Written Answers Nos. 791-810
791. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the longest time that a child who is classified as semi-urgent, urgent and immediate has been waiting for an MRI scan at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9596/22]
View answerIn 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.
792. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the process to get tested for a young adult who believes they are on the autism spectrum. [9601/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
794. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if design team services have been appointed for a proposed emergency department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9612/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
795. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9615/22]
View answer796. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 13 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9616/22]
View answer797. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 26 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9617/22]
View answer798. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 52 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9618/22]
View answer828. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 39 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9825/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 795, 796, 797, 798 and 828 together.
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.
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.
€350m is being allocated in 2022 to the HSE and the NTPF to primarily provide additional public and private activity to further stabilise and reduce scheduled care waiting lists and waiting times in tandem with bringing forward much needed longer-term reforms. This will supplement the core activity of the HSE as detailed in the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) 2022.
The 2022 waiting list action plan, which will be launched shortly, builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly. This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting List Task Force. It has produced a comprehensive 2022 waiting list action plan which will set out high-level targets for waiting list improvement including dedicated funding for service reform, patient pathway improvement, and important significant additionality to substantially reduce the backlog of patients waiting. The taskforce will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious Multi-Annual Waiting List Plan, which is currently under development in my Department. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the Endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry is outlined in the attached document which provides the waiting list for G.I.Scopes by time band on 27 Jan 2022. This information is also available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/inpatient.htm
G.I. Endoscopy Waiting List at University Hospital Kerry at 27/01/2022
|
Time bands (months) |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
18+ Mths |
Grand Total |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
435 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
437 |
799. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the details of National Treatment Purchase Fund funding that was allocated in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 which has yet to be drawn down in respect of procedures to reduce the endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry; the dates of the allocations, the amount of funding involved and the number of procedures this funding would be expected to cover; if follow-up in respect of any failure to draw down the funding took place; if a reason for the failure to drawdown same has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9619/22]
View answerThe 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.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the NTPF has outlined in the attached tables, the number of GI Scope treatments arranged for patients on the GI waiting list at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) and the numbers of patients treated through insourcing and outsourcing in 2020 and 2021. The NTPF has advised that to date in 2022, no GI Scope treatments have been arranged for patients on the UHK GI waiting list.
In terms of activity, in 2020 136 GI Scopes were arranged through insourcing activity, with 124 patients treated. There was no outsourcing activity for GI Scopes in 2020. In 2021 treatment for 321 patients was arranged through insourcing, with 262 patients treated, while treatment for 215 patients was arranged through outsourcing, with 200 patients treated. This information is set out in the attached table, provided to my Department by the NTPF.
The NTPF has advised that a difference between the number of treatments arranged and the number of patients treated arises as patients can decline offers of treatment for a number of reasons, including because they want to remain with the public hospital, they are not clinically suitable for treatment, they no longer require treatment, or have been treated.
In 2020 €108,800 was paid to UHK for insourced GI Scope activity, while in 2021 €256,800 was paid to UHK for insourced scope activity. The NTPF has advised my Department that under outsourcing arrangements the NTPF pays the private hospitals directly and as such there is no funding allocated to the public hospitals themselves.
|
Insourcing Funding by year |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Amount of Funding Provided |
€108,800.00 |
€256,800.00 |
|
GI CANs Issued to University Hospital Kerry 2020 |
2020 |
2020 |
|
Treatments Arranged |
No. of patients treated |
|
|
Insourcing |
136 |
124 |
|
Outsourcing |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
136 |
124 |
|
GI CANs Issued to University Hospital Kerry 2021 |
2021 |
2021 |
|
Treatments Arranged |
No. of patients treated |
|
|
Insourcing |
321 |
262 |
|
Outsourcing |
215 |
200 |
|
Total |
536 |
462 |
|
CAN = Case Authorisation Number - Authorisation for Treatment issued by NTPF |
800. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the provision of a general practitioner service for Ballyduff, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9634/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
802. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if motor neurone disease is classed as an illness covered under the long-term illness scheme. if not, if this illness will be classed accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9651/22]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
While there are no plans currently to extend the list of conditions covered, the LTI scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €100 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The maximum payable under the Drugs Payment Scheme will be further reduced to €80 per month from 1 March 2022. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
803. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Consultant Applications Advisory Committee-approved consultant posts across each specialty by location; the basis on which they are filled as per the doctors integrated management E-system by discipline and tenure; the number on post-2012 pay rates; the number of each type of contract, that is, Sláintecare public-only, A, B and C across specialties filled and or allocated for all posts in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9652/22]
View answerGiven the data sought, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
804. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims which have been made to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; when the tribunal will cease to accept new claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9654/22]
View answerThe CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020.The Tribunal has notified my Department that it has received 19 claims to date. The figure includes two claims that were consolidated. The claims received are a combination of new claims i.e. claims that were not the subject of proceedings before the High Court, and claims transferred from the High Court.On 24 January 2022, I made an order under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019 to extend the closing date for receipt of claims by the Tribunal to 26 July 2022. The Act does not provide for a further extension of this date (i.e. post July 2022). The Tribunal has successfully brought a number of claims to conclusion swiftly and I am confident it can continue to do so.
The Tribunal implements in full the recommendations of Mr Justice Meenan in his report as an alternative system to the courts for eligible women. While it is a matter for individuals to decide whether or not to use the Tribunal, I hope that the effectiveness of the Tribunal in quickly resolving claims it has received to date will provide assurance to eligible women who are considering having their claim dealt with by the Tribunal
805. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE provides peer support workers in the mental health services in Cork; if so, if the HSE will provide the number of posts available in Cork, the locations of such posts and the work involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9665/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
806. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason there are no neurology services such as regular monthly clinics or case studies provided at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
807. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of dental treatment service scheme contracts held in total and in each CHO area in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
808. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that have resigned from the dental treatment services scheme in each of the years 2011 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9754/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if he will consider an independent chair for the discussions between the HSE and an association (details supplied) in reforming the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9755/22]
View answerOfficials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the IDA, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million.
The Department / HSE has offered increased fees across a number of items and proposed the reintroduction of the Scale and Polish item.
These proposals were expedited to address not only the problem of access for patients, but also concerns expressed by dentists about the viability of the DTSS, and to some extent, to bring about alignment with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by dentists for PRSI patients.
I have instructed my officials to arrange a further engagement with the Irish Dental Association to progress solutions.
810. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of students across 1st, 4th and 6th class primary school children that attended dental screening appointments respectively in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and in each CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9756/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
