Alan Dillon
Question:832. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeline for the delivery of an accident and emergency department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37272/22]
View answerHospital Facilities
Questions (832)
Written answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (833)
Carol Nolan
Question:833. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have engaged the services of two organisations (details supplied) at any point from 1 January 2020 to date; the costs associated with or incurred by the provision of services from these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37285/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has not engaged the services of Carr Communicatiosn Ltd in this period.
My Department engaged the services of Kinzen in early 2021 when the welcome news that COVID-19 vaccines would soon be available gave all of us a tangible ray of hope and a pathway out of the pandemic.
Vaccines are a proven, cost-effective intervention to protect public health, second only to the provision of clean water. Worldwide, they save at least 2-3 million lives each year – and many more from crippling and lifelong illnesses.
COVID-19 vaccines were made possible by the unprecedented levels of scientific research and collaboration, investment, and early and proactive engagement between vaccine developers and regulators helped speed up development and ensured that quality, safety and effectiveness were not compromised.
The ongoing COVID-19 Vaccination communications and engagement strategy undertaken by my Department and the HSE had two main objectives. The first was preparing for the vaccine, emphasising the safety and regulatory processes that continue to take place in Ireland, Europe and across the world, engaging with people who have genuine hesitancies around the vaccine and communicating the Government Plan from acquisition to prioritisation to distribution. The second objective focussed on the implementation of the vaccine programme – encouraging the public to get the vaccine, informing them who will administer it and where, identifying people of trust to act as ambassadors for the vaccine and addressing emerging mis and disinformation themes relating to the COVID-19 vaccine.
This work was supplemented by the work of Kinzen, a company engaged by my Department to monitor the online dissemination of mis and disinformation relating to COVID-19 and COVID-Vaccines.
Kinzen produced a daily report of mis and disinformation topics and trends provided to my Department and the HSE, supported by a weekly meeting involving my officials and officials from the HSE to discuss current themes.
This enabled my Department to work with public health doctors to address the mis and disinformation and direct the public to official sources of information, such as the Department’s own website, the COVID-19 Data Hub and the HSE’s website. The HSE also undertakes considerable social media advertising campaigns in order to promote public health guidelines, advice and vaccine uptake across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The partnership with Kinzen allowed my Department and the HSE to target communications messages in a given week to support vaccine uptake and address emerging genuine concerns and questions the public may have had.
My Department spent €87,750.00 Ex Vat on this service.
Medicinal Products
Questions (834)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:834. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have received paxlovid antiviral treatment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37298/22]
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 (835)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:835. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason that there are differences in the official guidelines for the use and provision of anti-viral treatments compared to the regulatory approval and licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37299/22]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (836, 837)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:836. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the actions that are being taken by his Department and the HSE to reverse the general lack of awareness among healthcare professionals particularly general practitioners and high-risk patients being 40-50% of the population regarding Covid-19 anti-viral treatment in Ireland; the reason that the treatments are not being promoted more effectively given the increase in Covid hospitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37300/22]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:837. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the treatment pathway for anti-viral medication in Ireland is as effective as it could be; the lessons that are being taken from other jurisdictions in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37301/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 836 and 837 together.
In January 2022, Government approved expenditure to procure a range of COVID-19 therapeutic treatments, and significant volumes have subsequently been secured. These treatments have been readily available and in use across the Irish healthcare system since February 2022. However, it is accepted that the uptake and use of these therapeutic treatments has to date been low in Ireland, and particularly in view of the risk posed by BA.4 / BA.5 and any potential winter surge, it is my firm view that efforts should now be focussed on promoting their use more widely, in order to protect those most at risk of progressing to severe disease. As such, my Department has requested that the HSE review the treatment pathways and patient selection criteria, to ensure consistent accessibility for those vulnerable individuals for whom treatment is appropriate.
I have also requested that action is taken to enhance communication and education programmes to promote the benefits of utilising COVID-19 therapeutics, ensuring clinicians have the required knowledge, access and comfort to safely prescribe treatment where appropriate. Every effort should be taken to proactively identify vulnerable patient candidates and to ensure all individuals who may be eligible for treatment are fully informed of their potential candidacy should they contract COVID-19.
These therapeutics are another important tool available to combat this virus, and it important we utilise them appropriately to protect hospital capacity and preserve health service delivery, both now, in mitigating against the current deterioration in epidemiological situation associated with the BA.4/ BA.5 subvariants, and in the future, recognising the potential for the emergence of new variants.
Question No. 837 answered with Question No. 836.
Medicinal Products
Questions (838)
Mattie McGrath
Question:838. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide the coaguchek meters and self-test strips free of charge to patients who require them to allow for self-testing of their international normalised ratio; the number of patients nationwide attending regular acute or general practitioner appointments for regular blood testing; the estimated cost to the State of providing regular monitoring of patients using warfarin; the estimated savings to be made from allowing patients self-test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37306/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, 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.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (839)
Duncan Smith
Question:839. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children who spent more than four consecutive days in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals in each of years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37322/22]
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.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (840)
Duncan Smith
Question:840. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children who spent more than 14 consecutive days in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals for each of years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37323/22]
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.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (841)
Duncan Smith
Question:841. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children who spent more than 28 consecutive days in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals for each of years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37324/22]
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.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (842)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:842. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will consider waiving Care-Doc consolation fees for the foreseeable future particularly for County Carlow given the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37339/22]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are private contractors, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of medical services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. GPs contracted under the GMS scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours; most meet this obligation through participation with GP out of hours co-operatives.
