Written Answers Nos. 1645-1660
1645. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason that it took an ambulance 210 minutes to respond to an incident (details supplied) in Cork city; his plans to limit any other similar delay occurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39653/22]
View answerAs the specific matter raised by the Deputy in the details supplied with his question relates to a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.
1646. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of the 24 residents at a centre (details supplied) from January 2021 who have since been transferred to nursing-homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39655/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1647. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent cardiologists and associated staff, by grade, needed to extend primary percutaneous coronary intervention services at University Hospital Waterford to 24/7 cover when the second catheterisation laboratory is open and operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39661/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1648. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the timeframe for applications to be assessed for the blind welfare allowance in each CHO; the protocols in place outlining the timeframes for reviewing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39665/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service issues, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
1649. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he expects negotiations with a manufacturer (details supplied) to be completed and approval granted for patients with cystic fibrosis to access kaftrio. [39676/22]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1650. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will specify the staffing resources including staff posts, staff time, and so on, and hospital and community resources which will be assigned to each of the cancer services priority areas for action outlined on pages 73 and 74 of the HSE Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39679/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1651. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will specify the plan in place, including but not limited to service level agreements and duration of agreement, fee agreements, costs, and so on to purchase additional capacity in the private sector as mentioned in the HSE Service Plan 2022 under cancer services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39680/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1652. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the specific details of the way that capacity in the public system will be enhanced to meet projected demands for cancer care, including but not limited to, staffing, infrastructure and access to diagnostics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39681/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1653. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the supports and resources that are specifically dedicated to the National Plan for Radiation Oncology Phase 2 expansions and radiotherapy services enhancement, as mentioned in the HSE Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39682/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1654. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeline for the delivery of the national cancer genetics and molecular diagnostics services; the specific metrics and targets against which the progress of the development of these services will be monitored; the dedicated resources towards realising these services including budget, infrastructure development and staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39683/22]
View answerThe HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has advised me that the Strategic Programmes Office within the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer in the HSE has established a Steering Group for the development of a National Genetics and Genomic Strategy for Ireland. The purpose of this group is to develop a single national strategy and implementation framework for genetics and genomics, encompassing care provided across acute, primary and community settings and spanning all ages. Four working groups are supporting the delivery of the strategy: (1) Data and Infrastructure, (2) Workforce and Collaboration, (3) Clinical Practice and Innovation and (4) Policy, Communications and Engagement. Each working group has responsibility for specific components of the strategy and implementation framework.
The NCCP has also advised that national cancer genetics and molecular diagnostic services will be addressed as part of the National Genetics and Genomic Strategy. At this time, the National Genetics and Genomics Strategy is in the initial stages of development. Therefore, at the current time, specific details on metrics, targets, monitoring and the required resources have yet to be determined. The aim is to publish the finalised strategy document before the end of 2022, following which a detailed implementation plan for the phased implementation of the strategy will be developed.
1655. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way that the Government will support hospitals in meeting drugs costs and in implementing quality initiatives in delivery, as per the HSE Service Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39684/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1656. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if public health doctors will be eligible for the pandemic bonus payment for healthcare workers considering their considerable efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39688/22]
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 front-line 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 roll-out 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/Section 38 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 front-line 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.
1657. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if a report (details supplied) will be published before the end of July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39690/22]
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 Action Plan is now being finalised and progressed through the appropriate channels in the Department of Health. The detailed Action Plan sets out the first phase of work over the 2022-2025 period to build the necessary capacity and to work towards a suite of disability supports and services that enable people with disabilities live a full life of their choice in the community, provide the right supports, at the right time, when they are needed and fulfil the promise of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
1658. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will include the HSE homes that are currently inhabited by a number of tenants who are employed by the HSE in St. Ita’s Hospital many for over 30-years in the retrofit scheme given that these houses are owned by the State and need to be insulated and rewired and brought up-to standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39692/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
1659. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of Section 39 workers in the State. [39700/22]
View answerUnder Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations to provide services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide. However, Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and as such I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with data in respect of their staffing levels.
1660. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason that nursing registration applications to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland are taking over one year; the number of applications waiting for registration; the number of staff in the office the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland dealing with these applications; the current backlog; the efforts that are being made to expedite these applications given the shortage of nursing staff across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39733/22]
View answerUnder the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland ,including the registration of nurse and midwives.
During the latter part of 2021, the NMBI had been experiencing an increased volume of overseas registration applications as well as delays in processing applications overall. Following consultation, my Department sanctioned additional resources to deal with the backlog. These have been in place for some time now and producing results.
In the period 1 January to 30 June 2022, NMBI issued 2,669 Decision Letters (DLs) to overseas applicants. This is higher than the number issued during the full year of 2021 (2,430) and NMBI expects to have issued about 5,500 by year-end, which will be more than double the 2021 total.
A Decision Letter is a key milestone for applicants and allows them to take the final steps toward registration. Approximately 80% of nurses and midwives pass their required compensation measures (either an adaptation period or an aptitude test) and convert to a registrant within six months of their decision letter being issued. Following registration, they can join the nursing and midwifery workforce.
Regarding the staffing within the NMBI and current number of applicants awaiting registration, I have asked the NMBI to respond directly to the Deputy.
