Denis Naughten
Question:285. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for surgery; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36448/22]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (285)
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (286)
Joan Collins
Question:286. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1742 of 14 June 2022, if an organisation (details supplied) closed its offices and transferred its equipment to St James’s Hospital in January 2022; if transcranial magnetic stimulation is accessible to private patients who have mental health, epilepsy and addiction issues; and if there are other public hospitals that are offering this treatment privately. [36462/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (287)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:287. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the reason that constella 290mg is not covered by the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36466/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority. The formal reimbursement list is the same for the General Medical Services Scheme and the Drug Payment Scheme.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the 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. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. The Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
In November 2012, following scientific assessment by the European Medicines Agency, Linaclotide (Constella 290 micrograms hard capsules) for the symptomatic treatment of moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults, received marketing authorisation.
The HSE received a pricing and reimbursement application for Linaclotide in May 2013. Following a Rapid Review by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, the HSE considered Linaclotide for reimbursement under the Community Drug Schemes. However, the applicant company subsequently disengaged from the pricing and reimbursement process. The HSE have not received a further pricing and reimbursement application for Linaclotide from any pharmaceutical company.
Therefore, Linaclotide (Constella®) is not currently reimbursable under the General Medical Services Scheme or the Community Drug Schemes, including the Drug Payment Scheme.
Dental Services
Questions (288)
Sorca Clarke
Question:288. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the desirable staffing ratios in public dental practices within CHO8 between dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and technicians. [36468/22]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE provides dental services for children aged up to and including 15 years, and adults and children with special care needs. The nature of dental treatment requires two dental team members, either a dentist and dental nurse or a dental hygienist and dental nurse for each procedure. Clinical teams work to ensure that treatment is provided in a safe and effective way, with the necessary safeguards in place for children and vulnerable adults.
Factors including the burden of dental disease in the population, the distribution of disease across the population and the type of service to be delivered would affect any calculation of a desirable staffing ratio. The ratio of clinicians (dentists, dental hygienists) to dental nurses and administrative support staff in a specific clinic will vary according to the number of surgeries, decontamination facilities and the type of service being provided in a particular location. The HSE does not directly employ Technicians.
Hospital Staff
Questions (289)
Sorca Clarke
Question:289. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-term equivalent epilepsy nurses working in each hospital in the years of 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [36469/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (290)
Alan Farrell
Question:290. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the stock of Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (291)
Alan Farrell
Question:291. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland that are nearing their expiration date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36485/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (292)
Alan Farrell
Question:292. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the current demand for Covid-19 vaccines in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36486/22]
View answerWritten 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 (293, 294, 295, 296)
Michael Lowry
Question:293. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1384 of 14 June 2022, if the full analysis of service demand need for level 2 palliative care beds (details supplied) has been completed; if so, if it will be published and made available to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36500/22]
View answerMichael Lowry
Question:294. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1384, 1385, 1386 and 1387 of 14 June 2022, if level 2 bed provision within community hospitals and services for older people is not only to support home care teams and would also be required to support the regional acute level 3 palliative care unit that is, in the case of St Antony’s in Clonmel palliative care beds would support the level 3 south east palliative care centre recently opened in Waterford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36501/22]
View answerMichael Lowry
Question:295. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1384 of 14 June 2022, if the current level 2 palliative care bed provision (details supplied) and therefore less than the number prior to the closure of St. Brigid’s Community Hospital , Carrick on Suir is deemed as sufficient currently and for the future requirements given the upsurge of cancer disease following the pandemic as well as the ageing population. [36502/22]
View answerMichael Lowry
Question:296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason that level 2 palliative care support bedrooms cannot be internally modified, despite public private partnership approval, to include an adjacent family room as has been outlined previously that the circumstances and needs of palliative care patients and their families differ significantly to elderly patients and thus sharing a common family room is not optimal. [36503/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 296, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 294 answered with Question No. 293.
Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 293.
Question No. 296 answered with Question No. 293.
Departmental Funding
Questions (297, 298, 299)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:297. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated by his Department to individual bodies, both state and voluntary, to fund the specific promotion of physical health, fitness and well-being for people with disabilities for the years 2018 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36512/22]
View answerPaul McAuliffe
Question:298. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated by his Department to bodies, both state and voluntary, to fund the specific promotion of physical health, fitness and well-being for people with mental health issues for the years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36513/22]
View answerPaul McAuliffe
Question:299. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated by his Department to bodies, both state and voluntary, to fund the specific promotion of physical health, fitness and well-being specifically for younger persons for each of the years 2018 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36514/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together.
The Health and Well-being Programme in my Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Healthy Ireland, our National Framework for Improved Health and Well-being 2013-2025. Healthy Ireland is based on evidence and experience from around the world, which clearly shows that creating positive changes in health and well-being benefits from the involvement of the whole of Government and all of society, working together.
