Written Answers Nos. 490-502
490. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the new National Children’s Hospital at St. James’s Hospital will be able to carry out heart and lung transplants for children under 16 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21984/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
491. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the cardiology business plan which has been submitted by Letterkenny University Hospital, Donegal in view of the cessation of mobile angiogram services at the hospital; if the €750,000 raised by a group (details supplied) towards a state of the art interventional suite which has yet to be commissioned will be recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
492. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 827 of 5 April 2022, the details of potential conflicts of interest declared by HSE managers in respect of procurement or rent of property by the HSE in each of the years 2016 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22002/22]
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.
493. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the name of the research studies and reports that are being consulted by his Department as part of the review into the revisited model of care for the termination of pregnancy on whether to continue telemedicine abortion measures beyond the temporary pandemic restrictions. [22003/22]
View answerAs part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together in 2020 to put arrangements in place to allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely. For the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners are paramount, it became possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e., before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.
There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to monitor service provision, facilitate the smooth-running of the service and resolve any issues that may arise. However, with restrictions eased, the Department is currently reviewing whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the COVID-19 public health emergency period.
At the request of the Department, the HSE conducted a review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy. The findings of this review are currently being examined as part of a deliberative process. The consideration of appropriate next steps will form part of this process.
It is important to reflect that COVID-19 is still with us and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on Managing Risk of Transmission of Respiratory Viruses including COVID-19, continues to advise, amongst other things, to limit footfall in General Practice settings and support telephone consultations where care that meets the needs of the patient can be delivered - this helps to eliminate the risk of transmission of viral infection. As such the arrangements for remote access to this service in the context of COVID-19 remain in place.
494. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when an organisation (details supplied) will be given guidance on the health pandemic bonus payment. [22028/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health. The Department shall shortly publish further information for those other employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff.
495. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the awareness campaigns and training that is available to general practitioners for the identification and treatment of Lyme disease. [22033/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
496. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if test results for Lyme disease that have been identified in private testing facilities or following medical investigations abroad are recognised for treatment by the HSE here. [22034/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
497. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the supplementary medications and treatment required for chronic Lyme disease will be covered by the general medical scheme and the drug treatment scheme. [22035/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
498. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved for homecare supports who are currently waiting on delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22041/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
499. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of approved homecare support hours which are currently not being delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22042/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
500. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department intends to conduct an audit of the administration of homecare support hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22043/22]
View answerThe Department considers that any proposed audit of internal administrative processes would be a matter for the Internal Auditors of the HSE to consider, in the first instance.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a HSE tender for the provision of home support services is currently under development. It is anticipated that an Invitation to Tender will be published on the e-tenders website during Q3 2022 with the aim to have tender arrangements in place to commence with effect from 01 January 2023. There is ongoing engagement between my Department and the HSE in relation to the tender.
Work within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services is progressing well. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery. This has included detailed research and stakeholder engagement to ensure any proposed new scheme is targeted, equitable and care is regulated to a high standard that will meet the needs of the service users.
501. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the date that has been selected for the implementation of the free contraception scheme, starting with 17 to 25-year-olds, that was announced in Budget 2022; if a delay is expected in relation to the implementation of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22044/22]
View answer502. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he intends to enable the roll-out of the free contraception scheme, starting with the 17 to 25 age cohort, through new legislation or through regulation; when he intends to bring forward proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22045/22]
View answer503. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that capacity and planning is such that maximum choice in contraception type will be available to all those who qualify for the free contraception scheme at the commencement date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22046/22]
View answer504. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the contraception implementation group has met since January 2022; the consultations that have taken place with relevant stakeholders on necessary legislative change, budgetary, eligibility, contract negotiations, training and accreditation and other relevant matters relating to the introduction of the free contraception scheme announced in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22047/22]
View answer505. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the negotiations that have taken place to date in 2022 with representative bodies regarding inclusion of contraception in relevant service contracts, regulations and guidelines, following the announcement of the free contraception provision in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22048/22]
View answer506. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the design of information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll-out of the free contraception scheme announced in Budget 2022; if key resources have been allocated to this work in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22049/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 501, 502, 503, 504, 505 and 506 together.
The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost.
In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution (JOC8) and the findings of the Working Group on Contraception, the Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort .
In terms of planning for the implementation of this commitment, the Contraception Implementation Group was convened in July, 2021. The focus of the detailed work done to date by the Department's Contraception Implementation Group has been working towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in August 2022.
The Contraception Implementation Group meets on a monthly basis. To date, in 2022, meetings have been held in January, February, March and April. Members of the Group have also met with counterparts in various relevant Divisions of the HSE, and with other stakeholders, to ensure that progress is being made in terms of planning for implementation.
In terms of stakeholder consultations, it should also be noted that the recommendations of the JOC8 took into consideration the deliberations of the Citizen’s Assembly on the matter. The Working Group on Contraception held a number of meetings with key stakeholders as part of its research, prior to publication of the Report.
More recently, my Department has held consultations and listening exercises with a large range of stakeholders, as part of the wider work of the Women’s Health Taskforce and, separately, as part of wider work to review the National Sexual Health Strategy. Clear stakeholder feedback with regard to access to contraception is therefore duly taken into consideration in the development and progression of this scheme.
The contraception scheme was discussed at a recent meeting with medical representative organisations. Formal negotiations with the medical representative organisations and with those representing pharmacists will commence shortly.
Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated in Budget 2022 to enable commencement of the scheme, which is currently scheduled for August 2022. This includes an allocation for training and certification for fitting, checks and removals of long-acting reversible contraception. The HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
The scheme will provide for:
1. The cost of prescription contraception;
2. The cost of necessary consultations with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;
3. The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
4. The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
5. Provision of the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders will also be available through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
For items such as the contraceptive pill, these are typically prescribed at 6-month intervals. For LARCs, (e.g. IUS, IUD, implants, injections, patches and rings), where the fittings/injections are carried out by healthcare professionals, fitting and removal appointments are also provided for separately, in addition to the consultations.
The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-olds ordinarily resident in Ireland. Patients will be eligible to avail of the scheme from their 17th birthday until the day prior to their 26th birthday.
Work on the legislative framework for the scheme is ongoing, with the scheme to implemented by way of Regulations. The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme will be finalised in the coming months, to be rolled in the month preceding and during the initial phase of scheme roll-out.
