Written Answers Nos. 958-980
958. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the colonoscopy waiting list for longer than 13 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/22]
View answer959. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the colonoscopy waiting list for longer than 26 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14449/22]
View answer960. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the colonoscopy waiting list for longer than 39 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14450/22]
View answer961. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting on the colonoscopy waiting list for longer than 52 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14451/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 958 to 961, inclusive, 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.
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.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the Endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry is outlined in the attached document.
GI Endoscopy Waiting List at University Hospital Kerry as at 24/02/2022
|
Time bands (months) |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
Grand Total |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
459 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
461 |
|
Grand Total |
459 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
461 |
962. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14452/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
963. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the cataract waiting list broken down by each hospital in the South South West Hospital Group area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14454/22]
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.
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 February 2022 there were 5,043 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,440 in December 2018.
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.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the number of patients currently on the cataract waiting list broken down by each hospital in the South-South West Hospital Group area is outlined in the attached document.
IPDC Cataracts waits in South/South West Hospital Group as at 24/02/2022
|
Time Bands (months) |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
18+ Mths |
Small Vol TimeBand* |
Grand Total |
|
Small Vol Hospital |
2* |
2 |
||||
|
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
229 |
38 |
5 |
272 |
||
|
University Hospital Waterford |
448 |
64 |
15 |
71 |
598 |
|
|
Grand Total |
677 |
102 |
20 |
71 |
2 |
872 |
*Due to the small volume of patients waiting, to preserve patient confidentiality, when the number of patients is <5, these have been included within broader timebands and aggregated into a 'Small Volume Group' cohort.
965. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can transfer from working at Beaumont Hospital to Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14482/22]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
966. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the investigation into the cremation scandal in Cork University Maternity Hospital given the investigation was to conclude in November 2021. [14487/22]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
967. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in the Cork Central Children Disability Network Team; the measures that will be put in place to fill vacancies and to reduce waiting times for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14488/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
968. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans for funding long Covid clinics; and the supports that are available for those suffering with long Covid. [14489/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
969. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the way that he defined exposed healthcare settings in the context of the Covid €1000 bonus; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Tusla staff working in residential facilities, caring for teenagers, donned full PPE. [14491/22]
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.
This 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. Eligibility will be based on the criteria used to identify those included in relevant worker vaccination sequence groups, inter alia this should cover frontline staff who were at increased risk in the course of performing their duties in a clinical setting – for the avoidance of doubt, where a person was working in such a setting, they are in scope.
The Department of Health will also introduce a similar measure for frontline staff in all nursing homes and hospices (whether public, private, voluntary, Section 39 etc.).
The Department of Health is working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government are sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or for those working from home.
970. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he plans to review the guidance for special needs schools such as a school (details supplied) to recommend the continued wearing of masks in classrooms given the high level of risk arising from the children’s complex and special needs. [14493/22]
View answerThe Government has accepted the recommendations of NPHET that, from 28 February 2022, there is no longer a requirement to wear face coverings in schools. Staff and student/pupils may continue to wear a face covering/mask if they wish to do so on a personal basis and I am informed that schools should continue to make masks available on request as they are currently doing.
In the letter in which the NPHET recommendations were outlined, the Chief Medical Officer advised that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and levels of infection remain high. A cohort of the population still remains vulnerable to more severe infection and the emergence of new variants with increased levels of transmissibility, immune escape and/or virulence remains a risk both nationally and globally. For these reasons, it is advised that there should be a continuation of the wearing of masks, practising of physical distancing and avoidance of crowded environments based on individual risk assessment and with a continuing focus on protecting others, and adherence to basic hand and respiratory hygiene.
Updated Covid-19 Guidance to Schools following the mid-term break 2022 was published by the Department of Education and is available on that Department's website as follows:- www.gov.ie/en/publication/e1754-information-note-sd-00032022-updated-covid-19-guidance-to-schools-following-the-mid-term-break-2022/.
The approach to public health management of the pandemic, including changes to testing, tracing and surveillance management remains under continuing review under the guidance of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and will be subject to the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the disease on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and other international evidence and guidance.
971. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he has considered putting in place regional trauma centres for Ukrainian child refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14516/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response.
Very significant planning and preparatory work is taking place across Government to provide accommodation and other essential supports to those who have arrived here already, as well as the large numbers of further people expected to arrive. This work is taking place with the support of the Irish Red Cross and NGOs and charities across the country.
The Department of Health is liaising with other Government departments and agencies to provide humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees. It is a priority for the Department and the HSE to ensure that Ukrainian refugees are provided with appropriate health and social care services.
Refugees from Ukraine will be granted temporary protection status. Under this measure, refugees will be considered ordinarily resident in Ireland for a limited time period and therefore will be entitled to access health care services, in line with other refugee groups and Irish citizens.
A one-stop-shop is being provided in Dublin airport for Ukrainian refugees. This will include application for temporary protection status, PPSN and welfare payment, emergency accommodation and information on other public services. Translation support is also being provided.
The Department of Health and the HSE are working together to coordinate the provision of health care services for Ukrainian refugees granted temporary protection status. They are also liaising with other Government departments and agencies supporting the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland.
Health care services will include primary health care services for adults, children and older people, ongoing care of priority medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illness, services for psychological stress and mental health, and social care services for people with special needs. It is the intention to provide these services in a culturally appropriate manner and to take into account language and other factors.
972. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place services for those Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland who may be suffering from trauma as a result of the war in the Ukraine and that fluent speakers are placed to assist those who may not understand English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland as part of the EU response.
Very significant planning and preparatory work is taking place across Government to provide accommodation and other essential supports to those who have arrived here already, as well as the large numbers of further people expected to arrive. This work is taking place with the support of the Irish Red Cross and NGOs and charities across the country.