Supporting the wider “health in all policies” approach of Healthy Ireland, investment across multiple sectors, through Government Departments, their agencies and through wider society, contributes to broad health and well-being improvements and supports, in line with the Healthy Ireland Framework and Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan.
A central aim of Healthy Ireland is to "create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland”.
The funding for Health and Well-being in my Department currently and since 2018, is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount (€mil) |
|
2018 |
5.6 |
|
2019 |
7.5 |
|
2020 |
7.33 |
|
2021 |
12.45 |
|
2022 |
15.39 |
* To note, the amounts quoted above do not include the HSE spend on health and well-being services and supports within the community and through acute settings. It is not possible to disaggregate exact spend on physical activity from that supporting other areas of prevention; there is considerable overlap.
The €15.39 million budget for 2022 covers actions supporting local communities, through both the Healthy Ireland Fund and the new Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. The Healthy Ireland Fund provides supports at local level, through Local Community Development Committees LCDCs) and Children and Young People's Service Committees (CYPSCs) at local authority level. The Local Strand of the Healthy Ireland Fund supports projects and programmes that support health and well-being, including physical activity, diet and nutrition and positive mental health, with additional focus on families and young people, and supporting people and communities living with disadvantage.
The Healthy Ireland Fund also supports programmes at national level, including Age Friendly Ireland, Sport Ireland, co-funding for the Department of Education's Active School Flag programme and the Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme.
The Sport Ireland allocation includes Healthy Ireland support for programmes for people living with a disability, including the Special Olympics Young Athletes programme. Healthy Ireland is also supporting the development of a Physical Activity Pathways in Healthcare Model in 2022, in collaboration with the HSE and Sport Ireland. This support will fund development of a programme to increase access to physical activity for people who are older, frailer, living with a disability or disadvantage, and who otherwise experience more barriers to accessing physical activity, and will include elements of physical activity prescription.
Healthy Ireland also participates in the DTCAGSM Sports Leadership Group, led by the Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht, Jack Chambers, T.D., which guides the implementation of the National Sports Policy.
The Healthy Ireland Fund is also used to empower citizens to adopt healthier behaviours through various citizen engagement campaigns. These Healthy Ireland campaigns have been running since 2018, initially with a focus on three themes; Eat Well, Think Well and Be Well, representing healthy eating, positive mental health and being active. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the In This Together and Be Well campaigns were re-purposed to provide supports for resilience, health and well-being while necessary Covid-19 restrictions were in place. The promotion of physical activity across society, in partnership with DTCAGSM and Sport Ireland, continues to be a core element of this work.
Healthy Ireland sponsored Operation Transformation in 2021 and in 2022, which featured a wide range of relevant themes, including healthy eating, physical activity and sport participation, quitting smoking, losing weight, mental health and men's and women's health. The programme reached approximately 450,000 viewers in 2021.
Several settings-based initiatives are also supported, including Healthy Campuses, Workplaces and Clubs. Finally, the Healthy Ireland Fund is also utilised to support development of various guidelines and policies, including Healthy Eating Guidelines and Mental Health Promotion.
There is overwhelming evidence that investment in prevention is cost-effective in both the short and longer term. In addition to pre-existing evidence that tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and inactivity are key risk factors for chronic disease, there is increasing evidence that healthy behaviours provide protection against infectious disease also.
Public health advice from the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), following a wide review of published studies, concluded that “ …in general those who are overweight or obese, who smoke, who have inadequate levels of Vitamin D, are physically inactive and consume excessive amounts of alcohol are more likely to contract COVID-19 or have poorer outcomes.”
Needless to say, it is unlikely that Covid-19 is the only infectious disease where adherence to public health guidelines regarding activity levels, weight and tobacco and alcohol misuse is protective. This is borne out by the scientific literature; for example:
- Regular physical activity can reduce the risk from upper respiratory tract infections;
- High levels of regular physical activity has been shown to result in 31% decreased risk of contracting infectious disease in the community;
- Active individuals show a 37% decrease in risk of infectious disease mortality as compared with inactive individuals;
- Regular physical activity has been shown to increase antibody levels post-vaccination, with these effects more marked in older adults.
It is clear, therefore, that national policies, such as the National Physical Activity Plan and the National Sports Policy, that seek to tackle one or more of these risk factors and to improve public health, may be even more vital in terms of protecting public health and well-being than previously realised.
In summary, investing in public health generates cost-effective health outcomes and can contribute to wider sustainability, with economic, social and environmental benefits. Healthy Ireland is a core framework for the implementation of the Sláintecare Healthy Living Pillar and provides the central platform to address the social determinants of health that impact how people live their lives.
Question No. 298 answered with Question No. 297.
Question No. 299 answered with Question No. 297.