Written Answers Nos. 1711-1726
1711. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress that has been made on the implementation of the recommendations by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40068/22]
View answerThe Deputy is advised that I fully acknowledge the important work carried out by the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response and the recommendations published in the Committee’s final report on 8th October 2020.
Since March 2020, the Government has focussed its response to COVID-19 around controlling the spread of the virus, breaking the chains of transmission and protecting those who are most vulnerable from infection. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved significantly over time and there has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic as the national and international understanding of the virus evolves. This has also ensured that the public health-led approach evolves, as necessary and as evidence and learnings materialise.
Many of the recommendations published in the Committee’s final report were broad and cross-sectoral and would therefore fall under the remit of other Departments. With respect to the recommendations that fall under the remit of the Department of Health, the Deputy is advised that my Department continues to work to ensure the safety of those in nursing homes, continues to work on transitioning the COVID-19 testing programme towards a longer-term, sustainable model, and continues to manage the COVID-19 response with due consideration for the relevant recommendations of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Response.
1712. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progress that has been made on the implementation of the recommendations by the Covid-19 nursing home expert panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40069/22]
View answerThe Nursing Home Expert Panel’s recommendations have provided a guiding framework not only for the pandemic response in nursing homes over the last two years but also more broadly for a wide-ranging programme of improvement and reform for older persons’ care.
The recommendations in the Expert Panel report were two-fold in nature: firstly, immediate actions required for the ongoing protection and support for nursing home residents during the pandemic and, secondly, medium- and longer-term recommendations in relation to broader system reforms to enhance and better integrate nursing home care and older persons care more broadly.
The Government is committed to the implementation of the Expert Panel recommendations. The fourth progress report on the implementation of the recommendations, published in June 2022, highlights the important progress that has already taken place across a number of areas and sets out clearly the structures and processes that have been established to ensure continued implementation. All four Progress Reports are available on my Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/#progress-reports).
Many of the short and medium term recommendations, which were aimed at safeguarding people living in nursing homes against the COVID-19 virus, have already been implemented and mainstreamed into normal operations.
Progress in relation to the medium to longer term strategic reforms recommended by the Expert Panel include:
- The provision of over €22m in Budget 2022 for the main streaming of a range of Expert Panel recommendations, including the establishment of permanent Community Support Teams, piloting of clinical governance oversight committees and the development of a Safe Staffing Framework for the sector;
- The development of legislative proposals to enhance governance and oversight of nursing homes;
- The roll-out of a National Nursing Home Experience Survey this year, and the development of a National End of Life Survey for 2023;
- The extension of Patient Advocacy Service to all nursing homes before the end of 2022;
- The development of a multi-annual End of Life Care Education, Training and Support Programme for nursing homes; and
- A cross-Department Strategic Workforce Advisory Group is examining workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and will report in September 2022.
An update across all 86 recommendations is provided in the fourth progress report, published in June 2022.
1713. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the need for an independent evaluation of the operation of the system of regulatory oversight of nursing homes; his plans for an independent evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40070/22]
View answerAn independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established in May 2020 to review the experience of the pandemic in nursing homes nationally and internationally at that time and to provide real-time learnings and recommendations. The Expert Panel’s report, published in August 2020, outlines the key protective measures required for the response to COVID-19 in the shorter-term. The report also makes a series of recommendations in relation to broader reform of older persons’ care. Work is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel. The fourth progress report was published in June 2022 and is available along with the three previous progress reports on my Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/c7f5b-covid-19-nursing-homes-expert-panel-report-implementation-oversight-team/).
One area of reform recommended by the Expert Panel relates to a review of the nursing home regulatory regime. In March 2022, Government approval was granted to draft a General Scheme for a Bill to provide interim enhancements to the regulatory framework in relation to compliance mechanisms and data collection. A wider review of the nursing home regulatory model will commence in the second half of 2022 which will be informed by an international evidence review and stakeholder consultation.
My Department is also examining complaints processes across the nursing home sector, and in tandem with this work, the Patient Advocacy Service (PAS), which currently supports residents in HSE-operated nursing homes to make complaints, will begin its roll-out to private nursing homes at the end of 2022.
1714. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a pre-Budget submission by an organisation (details supplied) that seeks an investment of €1.75 million to provide the best end-of-life and bereavement care for all in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40071/22]
View answerMy Department and I received a pre-budget submission from the Irish Hospice Foundation which will be considered ahead of budget 2023.
