Written Answers Nos. 797-819
797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 662, 663 and 664 of 15 February 2022, the BER rating of each building or most recent rating or estimate; the date on which it received this rating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13828/22]
View answerAs 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.
798. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13834/22]
View answerUnder 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.
799. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if staff in Covid-19 vaccination centres will be included in the Covid-19 recognition bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13846/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Government announced a 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 on-site in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings (e.g. – and noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners / Vaccination Centre Staff etc. that work in clinical settings). The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices (e.g. nursing homes and hospices that are private, public, section 39, voluntary etc.) that were affected by Covid-19.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. This will be published as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a long stay bed will be sanctioned in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13849/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
801. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently expedite the allocation of a piece of equipment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [13851/22]
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 Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the progress made in recruiting physiotherapists for a school (details supplied) who can perform respiratory and postural drainage for children with severe to profound general learning disability. [13853/22]
View answer803. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the dates on which the inter-agency steering group was established to develop a framework for the on-site provision of all clinical supports at a school (details supplied) in a safe work environment; and when it will conclude its work and submit a final report with recommendations. [13854/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 802 and 803 together.
As these service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
804. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the other doctors who were referred to in a report (details supplied); the number of doctors that this involved; if they are still working for the HSE; the safeguards that have since been put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13857/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
805. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if all of the families of the children referred to in a report (details supplied) have been notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13858/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
806. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a working group on Huntington’s disease under the joint auspices of the National Dementia Office and the Integrated Care Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13859/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
807. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1593 of 19 January 2022, the definition of, evidence of ASD in this context; the clinical purpose of knowing the patient's sexuality and their full sexual history; the way that the National Gender Service ensures the right to privacy and personal dignity of patients when such questions are asked as part of their clinical procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13865/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
808. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the current wait time to see a paediatric rheumatologist in Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin as a private patient and as a public patient; the longest time that a child has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13866/22]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of patients waiting for a paediatric rheumatology appointment or procedure by timeband is publicly available on the website of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, www.ntpf.ie.
Waiting times for private hospital appointments and procedures are not a matter for the Department of Health.
809. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health when the third rheumatologist is due to start at Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
810. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are currently waiting for a rheumatology MRI, MRI with contrast and MRI under general anaesthetic with contrast at Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin; the number waiting in each of the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13868/22]
View answerIt 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.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 26th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
The plan 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 NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health 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. The Task Force 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 the Department of Health. 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.
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.
811. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the average number of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes smoked per day by Irish smokers in each of the years 2015 to 2021; the extent to which Irish rates differ compared to other European Union member states in the same time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13870/22]
View answerA survey commissioned by the European Commission titled 'Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes' provides EU-wide figures for the requested time period on cigarette smoking. Year-by-year data is not available and the data is instead given in ranges.
In the period from 2017 - 2020 Irish people smoked 13.3 cigarettes per day.
From 2014 - 2020 the figure was 16.1 per day
From 2012 - 2020 it was 16.4 per day.
The number of cigarettes smoked per day in Ireland was lower than in the EU and UK for the 2017-2020 time period.
In the period 2017 - 2020 smokers in the EU and UK smoked 14.7 cigarettes per day.
In the period 2014 - 2020 the figure was 13.5 per day
In the period 2012 - 2020 it was 13.7 per day.
A similar Europe-wide country-by-country comparison for e-cigarette use is not possible as the information is not available due to low sample sizes. As e-cigarettes are not consumed in the same manner as cigarettes, e-cigarette prevalence of use rather than amount used per day may be a better measure.
With regard to Ireland's e-cigarette prevalence, Healthy Ireland survey data for the years requested shows that in Ireland in 2015, 6% of former smokers and 0.1% of people who never smoked used e-cigarettes.
From 2016 onwards Healthy Ireland changed how this was measured, giving a figure for the total population, rather than for former smokers and non-smokers.
In 2016 Healthy Ireland found that 3% of the total population used e-cigarettes.
In 2017 this figure was 4%
In 2018 this figure was 4%.
In 2019 this figure was 5%.
According to the most recent Healthy Ireland Report conducted in 2021 4% of the Irish population use e-cigarettes . No report was carried out in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, with approximately 6,000 people per year dying due to tobacco-related diseases. 1 in 2 smokers will die from a tobacco related disease.
812. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a health and social care advisory unit within his Department as proposed by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13874/22]
View answerUnder the Public Service Management Act, the Secretary General of the Department of Health has the authority, responsibility and accountability for a range of functions, including the assignment of staff within an appropriate structure to facilitate an effective response to matters that pertain to the Department, while ensuring cost effective public services.
