Written Answers Nos. 458-478
458. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of a case (details supplied) and when the person concerned can expect an appointment at the ENT Department, Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [38144/22]
View answerUnder 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.
459. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if any capacity and demand analysis in relation to bed numbers has been carried out on the supply of emergency and critical care at University Hospital Limerick as recommended by the Health Information and Quality Authority in 2009; if so, the number of studies and analyses that have been conducted; and the findings of those studies. [38148/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
460. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason that University Hospital Limerick never received extra beds despite a higher number being deemed the necessary number of beds to provide safe emergency and critical care, following the closure of Nenagh Hospital. [38149/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
461. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of additional beds introduced in University Hospital Limerick by bed type by year in each of the past 15 years, in tabular form. [38150/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
462. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if funding will be made available for local authorities including Donegal County Council for improved disability facilities similar to the fully accessible changing places toilets which were introduced in the United Kingdom (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38162/22]
View answerThe matters raised in this question are more appropriate to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Authority concerned. The Department of Health has no remit in the financing of Local Authorities.
463. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will examine the case of a child (details supplied) and investigate whether the critical early intervention that they require will be provided on a more timely basis with attendant better outcomes; if any additional assistance will be given to the family to affray costs of occupational therapy and speech and language services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38175/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
464. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38185/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
465. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) who needs urgent surgery will be on a waiting list for the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38199/22]
View answerUnder 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.
466. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time posts allocated to post-acute and long-Covid clinics, by clinic and speciality in tabular form; the number of vacant posts; the number who have taken up posts; and the number that are currently going through the HSE recruitment process. [38200/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
467. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who are employed in the contact management programme since it was established, by year, role and location, in tabular form; and the number of vacancies currently in the programme by role. [38201/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
468. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will remedy the lack of early intervention services available to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38234/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
469. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the final cost to the State of the cyberattack on the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38235/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
470. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the amount of public health nurses in Clondalkin in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38239/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
471. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the amount of public health nurses in Lucan in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38240/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
472. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of community disability network teams by region and CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38250/22]
View answer473. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an up-to-date staff list including grades and job titles; the number of roles that are filled; the number of roles that are vacant; the number of roles that are unfilled due to sick or maternity leave on each children’s disability network teams as of 30 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38251/22]
View answer474. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children’s disability network teams that are being run from primary care centres; the local of those centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38252/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 to 474, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issue's, they have referred to the HSE for direct reply.
475. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioner registrars who were working in practice during the Covid pandemic but seconded to the community Covid hubs are yet to receive their pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive that payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38253/22]
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. 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. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
In relation to the deputy's first question concerning the number of general practitioner registrars who were seconded to Community Covid hubs during the COVID-19 pandemic, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
476. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the administration staff such as general practitioner receptionists and secretaries are eligible for the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38254/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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: https://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. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments.
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. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
477. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the payment of the pandemic special recognition payment to vaccinators, swabbers and other healthcare staff employed by the HSE through an agency (details supplied); when these workers will receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38255/22]
View answer558. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of Dublin Fire Brigade workers who worked on the Covid-19 pandemic response as swabbers and vaccinators that have received the pandemic bonus payment; if they are due to receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38598/22]
View answer559. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will detail all organisations, public, voluntary and private that are due to have workers recognised with the pandemic bonus payment but have not yet received the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38599/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477, 558 and 559 together.
Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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. As of Friday, 8 July, 68,943 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes Section 38 agencies which are estimated to have paid 20,000 staff to date thereby bringing the total number of employees paid to 88,943. All payments across the HSE and Section 38 organisations are being progressed by local management and each site will assess the eligibility of their staff before processing payment. As eligibility is still being assessed across sites locally, I cannot provide you with an estimated number of public service workers who are eligible to receive the payment.
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. 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. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers highlighted above has not yet begun, and eligibility has not yet been assessed, I cannot provide an estimated number of workers who will receive the payment. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will outline in detail the plans that his Department has to implement guidelines and structures to support general practitioners in assisting patients with long-Covid to ensure that they receive appropriate care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38259/22]
View answer544. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the inclusion of dietician posts in the interim model of care for long-Covid; the research that this was based on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38461/22]
View answer545. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reasons that psychologist posts were not included in the interim model of care for long-Covid; if the Model of Care has been revised to include psychologists; the number of these posts that will be provided by clinic; the number that have been hired to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38462/22]
View answer546. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there was engagement with long-Covid patients when the interim Model of Care for long-Covid was drafted; if there has been continued engagement with patient groups in respect of the model of care ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38463/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 478, 544, 545 and 546 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
