Written Answers Nos. 609-628
609. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the services that are presently being provided at the Ennis primary healthcare centre, Station Road, Ennis, County Clare; when the centre will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45023/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
610. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on hip, cataract and knee surgery and cataract surgery in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary; the average waiting time experienced by those on a waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45024/22]
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 are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic.
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 2022 Waiting List Action Plan 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.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the number of persons in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, that are on waiting lists for hip, cataract and knee surgery is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF only collects data on patients currently on the waiting list. The time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. As a result, the health system does not have the data necessary to calculate true average wait times.
611. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the delivery of podiatry services provided by the HSE in County Clare; the status of the service going forward; the number of persons on the waiting list for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45025/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
612. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for radiology reporting across all hospitals in the UL Hospitals Group for August 2021 and August 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45026/22]
View answerAs this is an service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
613. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the level of radiology reporting undertaken by contracted companies within the UL Hospitals Group; if any HSE-employed consultants are undertaking radiology reporting for such private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45027/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for post-mortem examinations at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45028/22]
View answerAs this is an service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
615. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if coroner's post-mortem examinations are undertaken by HSE consultant histopathologists; the relevant figures for same in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
616. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if the UL Hospitals Group employs an outside company and agency to carry out post-mortems on its behalf; if any HSE-employed histopathologists conduct post-mortems for any such agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45030/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a working group to develop a gender identity service model of care for young persons; if so, the timeline that he is working towards for establishing this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45034/22]
View answerThe report of the steering committee on the development of HSE transgender services was published in 2020. The report acknowledged the additional funding made available to develop services in recent years. It advised on the development of seamless interfaces between agencies providing gender services and developed a job description for a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry to lead on the development of a services for those aged under 18 years. Subsequently, this position was advertised twice but has not yet been filled.
Minister Donnelly and Minister Butler recently held a constructive meeting with a number of clinicians from the National Gender Service. They intend to meet with the HSE and other stakeholders to hear their views and proposals regarding the development of such a service for young people in Ireland.
Minister Donnelly, Minister Butler and I are committed to working with the HSE to provide a gender identify service that meets the health needs of children and young people.
618. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their Covid-19 recognition payment for frontline workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45036/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
While my Department does not comment on individual cases, 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.
The rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE. As of Friday, 09 September, 85,078 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes Section 38 agencies which are estimated to have paid 37,589 staff to date thereby bringing the total number of employees paid to 122,667 .
In relation to the number of eligible HSE/Section 38 staff that are yet to be paid, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
619. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1399 of 8 September 2022, the members that were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board; and the frequency with which the Board has met since its inaugural meeting in May 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45038/22]
View answerThe Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (the Act) provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence through the statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act.
Regulations under SI No. 170 of 2018 were made by my predecessor in 2018. The effect of these regulations is to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Act and to establish one registration board for both professions.
As you are aware, members were appointed to the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board in February 2019. The Registration Board comprises the following members:
Representatives practising in the profession:
- Marcella Finnerty
- Patricia Jordan
- Rachel Mooney
Representatives from the profession, engaged in the management of services provided by it:
- Brian Gillen (Chairperson)
- Colin O'Driscoll
A representative engaged in the education and training of persons in the practice of the profession:
- Jennifer Griffin
A representative of the management of the public health sector, the social care sector or both sectors:
- Ann Delany
A representative of the management of a voluntary or private sector organisation concerned with health or social care:
- Gillian O'Brien
A representative of third-level educational establishments involved in the education and training of persons in the practice of the profession:
- Carole Glynn
Representatives of the interest of the general public:
- Patrick Benson
- Oliver A Kelly
- Caitriona Bradley
The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board held their inaugural meeting in May 2019. The Registration Board has held 20 meetings since it was established. Please see the following breakdown:
- 2019: 3 meetings
- 2020: 4 meetings
- 2021: 7 meetings
- 2022: 6 meetings
I hope that this further information is of assistance to you.
620. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the immediate steps that he will take to ensure that the departure of a large number of private nursing homes from the market due to the severe underfunding of the industry will not occur; the reason that there is such a large discrepancy in the levels of funding between private and public nursing homes given that the level of care provided is the same; the steps that he will take to ensure that Ireland will have sufficient nursing home places in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45041/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the specific challenges faced by the nursing home sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. I am currently working on proposals to support smaller and voluntary nursing homes in relation to the specific challenges they are experiencing and hope to make an announcement soon.I engage consistently on an ongoing basis with Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes. I have met directly with NHI and updated them in detail on progress being made in relation to this matter. I have also met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials. I have visited a number of nursing homes to discuss this issue with management of both public and private/voluntary nursing units. It is imperative that nursing homes manage potential cost pressures in line with their regulatory and contractual responsibilities, maintaining their quality of care so that residents’ lived experience and comfort is not affected. The Government has also provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €143 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the TAPS scheme since spring 2020, and the scheme continues in effect. Substantial additional supports have been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.The Department of Health acknowledges that there are variations in the cost of care across public centres as well as across private nursing homes, with public nursing homes generally having a higher cost of care to the exchequer. However, it is important to note that regardless of whether it is a private, voluntary or public nursing home, the resident's financial contribution is the same; the price of care only affects levels of state funding and has no direct impact on the resident.Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include:- Costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home- Local market prices- Historic prices- Overall budgetary capacityThe NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009 and there is no role for Ministers or the Department in these negotiations. It should also be noted that the department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from the review of the NTPF pricing system published in June 2021. One of these actions relates to exploring a new geographical pricing model for the sector.
621. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45091/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
622. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to streamline the process for the recruitment of non-European Union healthcare workers for the nursing home sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45093/22]
View answerThe Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for the employment permits legislation and the granting of permits which facilitates the arrival of highly skilled non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in Ireland in an eligible occupation, to meet skills demand in the economy where those skills can’t be accessed through the resident labour force, in the short to medium term. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In order to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo regular, evidence-based review guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation, the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments, including the Department of Health. Account is also taken of upskilling and training initiatives and other known contextual factors, such as the ending of the pandemic unemployment payment schemes and the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, and their impact on the labour market.
The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD announced changes in June last year to provide access to the General Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State as a Nursing Auxiliary or Assistant (Health Care Assistant) in hospital/nursing home settings. The changes also included removing a number of healthcare occupations from the Ineligible Occupations List. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment experienced a significant increase in applications for employment permits in the past year, impacting on processing times. From the start of January to the end of December 2021, 27,666 applications were received, representing a 69% increase over the same period in 2020 (16,293) and a 47% increase on 2019 (18,811), which itself represented an 11 year high in applications.
Processing times for all Critical Skills applications have been reduced to 3 weeks. General Employment Permit applications for Trusted Partners (Persons who will make an offer of employment / Employers / Connected Persons and EEA contractors, who have applied for and been approved Trusted Partner status by DET&E) fell from 22 weeks to 3 weeks, with Standard applications reduced to 4 weeks. The Department aims to reduce these times yet further, on the assumption that demand remains at current levels.
The Employment Permits Unit of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment has made positive progress by reducing the number of applications awaiting processing from c. 11,000 in January 2022 to under 2,500 today, despite further strong growth in demand during 2022.
623. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking in response to a finding from a State body (details supplied) to reduce the number of beds in the acute mental health unit in Bantry Hospital. [45131/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
624. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to provide chiropody services for public patients in CHO4. [45137/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
625. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to lift the ban on waterbirth with immediate effect. [45138/22]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
626. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his commitment to ensure that homebirth services are offered to all persons who wish to avail of them. [45139/22]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
627. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the examination by the HSE and the Department of Health into progressing the roll-out of the pandemic recognition payment to the list of non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government decision; the estimated timeline for when all eligible frontline workers, including healthcare facility cleaning staff subcontracted through a company (details supplied), will receive the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45142/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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.
While my Department does not comment on individual cases, information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
628. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for home-help; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45148/22]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
