Written Answers Nos. 291-310
291. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the dates of the HSE meetings that have been held from January 2017 to June 2021 to consider major and minor capital submissions for mental health buildings in CHO4. [45237/22]
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.
292. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the criteria that is applied when issuing medical cards to persons affected by certain conditions (details supplied). [45243/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the staffing and the provision of a dedicated chronic-disease clinic in Cavan-Monaghan; the details of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45252/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
294. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the public health nurses operating on the relevant areas in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath in tabular form; the locations in which vacancies exist at present; the length of time for which these posts have been vacant; and the plans and timeframe in place to find suitable replacements. [45253/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in Cavan General Hospital; and the details of each by categories. [45254/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the attendance numbers for the minor injuries unit in Monaghan Hospital from 2012 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he has any plans to extend the hours of this unit in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45255/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
297. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at Cavan General Hospital in each of the years 2012 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45256/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
298. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the capital project for Cavan General Hospital (details supplied); the timeframe for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45257/22]
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.
299. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he intends to introduce a statutory time limit for wheelchair users having to wait for a replacement or repaired wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45264/22]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances free of charge to eligible persons (such as medical card holders and people on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional. These are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community.
The provision by the HSE of wheelchairs to eligible persons is based on a number of criteria, the most important of which is assessed clinical need. A priority rating is assigned to each application based on this identified clinical need. In addition, the impact on the individual applicant’s quality of life, the length of time the individual has been waiting, and the available budget are factors that form part of the decision-making process.
The HSE advise that standard stock wheelchairs are readily available while bespoke and powered wheelchairs can take time to be manufactured and delivered by the supplier, making the determination of a meaningful standard ‘waiting time’ extremely difficult and not practical. At present, the wait time from clinical assessment and approval for standard wheelchairs which are kept as stock items is normally no more than one to two weeks. For bespoke and powered wheelchairs, the wait time is longer and can be up to twelve weeks. The HSE is of the view that it would be detrimental to the provision of good quality and needs based health services, if criteria for provision was to be reduced to a pre-determined time period only.
A HSE led National Service Improvement Programme has the aim of improving the equity of access, value for money, and functional processes of the Community Funded Schemes through the establishment of national standards and guidelines for the provision of medical and surgical aids and appliances. The scale of this Programme is enormous given that many thousands of items are provided from community-based services across the country. While this work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Programme has now recommenced, and work is progressing.
300. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to address the shortage in the number of dentists accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45265/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Both I and the Government have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. The problem became particularly acute over the last couple of years as a significant number of contracted dentists chose to opt out of the DTSS. I secured an additional €10 million in Budget 2022 to provide for expanded dental health care for medical card holders including the reintroduction of Scale and Polish. To address the concerns of contractors about the viability of the Scheme, I am using an estimated €16 million of an underspend in this year’s estimate allocation (€56 million) to award fee increases across a number of items including fillings and restorations. The combination of these two measures represents an estimated total additional investment of €26 million in the Scheme this year over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021, €40 million.Following consultation with the Irish Dental Association, these new measures came into effect on 1st May. I would hope that this substantial additional investment in the Scheme will encourage more and more dentists to provide care to medical card patients. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have started to increase in recent months. Patients are also accessing the preventative scale and polish which has been reintroduced, which is a positive development.
These are interim measures designed to address immediate concerns with the Scheme pending a more substantive reform of dental services. It is my intention that this is addressed in the context of the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which sets out a body of substantial services reform. Work is underway on a governance framework for this root and branch service reform.
I have been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are still experiencing problems in accessing a service.
301. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the availability of the drug pembro; the reason that some health insurance companies do not cover the drug; the way that a patient can avail of it if their health provider does not cover payment of the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45266/22]
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.
302. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recognition and regulation of domestic and international surrogacies arrangements, in light of the recent Report on Internal Surrogacy by the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45274/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, including in the context of chairing the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, international surrogacy raises complex ethical questions concerning areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination.
Following the publication of the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy’s report, through a structured and collaborative engagement process, the Department of Justice, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and my Department are reviewing the report’s recommendations along with other relevant matters with a view to determining an appropriate policy position and suitable next steps. This detailed consideration is ongoing and the Departments are meeting frequently to work through the issues concerned. It is important that the relevant Departments complete a robust and thorough examination of all of the issues, including the findings and recommendations of the Committee’s report, given the range of complexities involved and the rights of the various parties involved in surrogacy arrangements.
303. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated completion date for a primary care unit (details supplied); the number of staff that will be employed at this facility once completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45277/22]
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.
304. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 715 of 15 February 2022, if the service is operating; the availability within this service; the way that the public can access this service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45279/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
305. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of home-help hours that are not being completed due to staff shortages by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45284/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
306. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the reason that frontline staff in a healthcare setting (details supplied) who provide a service on behalf of the HSE and come under Section 39, were not included in the list for the €1,000 pandemic special recognition payment; if he will rectify this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45288/22]
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: https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
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.
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 frontline 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. 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. Officials are continuing work to progress this large complex project, and further consideration is actively underway on how and where this would best be expedited.
The Government is mindful of other workers who played an important role during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It was very tough to draw a line on this matter. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
307. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 13 July 2022, the number of full-time posts allocated to post-acute and long-Covid clinics, by clinic and speciality; if the position has been filled; if an offer has been made, if a recruitment competition is ongoing, or if the HSE recruitment process has commenced in light of emerging evidence on long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45309/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
308. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of persons within his Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45320/22]
View answerUpdated guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19 in relation to the provision of Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 was published by DPER on 27th May 2022. As of the 1st of July 2022, Special Leave with Pay applies for the duration of the HSE instructed self-isolation period only, which at the time of response is 7 calendar days. From 1st July 2022 any periods of COVID-19 related illness which extend beyond the stated self-isolation period will be treated as ordinary sick leave.
As of the 1st of July 2022, there were 169 staff in the Department of Health who have received Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19. None of these employees availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more.
Since the 1st of July 2022, 31 employees have availed of Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19.
Since March 2020, 11 employees have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days.
309. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45333/22]
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.
310. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of nights that there has been no doctor available in Navan North East Doctor On-Call in the past 24 months. [45340/22]
View answerGPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting their contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision.
While the HSE provides significant funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements, GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE maintains regular contact with the out of hours service providers, and over the past two years in particular there has been greater engagement to ensure that the services continue to provide the supports needed by local communities.
In relation to GP availability in the Navan North East Doctor On Call centre as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
