Written Answers Nos. 753-773
753. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints in relation to home care that were received by the HSE by CHO area in the past two years; the way that these complaints are classified and dealt with; the actions that have been taken as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35696/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
754. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the parents of a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for occupational speech and language therapy for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35701/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
755. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the status of the Government’s plans to introduce a new national Traveller mental health strategy. [35713/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to the publication of a National Traveller Health Action Plan to address the health needs of Travellers, using a social determinants approach. The lead role in developing the action plan rests with the HSE, in conjunction with Traveller organisations. A HSE steering committee, which included representatives of Traveller organisations, has drafted the action plan, to address the health needs of Travellers. The action plan will include actions relating to Traveller mental health. The plan is nearing finalisation and is due to be published in September.
The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) is the Government policy framework for addressing the health and other needs of Travellers. The Strategy includes 10 actions relating to mental health and suicide among Travellers. It acknowledges that mental health difficulties and the increased risk of suicide are significant issues for this community, caused by many social determinants.
The Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, published in November 2021, contains 21 recommendations relating to the health, and mental health needs of Travellers. These actions and recommendations will be taken into account in the development of the Traveller health action plan.
Travellers are noted as priority groups in the mental health policy, Sharing the Vision (STV) and suicide reduction strategy, Connecting for Life (CFL). Both recognise the vulnerability to and increased risk of mental health and suicidal behaviour by Travellers, and that these should be considered in the way mental health services are delivered to Travellers.
Additionally, the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) provides funding (over €600,000 over 2019 and 2020) to Exchange House to run the National Traveller Mental Health Service. It aims to improve the overall well-being of Travellers and reduce the likelihood of suicide or self-harm within the community.
I am committed to providing the leadership and resources to ensure the implementation of the Traveller health action plan, once agreed. I want to work with all stakeholders to improve the health experiences and outcomes for Travellers, in a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable manner.
756. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if the Government will commit to commissioning updated research into suicide in the Traveller community. [35714/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
757. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has required HIQA to undertake an investigation on the grounds that there is a serious risk to the health or welfare of a person in a nursing home, as a result of failure or negligence by the HSE, a HSE funded provider, a provider of a designated centre or the person in charge of a designated centre since the enactment of the Health Act 2007 and with particular reference to section 9(2) of the Act; if so, the details of such order and the outcomes of such investigations; if any request to a Minister under this section of the Act to carry out or order such an inquiry has been refused; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35715/22]
View answer758. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that HSE safeguarding and protection teams will have the statutory legal right of access to private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35717/22]
View answerI take issues in relation to safeguarding very seriously. My Department is at an advanced stage of developing a national policy on adult safeguarding specifically for the health and social care sector, the policy will cover all public, private, and voluntary settings including private nursing homes. It is anticipated that the policy will cover a wide range of issues, which may include rights of access to premises and records. As a national, sectoral policy it is envisaged that any such provisions would be applied consistently across all settings. In that regard, legislating for a right of access to any setting is a complex matter and the Department and other stakeholders would be required to consider any such a move very carefully to ensure that any such right would be evidence-based and proportionate.
The Department expects in the near future to announce details of a public consultation with the intention of submitting a costed policy to the Government for its approval around the end of 2022. Any required underpinning legislation will be prepared following Government approval of the new policy.
759. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that independent advocates will have appropriate access to residents in private nursing homes under agreed protocols and on request from residents or family next of kin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35727/22]
View answerAccess to independent advocates is governed by legislation under the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013. Regulation 9 provides that registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to uphold a residents’ right to access to independent advocacy services.
The Patient Advocacy Service (PAS) is an independent health complaints advocacy service which was established by my Department in 2018. PAS provides a free and independent service to help users of public acute hospitals making or intending to make a formal complaint. The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future (2020) contained a commitment to examine extending the remit of PAS to residents of long-term residential care facilities.
In February 2021, the original PAS contract was extended, and from June 2021 the service was offered to HSE-operated nursing homes and nursing homes operated under arrangement pursuant to Section 38.
Earlier this year, the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) was awarded the contract for the next iteration of PAS. This next iteration of the service, commencing from November 2022, will include expansion to private nursing homes.
In advance of the next iteration of PAS, my Department is examining complaints processes across the nursing home sector including key data, information on best practice, the level of standardisation, and the views of key stakeholders including residents and families, with a view to determining the need to develop enablers such as policy, legislative and/or guidance instruments. In parallel with this work, my Department is also examining whether any legislative amendments will be required to support the rollout of the advocacy service to private nursing homes.
760. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on scoliosis waiting lists, by list and location in January 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35730/22]
View answerReducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date.
This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address acute hospital waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan allocates €350 million to the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve waiting times. This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
761. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on scoliosis waiting lists, by list and location in June 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35731/22]
View answerReducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date.
This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address acute hospital waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan allocates €350 million to the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve waiting times. This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
762. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the plans the HSE has for the site on Davitt Road (details supplied); if is intended for the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35760/22]
View answerI am referring the Deputy's question to the Health Service Executive for direct reply, as soon as possible.
763. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalent staff by role in each of the Kildare CAMHS teams respectively, that would be considered full staffing in tabular form. [35770/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
764. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting 15 additional full-time National Counselling Service counsellors in 2023. [35771/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
765. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent consultants in restorative dentistry and consultants in special care dentistry employed by the HSE in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the locations in which these consultants are located. [35772/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
766. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be approved for the recruitment of an additional whole-time equivalent consultant dermatologist with a special interest in skin fragility for St. James's Hospital. [35773/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
767. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing specialist vacancies in cardiology. [35774/22]
View answerThis is a service matter regarding specialist cardiology workforce. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
768. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he intends to include prison nurses in the front-line healthcare bonus scheme given that they are currently excluded from the scheme and prison nurses have been working throughout the pandemic at great risk to their own health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35784/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As the deputy is aware, on January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html. Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision.
Officials in the Department and the HSE are prioritising the work needed to progress this. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/S38 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:
1, Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Redeployed members of the Defence Forces to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
The Government is mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
769. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that the action plan for the disability capacity review has not yet been published; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35785/22]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.
770. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the action plan for the disability capacity review which was due to be published by December 2021 will be published given the need for a strategic approach to addressing the un-met need highlighted in the capacity review. [35786/22]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.
771. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the discretionary fund of the HSE for 2022 has been exhausted; if so, if he will provide a breakdown of the way that this has happened, only six months into the year. [35789/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have referred this to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
772. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements for the urgent residential care needed for a person (details supplied). [35790/22]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the HSE is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services including services to people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
773. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of the six planned long-Covid clinics at hospitals nationwide (details supplied) that are open at present; the expected opening dates for the unopened clinics; and if any of the clinics will be accepting children as patients. [35791/22]
View answer848. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of long-Covid clinics in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36166/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 773 and 848 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
