Skip to main content
Normal View

Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Written Answers Nos. 238-255

Hospital Staff

Questions (238)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

238. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there are hospitals with a heart failure unit that do not have an advanced nurse practitioner; the cost of providing an advanced nurse practitioner in each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23531/22]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (239)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

239. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of cardiac physiologists; the number of heart failure units that have access to a dedicated cardiac physiologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23532/22]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Hospital Equipment

Questions (240)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

240. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of heart failure units that do not have access to BNP testing and other appropriate diagnostic testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Health Services

Questions (241)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

241. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of rolling out heart failure virtual clinics nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23534/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Health Services

Questions (242)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

242. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the funding that is being spent on stroke survivors in the community for physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychology, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23536/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Obesity Levels

Questions (243)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

243. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made to reach the WHO global target to halt the rise in obesity by 2025, particularly given that the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 notes that no Member State is on track to reach the target; the way that Ireland is performing in relation to achieving the targets set out in chapter 4 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23537/22]

View answer

Written answers

The World Health Organisation European Regional Obesity Report 2022 was launched on May 3rd. It examines the prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among adults and children in the WHO European Region between 1975 and 2016. The report finds that levels of obesity in the region have increased by 138% in that period, and the levels of overweight (including obesity) by 51%. It notes that “Alarmingly, there have been consistent increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the WHO European Region and no Member State is on track to reach the target of halting the rise in obesity by 2025”.

The Healthy Ireland Survey 2019 (representative of the population of those aged 15 and over), and the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative for children, indicate that the levels of obesity in Ireland have been stabilising, albeit at too high a level. The HI Survey 2019 reports that 23% of Irish people aged 15 and over are obese, with a further 37% being overweight, which are the same percentage as in the 2015 study. However, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity levels is not yet reflected in the official statistics, with the pandemic itself impacting on data collection in this area.

Data for the current wave of the Healthy Ireland Survey is at present being collected and will include self reported weights and measures which will provide an indication of the long term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on overweight and obesity in Ireland. It is envisaged that the Report will be published in Q4, 2022

The WHO report notes the complex and multifaceted nature of obesity, and that no single intervention can combat the rise in obesity rates. It emphasises that efforts to prevent obesity need to consider the wider determinants of the disease.

Ireland has a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy in place to combat obesity. “A Healthy Weight for Ireland”, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025 (OPAP). The Plan recognises the complex nature of obesity and that there is no one simple solution, and that every sector of society will need to play its part.

The OPAP prescribed the following short-term (five-year) targets for overweight and obesity:

- a sustained downward trend (averaging 0.5% per annum as measured by the Healthy Ireland Survey) in the level of excess weight averaged across all adults;

- a sustained downward trend [averaging 0.5% per annum as measured by the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the level of excess weight in children, and

- a reduction in the gap in obesity levels between the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups by 10%, as measured by the Healthy Ireland and COSI surveys.

While the data in relation to the targets in the OPAP are not complete due to the data collection issues outlined above, it is unlikely that these targets have been met. For this reason, there is a renewed focus on combatting obesity by this government, and a particular emphasis on addressing health inequalities in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

The WHO Report makes a number of policy recommendations, many of which are already being either implemented or being examined under the Obesity Policy and Action Plan. These include a sugar-sweetened drinks tax, which was implemented in Ireland in 2018.

Ireland also published a “Roadmap for Food Product Reformulation in Ireland” in December 2021, which is being implemented through a dedicated Food Reformulation Task Force in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, funded by the Department of Health through Healthy Ireland.

In terms of obesity management and healthcare, the HSE Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity was launched in March 2021. This sets out how healthcare for children, young people and adults living with overweight and obesity in Ireland should be organised and resourced now and into the future.

To support and educate families about nutrition and healthier choices, particularly those from socio-economically disadvantaged areas, Healthy Ireland has funded the recruitment of 19 Community Food and Nutrition Officers as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, who will work within the 19 communities.

Under the overall Healthy Ireland Framework and Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, work is being advanced to address the social determinants under the Obesity Policy and Action Plan and the National Physical Activity plan, and through initiatives such as the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. This is in line with the approach recommended in the WHO report.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (244)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

244. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if a breastfeeding position paper has been developed by the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23538/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Department is fully committed to promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Healthy Ireland and Sláintecare have made a significant investment towards implementing the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. We all know how important it is that our children get the best possible start in life and this is something all Government partners have prioritised in the Programme for Government.

The HSE have developed the Breastfeeding in Ireland Action Plan - a five-year strategic action plan, which has been extended until the end of 2022. This Action Plan recognises that breastfeeding provides a significant protective factor against obesity in children. This protective role of breastfeeding extends beyond childhood and is important in the prevention of chronic diseases in adulthood including diabetes.

Lactation Consultants are needed to promote and support breastfeeding and the requirement for these is identified in the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. Last year the Department committed recurring funding of €1.58 million to fund an additional 24 Lactation Consultants needed across hospital and community settings to ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed. These posts will also support enhanced training, skills and knowledge to front-line staff.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (245)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

245. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if discussions to expand the membership of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group to include service user and patient representation have ever been advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23539/22]

View answer

Written answers

Discussions were held in 2021 relating to expansion of the membership of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) to include service user and/or patient representation. These proposals have not been further progressed but will be considered at future meetings of the OPIOG.

The Department has engaged with service users in relation to specific issues, and this will continue irrespective of the composition of the OPIOG.

Disability Services

Questions (246)

Mick Barry

Question:

246. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide access to a personal assistant service as a legislative right for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/22]

View answer

Written answers

The right to a Personal Assistant service is covered under Article 19 of the UNCRPD and is under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who declined this question on transfer.

