Tuesday, 28 Jun 2022

Disability Services

Questions (751)

James Lawless

Question:

751. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of disability services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33613/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Organ Removal

Questions (752)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

752. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the comfort that can be given to parents and the steps that have been taken to ensure that a repeat of a situation (details supplied) does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33616/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

This matter has been the subject of much discussion in the House, but I wish once again to express my sympathy to those families in Cork who experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child and then had the distressing experience of learning that the organs of their child were disposed of without their consent. The HSE, South/South West Hospital Group, Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital have rightly apologised to the bereaved families and genuinely regret the incident.

I am determined that lessons are learnt to prevent such events happening in the future. The HSE advise that the Systems Analysis Review being undertaken by the South/South West Hospital Group is ongoing and the Review Team have been engaging with the families affected. I fully intend to act on any recommendations to emerge from this review once it is complete, while work is continuing on drafting the Human Tissue (Transplant, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill which will, among other things, introduce a regulatory regime in respect of hospital post-mortems.

As the review into this specific incident is being led by the South/South West Hospital Group, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the HSE for direct reply.

Medicinal Products

Questions (753)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

753. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a medication for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33660/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (754)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

754. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a request from an organisation (details supplied) on behalf of its approximately 700 members who require coaguchek meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33666/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the 2013 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. The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.

The HSE have advised that CoaguChek® meters and International Normalised Ratio (INR) self-testing strips are not reimbursable under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, the Community Drug Schemes, or the Community Funded Schemes.

Whilst a range of diagnostics are available on the HSE's formal Reimbursement List for use in Diabetes, a change in HSE policy would be required to expand this to other therapeutic areas such as INR testing ancillaries.

The HSE have further advised that on very rare occasions, CoaguChek® strips were approved for reimbursement in the most exceptional circumstances under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements where it was clear that there was no other option for the patient i.e., the person was bed bound or could not travel to the INR clinic.

Medicinal Products

Questions (755, 868, 882)

Joe O'Brien

Question:

755. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of talks between the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the life-changing cystic fibrosis drug therapy kaftrio to make this drug therapy available to 35 children with cystic fibrosis aged between six and eleven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33672/22]

View answer

James Lawless

Question:

868. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide children with cystic fibrosis with the drug kaftrio; if not, the reasons for not providing this drug; if there are any plans in the future to provide this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34274/22]

View answer

Alan Farrell

Question:

882. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is considering funding kaftrio, which is used to treat cystic fibrosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34338/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 755, 868 and 882 together.

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

823. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to expand primary and community supports for long-Covid; if there will be expanded training modules on long-Covid for general practitioners and practice nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34020/22]

View answer

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

865. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health his plans for persons suffering from long-Covid. [34214/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 756, 757, 773, 793, 794, 822, 823 and 865 together.

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

Question No. 757 answered with Question No. 756.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (758)

Réada Cronin

Question:

758. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the reason that public health is still only measuring Covid-19 impact in terms of deaths and hospitalisations given the growing international evidence on the emergence of long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33687/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to advise the Deputy that the pandemic is not over, and the future trajectory of COVID-19 remains uncertain. As such, there is an ongoing requirement for detailed epidemiological assessment and advice on current and emergent issues in relation to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses to inform and ensure timely and appropriate health service and other pandemic countermeasures as necessary.

As set out in the weekly reports on COVID-19 which I receive from the Chief Medical Officer and which are published on my Department's website, the population and health service burden in relation to COVID-19 infections continues to be monitored closely across a broad range of parameters. These include surveillance and monitoring of the epidemiological position both nationally and internationally, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and deaths, surveillance in relation to current and new variants and assessment of health service impacts, including disease outbreaks in healthcare settings.

In addition to the burden of disease caused by acute COVID-19 infections, it is recognised that persistent and prolonged symptoms can occur after acute COVID-19 infection in a proportion of patients. The number of people that are affected with longer term sequelae after acute COVID-19 remains unknown, but published reports indicate that approximately 10– 20% of COVID-19 patients experience lingering symptoms for weeks to months following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

My Department and the HSE, continue to review new evidence, research, and data on all aspects of COVID19 including Long COVID, as it emerges to ensure care is in place for all who need it.

The HSE has developed and is implementing an interim Model of Care to provide Long COVID services nationally. This builds on existing service provision to further develop the necessary services across a number of health care settings including GP, community services and acute hospitals. The first priority is to ensure there are Long COVID and Post-Acute COVID clinics operating within each Hospital Group to ensure a national service. This involves expanding the resources at existing clinics where required and development of new clinics in line with the Model of Care.

Anyone concerned about Long COVID is advised to engage with their GP in the first instance.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (759)

Réada Cronin

Question:

759. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the public health advice on the reason it is not necessary to introduce mitigations to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection and reinfection in the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33688/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Deputy is advised that a weekly update containing the current key public health advice with regard to COVID-19 is published on the Department of Health's website, available here: gov.ie - Weekly report from the Chief Medical Officer to the Minister for Health relating to COVID-19 (www.gov.ie).

The Department continues to monitor the epidemiological situation closely.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (760)

Réada Cronin

Question:

760. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the current reinfection rate of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33689/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

The Government has taken numerous measures to increase the number of GPs working in the State and who hold a GMS contract, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. 258 places will be available this year. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (765)

Michael McNamara

Question:

765. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds, broken down by acute, non-acute and ICU beds, in place in HSE-run hospitals as of June 2022; the corresponding figures for 8 February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33694/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (766, 767)

Michael McNamara

Question:

766. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on HSE waiting lists in June 2022; the corresponding figures for 8 February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33695/22]

View answer

Michael McNamara

Question:

767. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for patients on HSE waiting lists in June 2022; the corresponding figures for 8 February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33696/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together.

In relation to the information requested by the Deputy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised that data for 8 Feb 2020 is not available, as the NTPF only publish figures for the end of each month. Data for June 2022 is also unavailable as June waiting list figures are not yet published by the NTPF. As such, waiting list data for the end of February 2020 and end of May 2022 is available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.

The NTPF only collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. As a result, the health system does not have the data necessary to calculate true average wait times.

Question No. 767 answered with Question No. 766.

Ambulance Service

Questions (768)

Michael McNamara

Question:

768. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the HSE national ambulance service implementing a dynamic deployment system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33697/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 2014 HIQA report into prehospital emergency care highlighted the dynamic deployment process of emergency ambulance resources as a way to improve response times and National Ambulance Service (NAS) performance generally. The dynamic model of deployment is in line with international best practice and allows the NAS to prioritise resource allocation to the higher acuity calls that require an immediate emergency response. It also allows the NAS to categorise non-serious or non-life- threatening calls, and to provide a resource appropriate to the patient’s clinical need.

Ambulance Service

Questions (769)

Michael McNamara

Question:

769. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the HSE national ambulance service being permitted to transport patients by ambulance to injury units at St. John's, Nenagh and Ennis hospitals if their injuries can be treated at such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33698/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (770)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

770. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33703/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.