As part of a review of its structure to meet its strategic priorities, the Department is considering arrangements for incorporating relevant expert advice for its policy work on a multidisciplinary basis. The review is ongoing and as such, no decision has been made on any particular Units which may be established, but there are no plans at the present time to establish a health and social care advisory unit.
813. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and when they will receive an appointment. [13877/22]
View answerUnder 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.
814. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred by his Department for the supply of Covid-19 related face masks and face coverings since March 2019 to date; the name of the supplier involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13894/22]
View answerThe expenditure incurred by my Department for the supply of Covid-19 related face masks and face coverings from March 2019 to date is €2,846.41. The breakdown of cost per supplier for the period is as follows:
|
Supplier |
Amount |
|
Zeus |
€746.48 |
|
JBS |
€536.73 |
|
Clarus |
€43.20 |
|
Leading Edge |
€1,520.00 |
815. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred by his Department for the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser since March 2019 to date; the name of the supplier involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13912/22]
View answerThe expenditure incurred by my Department for the supply of Covid-19 related hand sanitiser from March 2019 to date is €32,071.30. The breakdown of cost per supplier for the period is as follows:
|
Supplier |
Amount |
|
Clarus |
€29,968.24 |
|
Leading Edge |
€2,103.06 |
816. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time equivalent posts allocated to each role by children's disability network team in Cork city in tabular form. [13943/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
817. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his views on policy issues raised by a representative organisation (details supplied) relating to nursing home charges and the financial pressures on private sector nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13947/22]
View answerThe Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Accordingly, the NTPF does not discuss publicly the details of negotiations with individual nursing homes. Neither Ministers nor the Department have a role in individual price negotiations.
The Department of Health has also provided significant specific supports to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. As you are aware, the COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, also known as TAPS, was established as part of a package of support measures for nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. €134.5 million was made available under the scheme from March 2020 to June 2021. The outbreak assistance element of the scheme is still in payment. In addition to TAPS, direct support has been provided by the HSE to private nursing homes in many areas, including the provision of PPE, serial testing and support with staffing.
The Department published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. This review was conducted by the NTPF with input from stakeholders and external experts. It recommended several actions to improve the pricing system. These are now being taken forward by the Department and NTPF. Given the size and scope of the NHSS, which is expected to cost the State more than €1.04 billion this year, any changes must be delivered carefully and with due consideration to their impact and any unexpected consequences.
The department is also taking forward the 9 recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs, which was published in December 2021. The purpose of the VFM Review was to identify, quantify and analyse the reasons for any cost differential between private/voluntary and public nursing homes and, following analysis, to make recommendations for improving the value for money obtained by the Health sector.
818. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the inclusion of the drug melatonin for reimbursement in the drug payment scheme given that it is being prescribed by the medical profession to promote sleep; the reason that melatonin was previously available to persons and now appears to be no longer available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13948/22]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications. The HSE CPU received an application for pricing / reimbursement of Melatonin (Slenyto® Prolonged-Release Tablets) on 3 July 2019 from Flynn Pharma for the treatment of insomnia in children and adolescents aged 2-18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and / or Smith-Magenis syndrome, where sleep hygiene measures have been insufficient.
On 31 July 2019, the HSE CPU requested that Flynn Pharma submit a rapid review dossier to the NCPE for assessment. To date Flynn Pharma has not submitted a rapid review dossier to the NCPE for assessment. As it currently stands, submission of a completed rapid review dossier to the NCPE is required to progress this application, as per the formal processes governing the pricing and reimbursement of medicines.
In relation to the reimbursement of Melatonin (Circadin), the HSE advise that Melatonin (Circadin) has never been available through the Reimbursement List under the Community Drug Schemes. Melatonin (Circadin) underwent a review in 2008 and reimbursement was not recommended by the NCPE as there was insufficient evidence to support the reimbursement of this product under the Community Drug Schemes (available at www.ncpe.ie/drugs/melatonin-circadin/).
However, the HSE advise that exceptional arrangements are considered for Melatonin (Circadin) under Section 23 of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 - Supply of items not on Reimbursement List. The HSE must be satisfied that:
(a) The patient requires that item for clinical reasons, and
(b) There is no listed item which is a suitable alternative for that item in so far as that patient is concerned.
All applications for Melatonin (Circadin) under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements are reviewed on an individual patient basis under Section 23.
The medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process and 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.
819. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for an appointment in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13950/22]
View answerUnder 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.