The Government is working to ensure that People with Disabilities be allowed to live an independent life of their own choosing, the same as any other person, and this is consistent with the disability reform policy - “transforming lives”.

The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.

Personal Assistance Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community based staff. Individual’s needs are evaluated against the criteria for prioritisation for the particular services and then decisions are made in relation to the allocation of resources.

Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria, and the level of resources available. PA Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.

Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €105 million is being provided for new disability measures this year under Budget 2022. These measures will include 120,000 additional hours of Personal Assistance supports to expand and enhance supports for people to live self-directed lives in their own communities.

The 2022 National Service Plan outlines the HSE’s commitment to deliver 1.7m hours of Personal Assistance hours to 2,587 people.

Disability Services

Questions (247)

Mick Barry

Question:

247. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will increase investment in the personal assistant services to ensure that all persons with disabilities who require assistance will have access to personal assistance services regardless of the CHO area they live in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23556/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (248)

Denis Naughten

Question:

248. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23576/22]

View answer

Written answers

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (249)

Bríd Smith

Question:

249. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge how severely ill those who develop long Covid can become; if the matter will be addressed; if he will offer protection from reinfection by providing access to treatments (details supplied); if he will increase access to new diagnostic testing which is available in parts of Europe and South Africa; if he will provide the most up-to-date treatments in order that this cohort can begin to recover from this debilitating condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23590/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Staff

Questions (250)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

250. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff midwives working at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise; the number of staff midwives on long-term sick leave; the number of staff midwives that have left the hospital over the past two years; the number of staff midwives recruited in the hospital in the same time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23615/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (251)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

251. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the assessment of needs for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23633/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Care of the Elderly

Questions (252)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

252. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to move away from congregated settings in the care of older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23641/22]

View answer

Written answers

Ireland’s demographics are changing rapidly. Welcome improvements in health outcomes and extended life expectancy have changed our expectations for how older people should live within their communities.

For the most part, older people clearly indicate their preference to live in their own homes and communities, for as long as possible. The Programme for Government 2020 commits to creating an Age Friendly Ireland, while Sláintecare aims to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

The provision of enhanced integrated health services in the community, with a focus on prevention and early intervention of chronic disease conditions, aims to support older people to live well at home and to reduce the likelihood of hospital admission and is a key priority for me.

Through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2022 I have secured from government an overall budget for home support for older people of approximately €670 million. In addition, €195 million has been secured to enable the continued delivery of the Enhanced Community Care Programme across all Community Healthcare Organisations.

My Department and the HSE – partnered by Age Friendly Ireland and ALONE – also provide complementary “support coordination” models to link older people with services such as befriending and signposting to local community groups. As highlighted by the Health and Housing joint policy statement, Housing Options for Our Ageing Population, these initiatives play an important role in connecting older people with their communities, reducing the poor outcomes associated with social isolation and helping them to access services that they need quickly and easily.

The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care, and I am keen to introduce this scheme as soon as possible.

Consequently, work is ongoing within my department to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. 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

Access to day centres can make a very important contribution and provide invaluable support, advice and social interaction for older people, who may, for any number of reasons be experiencing isolation and loneliness. They play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities.

It remains my priority to ensure that day centres reopen as quickly and as safely as possible, following their necessary closure in 2020 in response to COVID-19. The process for reopening day centres commenced in 2021 and the HSE continues to actively work on their reopening for older people as a priority in line with current public health guidance. Currently 264 centres (80%) for older people have reopened. It is planned that a further 14 will open this month.

Although the direction for Government policy is to support individuals to remain in their homes, long-term residential care will continue to be necessary for some older people in order to meet their health care needs. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, also known as the NHSS or ‘Fair Deal’, is the State’s means-based system of financial support for people who are not in a position to pay privately for their long-term residential care. Its aim is to ensure that when residential care is necessary, it is accessible, affordable and regulated to provide a high quality of professional care.

Ukraine War

Questions (253)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

253. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if any refugees are being housed or intended to be housed on properties in the ownership of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23642/22]

View answer

Written answers

The responsibility of providing emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and others seeking international protection rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is focusing on the medium and long-term accommodation challenges for persons arriving in Ireland as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. It is leading cross-government efforts through a Housing Taskforce established by Government for this purpose. The Taskforce is considering a number of options, including refurbishment and reconfiguration of vacant public and private owned buildings as multi-occupancy accommodation for Ukrainians.

My Department does not itself own any properties. However, it has submitted a list of potentially suitable HSE properties to DHLGH. My Department and the HSE have been engaging bilaterally with DHLGH on these HSE properties and how those that might be suitable for use as multi-occupancy accommodation, if any, can be brought into use.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (254)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

254. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the funding mechanisms that may be open to such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23687/22]

View answer

Written answers

The National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS) provides a framework to address age-related policy and service delivery across Government and society. The Strategy is intended to promote older people’s health and well-being so that older people can continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and family life in their own communities as long as possible. The Strategy highlights that ageing is not just a health issue, but rather requires a whole of Government approach to address the factors that affect our ageing citizens.

NPAS has permeated through Government and improving digital literacy amongst older persons is addressed in a number of Government strategies, such as Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework, and Literacy for Life, a 10 year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. Over the past number of years digital literacy has become increasingly important, and these digital frameworks will include and support the well-being of older persons, the length and breadth of the country. More information in relation to these strategies can be found:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/655a4-adult-literacy-for-life-a-10-year-literacy-strategy/

www.gov.ie/en/publication/adf42-harnessing-digital-the-digital-ireland-framework/#the-plan

The Department of Health does not provide grants directly for IT systems however possible funding may be obtained from The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Health Service Executive

Questions (255)

Marian Harkin

Question:

255. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when a letter will issue from the HSE confirming intent to provide funding for the day-to-day expenditure for the running of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23701/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Top
Share