Written Answers Nos. 1855-1870
1855. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant paediatric ophthalmologist working in the public health services; his plans to expand this number; the international recommended best practice ratios for paediatric ophthalmologist surgeons to population and current ratios. [40754/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1856. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons treated under the HSE national clinical programme for eating disorders in 2021 and to date in 2022; and the number of persons currently on a waiting list to access the programme. [40755/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1857. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting ten additional whole-time equivalent advanced nurse practitioners in dermatology. [40756/22]
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.
1858. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses that underwent necessary training to upskill in order to work in an ICU setting since January 2021. [40757/22]
View answerAt the outset of the pandemic, substantial work was carried out to develop a critical care capacity plan, a key part of which was the provision of training to nurses to allow them to provide support to critical care as required. In order to ensure the Deputy receives a comprehensive answer, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
1859. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres in each hospital as part of Ireland East Hospital Group as of 1 January 2021 and 15 July 2022; and if all theatres are currently in use on the dates. [40758/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1860. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if the decision to exclude autistic persons and their families from the upcoming audit on the CAMHS will be reviewed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40772/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1861. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that 103 women accessed abortion services in England and Wales in 2021 due to the fact that they were not eligible for care under section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40789/22]
View answerExpanded termination of pregnancy services commenced on 1 January 2019 and are provided through participating doctors and hospitals throughout the country. However, I am aware that statistics reported by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the UK showed that women with Irish addresses continued to access termination of pregnancy services in that jurisdiction in 2021.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 permits terminations to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of a pregnant woman; where there is a condition present likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. This is in line with the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which published its report and recommendations in December 2017. As the Deputy is aware, prior to the May 2018 Referendum on the 8th Amendment, the General Scheme of the Bill to regulate termination of pregnancy was published. The final legislation enacted is consistent with the published proposals.
I wish to assure the Deputy that it is a priority for my Department that the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is performing as it should be, to enable all women in Ireland to access services quickly and easily, without bias or judgment. There has been a substantial reduction in the number of people with Irish addresses availing of termination of pregnancy services in the UK since the enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and the commencement of services.
There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to facilitate the operation of the service and to resolve any issues that may arise.
1862. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young people found to have been incorrectly assessed under the Disability Act 2005 as a result of a High Court case (details supplied); the number of children and young people who will have to be reassessed and assessed properly as a result of this ruling; the estimated impact that this will have on existing waiting lists for assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40790/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1863. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on introducing a cost-of-living allowance for junior therapists and clinicians employed by the HSE in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40791/22]
View answerAnnualised rates of remuneration, as well as all allowances payable to all staff of the public health service, are as per those set out in the Department's Consolidated Salary Scales.
There is no proposal to introduce an allowance as per the Deputy's question.
1864. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on introducing a subsidised public transport scheme for junior therapists and clinicians employed by the HSE in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40792/22]
View answerAnnualised rates of remuneration, as well as all allowances payable to all staff of the public health service, are as per those set out in the Department's Consolidated Salary Scales.
There is no proposal to introduce an allowance or subsidy as per the Deputy's question.
1865. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on developing a version of the living well with dementia initiative for disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40793/22]
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 draft Action Plan is currently being finalised for approval.
The capacity review provides detailed evidence of the extent of demographic and unmet need and provides detailed estimates of service and expenditure requirements for: residential care; adult day services; personal assistance and home support; multidisciplinary therapies; respite; and other community services and supports.
The Review accepts that significant investment across all health services over the period up to 2032 is required in tandem with a fundamental programme of reform, to develop a comprehensive Action Plan to develop services on a “whole of Government” basis to meet current and future needs for disabled children and adults.
Given that the Capacity Review will be the primary focus to develop disability services, there are no plans at the present time to develop an initiative as suggested by the Deputy.
