Written Answers Nos. 753-772
753. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to appoint nine additional neurology nurse specialists at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39123/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
754. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the quotas that have been given to State agencies in relation to the number of persons with disabilities that they must employ; and if these quotas are being met. [39129/22]
View answerUnder the Disability Act 2005, there is an obligation on public bodies to have a minimum of 3% of their workforce be someone with a disability. This is set to increase to 6% by the end of 2024. Each year, public bodies are required to report their progress in this regard.
As of the 2021 report submitted by my Department to the National Disability Authority, 87% of the public bodies under the aegis of my Department have met and exceeded the minimum 3% target. My Department continues to work with the other bodies to increase the numbers of people that they employ with a disability. It is vitally important that people with a disability have supports offered to them to access employment.
755. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1657 of 26 April 2022, the reason there was no additional funding for capital or project overhead costs included for the transfer of 18 persons with disabilities under the age of 65 years who were inappropriately placed in a nursing home to their own home in the community as was detailed in the HSE National Service Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39130/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
756. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the all-in capital cost, including fittings and equipment, that has been allocated to transfer 63 persons with disabilities under the age of 65 years who were inappropriately placed in a nursing home to a more appropriate place in the community as was detailed in the HSE National Service Plan 2022; the definition of a more appropriate place in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39131/22]
View answerAs 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.
757. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average all-in capital cost, including fittings and equipment, to transfer a person with disabilities under the age of 65 years who was inappropriately placed in a nursing home to their own home in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39132/22]
View answerAs 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.
758. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the all-in capital cost, including fittings and equipment to deliver an additional respite centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39133/22]
View answerAs 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
759. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average all-in capital cost, including fittings and equipment, of delivering the nine additional respite centres that were detailed in the HSE National Service Plan 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39134/22]
View answerAs 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
760. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the all-in capital cost, including fittings and equipment, that has been allocated to delivering the two high-support respite centres for children with severe disabilities detailed in the HSE National Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39135/22]
View answerAs 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.
761. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in an organisation (details supplied) who were working in practice during the Covid-19 pandemic who at yet to receive the Covid pandemic bonus payment; when they will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39141/22]
View answer780. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in a medical setting (details supplied) in Swords who were working in practice during the Covid-19 pandemic and are yet to receive their pandemic bonus payment; when they will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39237/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 761 and 780 together.
Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As the organisations the deputy refers to are private organisations, I am unable to advise on the number of staff who were working in practice at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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. 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.
762. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting times for ophthalmology outpatients at University Hospital Waterford; his plans to address the unacceptably long wait time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39169/22]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system. The NTPF have advised my Department that they have approved one outpatient Ophthalmology initiative for funding so far in 2022 at University Hospital Waterford, which will facilitate treatment for 296 patients on the Ophthalmology outpatient waiting list.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
763. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the medical service offered to a person (details supplied) is acceptable; the steps that he plans to take to provide treatment for this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39189/22]
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.
764. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the plans to review the deaths from Covid-19 in nursing homes in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39190/22]
View answerThere has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic and where necessary to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises.
The Taoiseach has indicated that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past 2 years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type emergency arrives. Consideration is being given as to what the best model for this evaluation will be.
I recognise how difficult it has been for the families of nursing home residents who died during this pandemic, which has presented one of the greatest and most wide-ranging public health challenges internationally in recent history. Throughout the pandemic, the overall national response to COVID-19 has had a specific and sustained focus on older persons, particularly those resident in nursing homes.
This included the establishment of a structured nursing home support system, in line with National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendations, to provide enhanced supports to public and private nursing homes. A comprehensive package of direct and indirect supports was established in early 2020 and many of these remain active across the country to support nursing homes on a proactive basis.
In addition, the independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established early in the pandemic in May 2020 to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 in nursing homes and to provide real-time learnings and recommendations to inform the ongoing response. The Expert Panel report outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes, based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19. Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Four Expert Panel Progress Reports have been published to date, the latest published on 21 June 2022, and all Progress Reports are available on my Department’s website.
One of the most important things we can take from the sadness, illness, and death experienced over the last two years is our learning and understanding of the challenges facing the nursing home sector. Through engagement with key stakeholders in the nursing home sector, including residents, their families and advocacy groups, we are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel and a programme of reform is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders to ensure an improved quality of service and experience for residents into the future.
765. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current number of dentists who have disengaged from the dental treatment services scheme on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/22]
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 Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the backlog of appointments at the ophthalmology services for children at the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/22]
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 Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current number of vacant consultant posts in the RCSI Hospital group; the number of vacant posts in each speciality and location; the plans that there are to deal with same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
768. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will detail his Department’s recent engagement with an organisation (details supplied) on the issue of vacant consultant posts across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/22]
View answerOfficials of my Department and the HSE are currently engaged with the the organisation concerned in relation to the introduction of the public-only consultant contract and all related matters. The parties have agreed that the process is confidential. It is intended that the Contract will be made as attractive as possible to support consultant recruitment.
769. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts currently in CHO8, including a breakdown of specialities and locations, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39195/22]
View answerIn 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.
770. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for an occupational therapy appointment in each of the children’s disability network teams in Cork; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 months and for more than 12 months, broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39197/22]
View answer771. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of respite hours provided to families in Cork over each of the past 12 months; the total number that has been provided each month since March 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39198/22]
View answer774. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in Cork that are currently waiting an appointment for early intervention broken down by therapy; the number who have been waiting less than 3, 3-6, 6-12 months and for more than 12 months, broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39201/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 770, 771 and 774 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
772. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of day care centres in Cork that are now open; and the number that were open in 2019. [39199/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