Medical card and GP visit card holders are not charged for services provided under the GMS contract, including out-of-hour GP consultations. Patients who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis, and the fees charged by GPs for services to private patients are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients. Similarly, cooperatives that provide out of hour GP services are private companies and the fees charged to their private patients are a matter of private contract between the company and their patients. I have no role in relation to the fees charged by individual GPs or GP out of hours service providers for private consultations.
The Government has introduced many policy measures to help mitigate the cost of living and the cost of living will be the focus of the upcoming Budget, however the introduction of a system to remove GP out-of-hour consultation fees for private patients is not currently under consideration.
Disability Services
Questions (843)
Bríd Smith
Question:843. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will guarantee the immediate publication of the Action Plan for the Disability Capacity Review and its inclusion in the budgetary plan for 2023 to ensure that another year does not pass with families and persons left without any indication of when or the way that the urgent needs that they are experiencing will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37338/22]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Disability Services
Questions (844)
Bríd Smith
Question:844. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure an accessible budgetary announcement for disability in order that persons with disabilities and their supporters can understand the number of existing and new residential supports, day places and respite supports that will be provided for in Budget 2023; the way that this relates to the needs outlined in the capacity review;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37337/22]
View answerWritten answers
The arrangements for announcements and communications pertaining to Budget 2023 are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance. It is of course hugely important to ensure that Government communications are made as accessible as possible for people with disabilities. I can confirm the Disability Action Plan 2022-2025 when published, will be available in a range of accessible formats, in the same way as the Disability Capacity Review to 2032.
Question No. 845 resubmitted.
Hospital Staff
Questions (846)
Michael Creed
Question:846. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene with regard to pension entitlements at a hospital for nursing grades (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37347/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery has recommended (recommendation 43) that the Hospital Banding System currently in place to be discontinued.
A revised approach for determining Director of Nursing/Midwifery and Assistant Director of Nursing/Midwifery grading across the system to be implemented.
This should take into account the revised roles, scope, and responsibilities in the context of Sláintecare and the reforms required to provide integrated and universal healthcare. The number of grades to be rationalised to eight salary scales, the details to be determined between the relevant parties in the context of the next public service pay agreement.
This recommendation is currently being reviewed by my Department and the HSE.
Pension entitlements are calculated on the employees substantive sanctioned grade only.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (847)
Paul Donnelly
Question:847. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2023 of increasing the number of general practitioner training places to 310 [37362/22]
View answerWritten answers
The annual year one cost of a doctor on the GP Training Scheme is approximately €100,000. With 258 places planned for the July 2022-23 training year, an increase to 310 places would create an additional 52 places.
Based on these figures, the cost of increasing the trainee intake to 310 places for 2022-23 would be approximately €5.2 million.
Dental Services
Questions (848)
Paul Donnelly
Question:848. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent dentists and dental nurses working in Corduff dental clinic, Dublin 15 in 2020, 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [37363/22]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (849)
Paul Donnelly
Question:849. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the minimum staffing requirements for a liaison psychiatrist as outlined in a Vision for Change; and the current level of staffing for same. [37364/22]
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.
Care of the Elderly
Questions (850)
Paul Donnelly
Question:850. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is considering establishing drop-in care centres with services for patients with dementia. [37365/22]
View answerWritten answers
There are an estimated 64,142 people in Ireland living with dementia. This number is expected to rise to 150,131 within twenty years. The health and social care system will need to respond with more flexible and person-centred services and supports that address the needs of this growing number. The National Dementia Strategy, published in 2014, sets out a framework for the development of dementia supports and services in Ireland. The aim of the Strategy is to improve dementia care so that people with dementia can live well for as long as possible, can ultimately die with comfort and dignity, and can have services and supports delivered in the best possible way.
As part of the National Service Plan 2021 dementia received funding to expand the Dementia Adviser Service bringing the total number of Dementia Advisers from 8 to 29; with access to this service across every county. This is a vital dementia post-diagnostic support providing sign-posting, advice and emotional support to people living with dementia and to their families/carers. In addition, funding was secured in 2021 for the provision of Day Care at Home Services to provide a day care at home experience for people when they cannot attend their local day centre. This service was developed in response to COVID-19 and will continue in 2022 as day centres begin to reopen on a phased basis in-line with public health measures.
The focus of new service developments in relation to dementia is to enhance assessment ensuring access to a timely diagnosis and in the development of post-diagnostic support and appropriate care. This has included an additional €7.3 million in Budget 2022; in addition to €5 million recurring funding allocated for dementia in 2021. This funding will allow for further developments, including:
- Memory Assessment and Support Services with access to comprehensive assessment, postdiagnostic support and brain health interventions;
- Increase in the number of Regional Specialist Memory Clinics;
- Enhancement of Memory Technology Resource Rooms to provide assistive technology advice and assistance as well as cognitive therapies and other psycho-social supports to people living in the community;
- Implementation of the dementia registry to improve dementia data and to inform the development of dementia services and clinical practice;
- Development of a Brain Health programme;
- Continued dementia audit within acute hospitals;
- Funding for the National Intellectual Disability Memory Service providing access to specialist teams for this high risk group.
In addition, the proportion of new home support hours that will be ring-fenced for people with dementia, increased from 5% in 2021 to 11% in 2022.
Hospital Staff
Questions (851)
David Cullinane
Question:851. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital consultant posts which are filled, unfilled and filled on a temporary basis and by speciality and by hospital and hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37383/22]
View answerWritten 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 Procedures
Questions (852)
David Cullinane
Question:852. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments and procedures that were carried out from 2016 to date broken down by appointment and procedure speciality and by hospital and hospital group in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37384/22]
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.