursday, 10 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 410-424

Hospital Services

Questions (410)

David Cullinane

Question:

410. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the manner in which Cappagh kids ward and paediatrics at Cappagh Hospital, Dublin 11 are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7191/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It is of particular regret that children can experience long waiting times for treatment especially for time sensitive procedures. I remain acutely aware of the impact this has on children and their families. Reducing paediatric orthopaedic waiting times remains a Ministerial priority and will be addressed as a key priority area in the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan. Officials in the Department of Health remain in regular contact with Children’s Health Ireland in relation to developing plans to reduce waiting times, improve activity levels and associated service planning.

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 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.

In relation to the particular query raised, concerning the funding of Cappagh kids ward and paediatrics at Cappagh Hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Qualifications

Questions (411)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

411. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7192/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Clinical electives for medical students form part of undergraduate medical training and are therefore administered through the six medical schools in Ireland: National University of Ireland Galway, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, and the University of Limerick. Candidates for medical clinical electives need to be in the later stages of their undergraduate medical studies to be considered for such posts. Overseas medical students wishing to undertake clinical electives in Ireland should contact the medical schools directly for further information regarding placements.

Graduates from medical schools outside of the Republic of Ireland are required to sit a two stage Intern Employment Eligibility Assessment (IEEA) as part of their internship application. It is critical that all medical interns who work in the Irish Health Service have a level of understanding of the environment in which they will be practising, so that their employer can have confidence in their ability to provide safe services to patients. The IEEA assesses the applicant’s competence and familiarity with the level of expertise required to work as a medical intern within the Irish Healthcare system in areas such as professional practice, patient safety issues, communications, ethics, and prescribing safety.

The IEEA is facilitated by the UCD Network on behalf of the HSE and is a two-part assessment (provided in an online format since 2021 due to Covid) consisting of a written multiple-choice examination and an interactive observed structured clinical evaluation. Information on the IEEA including registering for the assessment, assessment dates, fees and descriptions of the competencies to be assessed are provided within the Intern Application Guide Stage 1 which can be found at hbsrecruitmentservices.ie/medical-intern-stage-1/.

Question No. 412 answered with Question No. 396.

Health Services

Questions (413)

Colm Burke

Question:

413. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason that there were 641 children and young persons waiting for CAMHS services by the HSE in Cork as of December 2021; his plans to reduce this waiting list; when it is anticipated that this list will be eliminated entirely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7200/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

State Properties

Questions (414)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

414. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the former health centre in Doohery, County Donegal will be handed over to the community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7201/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (415)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

415. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive surgery in Croom Hospital, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7206/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Disability Services

Questions (416, 417)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

416. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment of need; the length of time waiting by age, gender, CHO and each composite LHO within that CHO, in tabular form. [7214/22]

Seán Sherlock

Question:

417. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalents for each therapy and assessment of need offered by early intervention by CHO and each composite LHO within that CHO, in tabular form. [7215/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 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. 417 answered with Question No. 416.

Nursing Homes

Questions (418)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

418. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a service will be made available at a nursing home (details supplied) given that such a service was being provided on a temporary basis but this was unknown to the residents who have come to rely on the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7221/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (419)

Alan Kelly

Question:

419. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he requested the HSE to include the opening of 33 new beds in St. Michael’s unit in Tipperary University Hospital in the 2022 HSE Capital Plan; if so, the date; and the specific means by which the instruction was given (details supplied). [7222/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

The following revised reply was received on 15 February 2022.

The Capital Plan 2022 is based on funding of €1.025bn an increase of 4% on 2021 and provides for progression of key projects across sector and the country.

The HSE Capital Plan is developed with the engagement of myself, my Department and the HSE.

Investment decisions in the sector are informed by health policies and strategies. At executive level the HSE is the Sponsoring Agency for the delivery most health infrastructure. The HSE Board approved Capital Plan is submitted to me for my approval along with the NSP.

In developing the Capital Plan, the number of projects competing for inclusion invariably exceeds the funding available. It is therefore necessary to carry out a robust appraisal and then prioritisation exercise to ensure that best value is achieved from the available capital budget. Robust systems and procedures have been developed in the sector which are in line with the Public Spending Code, to appraise, manage and deliver health infrastructure projects.

These systems and procedures of appraisal are applied in all cases, including the case of assessment and consideration of the project of 33 beds in St Michael’s Unit in Tipperary.

Ambulance Service

Questions (420)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

420. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the ambulance staff based in Galway city will move into the new ambulance base that has been built recently there; the reason for the delay in doing same given the existing base is substandard and has been a source of dissatisfaction for many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7223/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter for the National Ambulance Service in the first instance I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Public Sector Staff

Questions (421)

James Browne

Question:

421. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of Departmental civil servants and State agency employees under his remit, respectively working in County Wexford and their respective Departmental section in tabular form. [7237/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has no office or staff based in County Wexford.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to their workforce.

In respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I have sought to collect and collate the data and I will provide this by way of separate letter to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (422)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

422. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the dexcom continuous glucose monitoring CGM sensors by the long-term Illness scheme or the primary care reimbursement service; and the number who were over 21 years of age in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [7252/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (423)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

423. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the medtronic guardian continuous glucose monitoring CGM sensors by the long-term Illness scheme or the primary care reimbursement service; and the number who were over 21 years of age in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [7253/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (424)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

424. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who were funded for the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring sensors by the long-term illness scheme or the primary care reimbursement service; and the number who were over 21 years of age in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [7254/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.