1866. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the staffing to caseload ratios used to calculate the numbers, types and scale of therapists and clinicians required for each children's disability network team; the regularity with which these ratios are reviewed; and the processes that are in place to reconfigure services according to local needs. [40794/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1867. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if exit interviews are conducted with therapists leaving children's disability network team; if so, if the information from these interviews was anonymously collated; the primary reasons that are cited for leaving children's disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40795/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1868. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the HPV vaccine to be made available free of charge for women under 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40797/22]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection.
Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage.
In October 2021, my Department asked the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to consider the clinical effectiveness of providing the HPV vaccine to:
- girls and boys in secondary school who were eligible to receive HPV vaccine in 1st year but who did not receive it; and
- women up to the age of 25 years who have left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when eligible.
I can confirm that the NIAC has submitted its advices in relation to the HPV Vaccination Programme to my Department. As part of its advices, the NIAC noted that HPV vaccination should be prioritised for unvaccinated second level students and females under the age of 25 years.
In line with that advice, I have asked the HSE to provide an opportunity for all boys and girls in secondary schools who were previously eligible to receive the HPV vaccine and who have not yet, for whatever reason, received it, to now be offered the vaccine.
I have also asked the HSE to provide options on how best to introduce a catch-up programme for young women who have now left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when they were eligible.
I will be in a position to outline timeframes once the HSE has completed its examination of potential implementation options.
1869. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have received the pandemic bonus payment; and the number of applications received for it. [40840/22]
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: 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, 15 July, 73,049 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 93,049. Ordinarily, all eligible employees employed for the duration of the period have had or shall have their payment processed automatically by their local HR. For those employees who have left the HSE or the Section 38 organisation, or moved employment within the period, were required to complete a Declaration Form to request payment. As eligibility is still being assessed locally on some sites, I cannot provide the total number of applications that were received from this specific cohort of workers.
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. 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.
As the process for rolling out payments to the eligible workers highlighted above has not yet begun, no payments, or applications for payment, have been made at this point. 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.
1870. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the extension of free contraception beyond the 17 to 25 years age bracket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40852/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort. My Department has been working with partners, including the HSE, towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in late August or early September 2022. Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for this in Budget 2022.The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and will provide for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of necessary consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
The legal framework for the scheme will be provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas on 12 July, 2022 and signed into law by the President of Ireland on 18 July, 2022.
It is envisaged that the Act will be commenced, and the scheme launched, in late August or early September, 2022, once the final details of service provision have been agreed and implemented.
Formal consultations with medical representative bodies with regard to service provision under the scheme have commenced and are ongoing. The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme will be finalised in the coming weeks by officials in the Department’s Press and Communications Team, the HSE’s Communications team and relevant subject matter experts.
In terms of considering the expansion of the scheme to wider age cohorts, it is recommended by the Public Expenditure Code that policy changes with significant Exchequer cost implications should be phased in and/or be subject to piloting and formal evaluation, before full roll out. This is particularly pertinent in the case of schemes, such as this one, which are demand-led. The Act contains provisions that the eligible age cohort may be changed by the Minister for Health, subject to the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, by Regulation.
In relation to extending the age cohort specifically to girls under the age of 17, it is important to note that the Act provides that such an extension cannot be completed under regulations, meaning such an extension of the scheme would require a legislative amendment to be brought before the Oireachtas. I gave a commitment in both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann that inclusion of younger age cohort would be considered by my Department, subject to Government approval, as soon as the Act has been commenced and the initial phase of the scheme launched.
Finally, it is important also to clarify that the sole purpose of the contraception scheme is to transfer the costs of contraception from the patient to the State, starting with women aged 17-25. Every day, GPs see women and girls of all ages, up and down the country, in their practices, to prescribe contraception, both for the purposes of birth control, and to ameliorate pain, heavy bleeding, mood disorders and other symptoms of the menstrual cycle for which medical help is often needed.
The Act will have no impact on normal practice in this regard, for women and girls outside of the 17-25 age range. The normal operation of services provided by GPs, their clinical judgement and the medications and devices they may decide to prescribe are not a matter for the Act, which is concerned only with removing the financial barriers to accessing contraception, starting with women aged 17-25.