I am committed to the continued development and expansion of palliative care services across the country in line with the programme for government. €2.4million additional funding was allocated through Budget 2022 to implement a number of initiatives across specialist palliative care including:
- improving the availability of out of hours services through the recruitment of 10 clinical nurse specialists;
- progressing the development of three new hospices in the Midlands, Drogheda and Cavan through the recruitment of a project manager;
- Continuing to improve access to children's palliative care in the community through the recruitment of 3.5 clinical nurse co-ordinators and 2 consultant paediatricians with a special interest in palliative medicine;
- The provision of core funding for the night nursing service which will deliver approximately 1,750 nights of care and support about 500 patients and their families to die at home if that is their wish; and
- The provision of revenue funding for specialist palliative care services in CHO8 through the recruitment of a senior social worker and a clinical nurse specialist.
On top of the €2.4million additional funding allocated through the 2022 National Service Plan, €650,000 from the winter planning fund was provided to support the vital night nursing service and support people to die at home if that is their wish.
In addition, in December 2021 I announced €10million in once off funding for palliative care to progress our national priorities, improve equity of access to services and to support the work of voluntary providers in end of life and bereavement care. I was delighted that this included €175,000 in funding for the Irish Hospice Foundation.
More broadly the provision of additional funding for end of life and bereavement services is a matter for consideration in the forthcoming estimates process.
1715. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide adult autism assessments within the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40084/22]
View answer1716. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development of the national management information system for children's disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40085/22]
View answer1744. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for returning therapists to special schools and the validation of therapists into new schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40219/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1715, 1716 and 1744 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1717. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case for the reimbursement of international normalised ratio test strips and machines for warfarin patients; if there is a review of the reimbursement list is under way or scheduled to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40088/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement, 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.
1718. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence from Monaghan County Council regarding general practitioner shortages in south County Monaghan; if he will investigate these concerns with a view to finding a solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40092/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,551 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of June 2022, there are 33 GMS vacancies across the country, just over 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels; there is one vacant panel in Monaghan which is being covered by a locum GP.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 places filled in July this year.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
1719. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the amount of Government funding that was provided under schemes such as the general medical, medical card, PRSI, treatment benefit and other relevant schemes to audiologists, clinicians and hearing aid providers in counties Tipperary and Waterford for the provision of audiological services, including diagnostic, screening and treatment services, and the fitting, provision and maintenance of hearing aids and appliances, cochlear implants, etc., for each of the calendar years 2017 to 2021, inclusive; the amount of funding that was allocated to individual practitioners and providers, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40094/22]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme, which provides for dental, optical and aural services to those who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions, falls under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. As the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides audiology services to children and medical card holders, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in respect of the provision of audiology services, as soon as possible.
1720. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review correspondence from Monaghan County Council (details supplied) concerning the minor injuries unit at Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40095/22]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the letter dated 21st June 2022 was received and that a response has issued to Monaghan County Council in relation to the Minor Injuries Unit at Monaghan General Hospital.
1721. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a day centre (details supplied) for young adults with disabilities that has had no manager for some time; the steps that have been taken to install a manager for the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40097/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1722. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is likely to get transferred to University Hospital Galway from Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40106/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1723. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who were referred to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS; the number of referrals that were accepted; the reason that referrals were not accepted, per community healthcare organisation or CHO area, in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40111/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1724. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the review and audit of CAMHS; when the review commenced; when the review will be published; the scope of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40112/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1725. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a pre-Budget 2023 submission by an organisation (details supplied) that calls for an overhaul of the dental medical card scheme in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40116/22]
View answerI received a pre-budget submission from the Irish Dental Association which my Department and I are considering ahead of Budget 2023.
Substantive reform of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme will be addressed in the context of implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which sets out a body of substantial services reform. Work is underway on a governance framework for root and branch service reform. The Chief Dental Officer is engaging with stakeholders and I understand that she will meet shortly with the Irish Dental Association.
1726. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address the matter raised in correspondence regarding a campaign by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40118/22]
View answerCommunity First Responders (CFRs) are volunteers from within local communities who are co-ordinated by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) as part of an integrated emergency response. CFRs are trained in CPR and defibrillation. The use of these volunteers has been highlighted by HIQA as a vital component of the emergency response resource, particularly in rural areas where response times can present a challenge.
I can also advise the Deputy that the HSE is currently finalising a five year strategic document. This will incorporate the findings from an independently conducted national capacity review in setting out the overall NAS workforce planning and resourcing requirements over a five year period.
In respect of the Deputy's specific inquiry, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly as soon as possible.