A webpage on the whole-of-Government response is available at www.gov.ie/ukraine and includes information on supports and services available to people arriving from Ukraine. This webpage will be supplemented and updated on an ongoing basis with the support of the relevant Departments.
The Department of Health is liaising with other Government departments and agencies to provide humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees. It is a priority for the Department and the HSE to ensure that Ukrainian refugees are provided with appropriate health and social care services.
Refugees from Ukraine will be granted temporary protection status. Under this measure, refugees will be considered ordinarily resident in Ireland for a limited time period and therefore will be entitled to access health care services, in line with other refugee groups and Irish citizens.
A one-stop-shop is being provided in Dublin airport for Ukrainian refugees. This will include application for temporary protection status, PPSN and welfare payment, emergency accommodation and information on other public services. Translation support is also being provided.
The Department of Health and the HSE are working together to coordinate the provision of health care services for Ukrainian refugees granted temporary protection status. They are also liaising with other Government departments and agencies supporting the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland.
Health care services will include primary health care services for adults, children and older people, ongoing care of priority medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illness, services for psychological stress and mental health, and social care services for people with special needs. It is the intention to provide these services in a culturally appropriate manner and to take into account language and other factors.
973. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will consider putting in place a formal mechanism to allow retired persons with specific skills to assist on a voluntary basis in the effort to accommodate a large influx of Ukrainian refugees in local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14525/22]
View answerThe Department of Health is liaising with other Government departments and agencies to provide humanitarian support for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland. It is a priority for the Department and the HSE to ensure that Ukrainian refugees are provided with appropriate health and social care services.
Very significant planning and preparatory work is taking place across Government to provide accommodation and other essential supports to those who have arrived here already, as well as the large numbers of further people expected to arrive. This work is taking place with the support of the Irish Red Cross and NGOs and charities across the country.
The Department of Rural and Community Development is linking with key stakeholders at community level, including local volunteer centres, to provide information on the national response, support the co-ordination of immediate and ongoing integration and social supports through the local and community development sector, ensure complementarity with national and local government initiatives and enable flexibility in programme delivery to focus on the response.
I appreciate the social solidarity of the Irish people for the Ukrainian refugees and their desire to assist with the national effort to provide accommodation and other supports. I encourage those who want to volunteer their skills to contact local coordination bodies and volunteer centres.
974. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposal announced in Budget 2022 to extend an automatic entitlement to free general practitioner visit cards in 2022 to children under eight years of age; when it will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14529/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children up to and including the age of 5 are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under in three phases: to children aged 6 and 7; to children aged 8 and 9; and to children aged 10,11 and 12. Budget 2022 provides for the initial stage of this phased expansion, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. My officials and the HSE are currently engaged in preparatory work for the expansion. Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, are set to begin by the end of this month.
975. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he has or will engage with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to seek a provision of the regulation of the digital marketing of breast milk substitutes in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14531/22]
View answerDetailed compositional and labelling requirements for infant formulae and follow-on formulae intended for use by infants in good health are set out in EU Regulations. The importance of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes is also recognised in these Regulations. Under the Regulations, the labelling, presentation and advertising of infant formulae and follow-on formulae must be designed so as not to discourage breastfeeding.
The labelling of infant formula must bear ‘a statement concerning the superiority of breast feeding and a statement recommending that the product be used only on the advice of independent persons having qualifications in medicine, nutrition or pharmacy, or other professionals responsible for maternal and child care’. Furthermore, the advertising of infant formula is restricted to publications specialising in baby care and scientific publications. ‘Such advertisements may contain only information of a scientific and factual nature. Such information shall not imply that or create a belief that bottle-feeding is equivalent or superior to breast feeding’. Point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples or any other promotional device to induce sales of infant formula directly to the consumer at the retail level, is prohibited.
As the rules on the labelling, presentation and advertising of infant formulae and follow-on formulae are harmonised at EU level, it is not proposed to introduce additional national rules at this juncture. Therefore, it is not currently proposed to bring forward legislative provisions in this area into the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022.
976. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason that financial assistance for a talking device for a child (details supplied) was refused; if the application will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14533/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
977. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of home support for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14534/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
978. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if a licence to prescribe medicinal cannabis can be issued for a person suffering from chronic pain; if the product can be accessed on prescription through a pharmacy and if it comes under the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/22]
View answerMinisterial Licence under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016:
Doctors may utilise the Ministerial licensing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients, should they wish to do so. In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time. This information can be found at the following links:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/1a5c4e-applying-to-the-minister-for-health-for-a-medical-cannabis-licence/.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/e35cb4-ministerial-licence-application-process/.
Reimbursement
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The Drug Payment Scheme provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The threshold is currently set at €80 per month.
Under the Long-Term Illness scheme patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. The following 16 illnesses are covered by the scheme: 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.
The Medical Cannabis Access programme (MCAP):
This is a 5-year pilot programme restricted to prescribing of cannabis-based products by medical consultants, for patients with certain medical conditions who have exhausted all other available medical treatment options. Those conditions are:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
- Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
For more information relating to the MCAP, including FAQs, please see the Department of Health’s website at the following link.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/90ece9-medical-cannabis-access-programme/.
It is important to note that the medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis 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 prohibits 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.
979. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to the payment of Covid-19 bonuses for HSE workers; and when these will be processed and provided to workers. [14554/22]
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 onsite 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 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 that were affected by Covid-19.
The Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars including how the pro-rata shall apply shall be published by the HSE.
Though noting the above work is still ongoing, it is envisaged that the process for paying eligible public sector healthcare workers will commence this month. For eligible healthcare workers in private sector nursing homes and hospices, noting the additional complexities involved, it is envisaged the process will commence in the second quarter of this year.
980. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a date has been scheduled for surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14558/22]
View answerI 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.
