Written Answers Nos. 124-138
124. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the scale of issues facing pharmacists and community pharmacies; the action that he has taken to support pharmacists who have raised concerns around availability of leave, workplace satisfaction and general morale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46173/22]
View answerThank you for raising this matter - firstly I would like to recognise the key role of Pharmacy in the Community, and the significant contribution made by this sector to patients and the public during the course of the pandemic.
I understand that currently there are reports of a current acute workforce issue, particularly in relation to community pharmacy. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) has been liaising with stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), on efforts being taken within the sector to understand and address the issue
You raise a number of concerns in your question and I will address these holistically in the context of detailing specific actions being carried out by a number of stakeholders to try and mitigate current concerns in the sector. The issues raised are symptomatic of a complex problem with many contributing factors and multiple stakeholders. Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. This re-enforces the need for robust data for Ireland to be best able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future.
In February 2022, PSI met with a number of superintendent pharmacists and the IPU. The PSI also circulated a survey on behalf of the IPU to all registrants to support efforts to understand and address the issue in the short term. The fieldwork on the research was undertaken online by the IPU between 22 March and 8 April 2022. The results of which have just been finalised and recommendations have been prepared by the IPU based on their findings. The report is currently under review by the Department of Health who will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders on this matter.
In developing its Corporate Strategy 2021-2023, the PSI was aware, through its role as the pharmacy regulator as well as through reports from stakeholders, of an increasing risk to the continued availability of a pharmacist workforce. This highlighted a need to focus on community and hospital pharmacy, with a concern being that the issue might be exacerbated into the future. The PSI are currently undertaking a project, due to run across 2022-’23, titled ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’. This project is set to “assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland”.
As part of this project, PSI have committed to share any relevant data emerging with relevant Government departments particularly if trends are identified that indicate a future deficit. The PSI has also committed in its Service Plan 2022 to complete a review of the Third Country Qualification Route (TCQR) and propose changes to the Council.
The European Commission is also currently supporting a health and social care workforce planning strategy and action plan, a health and social care workforce planning model, health and social care workforce projections and gap analysis project. Support includes recommendations for health and social care workforce reforms.
It will be on the basis of gathering and analysing up-to-date, robust and relevant data, that recommendations can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs for a pharmacist workforce in the future, as Ireland’s healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation. I will engage as necessary with government colleagues in addressing relevant issues as they arise.
125. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of community pharmacies that are currently operating without a supervising pharmacist; the steps that he has taken to ensure employment of supervising pharmacists in pharmacies across the State; the action that he has taken to support pharmacists in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46174/22]
View answerThank you for your question. As you will be aware the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the statutory agency who maintains the Registers of Pharmacist and Pharmacies. As of the 19 September 2022, there are 1,981 pharmacies registered with the PSI, and of this number, there are currently 133 pharmacies that have vacancies for supervising pharmacists, or 6.7% of all registered pharmacies.
All such pharmacies are involved in a recruitment process to fill the vacancies that have arisen. The PSI monitors the situation and vacancies on an ongoing basis. It is also worth pointing out that from a patient safety perspective, a pharmacy may only be open if there is a registered pharmacist present on the premises at that time.
The requirement for all pharmacies to nominate a ‘supervising pharmacist’ is provided for in section 28(b) of the Pharmacy Act 2007. This section requires that where the business is carried on by a corporate body “(b ) that, at the premises where the business is carried on or, if there are two or more of those premises, at each of them, there is a registered pharmacist who has a 3 years minimum post-registration experience in whole-time charge of the carrying on of the business there.’ This registered pharmacist is referred to as the supervising pharmacist. All pharmacies are also required to have in place a ‘superintendent pharmacist’, who must also have three years of post-registration experience.
While PSI is not involved in the recruitment of pharmacists, as the pharmacy regulator, they are examining the topic of the pharmacist workforce so that pharmacy can play a full role in the development of an integrated healthcare system. They are aware through their work and through reports from stakeholders, of an increasing risk to the continued availability of a pharmacist workforce, with the concern being that the issue may be exacerbated into the future. In response, the PSI is undertaking a project, due to run across 2022-’23, ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’. In 2022, this project is set to assess emerging risks to the continued availability of a professional pharmacy workforce within community and hospital pharmacy in Ireland.
This is a complex problem with many contributing factors and multiple stakeholders. Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. However, robust data for Ireland are needed to be able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. It will be on the basis of gathering and analysing this up-to-date, robust and relevant data, that recommendations can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs for a pharmacist workforce in the future, as Ireland’s healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.
While the PSI strategic project referenced above will be important to understand the emerging risks, and support workforce planning and pharmacist availability into the future, it is apparent that there is a current acute workforce issue, particularly in relation to community pharmacy. Reports to the PSI indicate that this is being driven in part by an increasing number of pharmacists choosing to work in a locum capacity. This has a knock-on impact on pharmacist vacancies, and potentially on continuity and consistency of service. ?While this is an acute issue, and separate to their strategic workforce project, they have been liaising with other stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), on efforts being taken within the sector to understand and address this current problem. In June of this year, pharmacists were added to the Critical Skills Occupations List by the Minister of State for Business Employment and Retail.
126. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the planned closure of all clinical sexual health services in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; the expected closure dates; his plans for sexual health services in the north east once these services close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46175/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been taken against the State in respect of Covid-19 that the State Claims Agency is processing as of 15 September 2022; the number of claims accepted; and the number rejected and or not accepted as valid. [46178/22]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained below has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
The SCA has received 93 healthcare claims, to date, in respect of COVID-19. These claims relate to service users, staff members and members of the public across healthcare locations. Two of these claims have been discontinued.
DefinitionsNational Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”. This is hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA) for the HSE, other Healthcare enterprises and State Authorities. An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint.
128. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the measures and initiatives that will be taken to better understand and to reduce still-birth and infant deaths among mothers of African background, and those in poorer social-economic groups following the publication of a report (details supplied) showing inequalities in mortality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46190/22]
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.
129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) reported on in 2021; the engagements he has had with this service provider about this matter; the reason he has not responded to a family advocacy group’s request to share the outcome of this service providers consultations with a legal firm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46220/22]
View answerI am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers; however, it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Health, to comment on any individual case.
Nonetheless, as Minister for Health my primary concern is the safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of our disability residential services and I take any issues raised regarding their care extremely seriously.
The Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) operates under the Health Act 2007, which sets out the functions which the Authority is to carry out. HIQA has responsibility for setting standards for healthcare services, and monitoring compliance with those standards. It also regulates facilities providing care for those with disabilities, to determine if they are meeting the relevant National Standards
All centre-based residential and respite care facilities for people with disabilities, including Sunbeam House Services, are subject to full registration and inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the independent regulatory authority charged with ensuring high-quality and safe care for people using our health and social care services in Ireland. The purpose of regulation is to safeguard and support the delivery of person-centred care to vulnerable people of any age who are receiving residential care services and to ensure that their health, well-being and quality of life is promoted and protected.
HIQA continue to inspect residential and respite care facilities for people with disabilities, and where appropriate, monitor the implementation of improvement plans.
Work currently under way concerning Regulatory Reform, Safeguarding Legislation, and The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act (2015), further underpinned by legislation and policy already in place, will provide support for ongoing improvements within Designated Centres for Disabilities.
130. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will support the kaftrio 35 treatment for children for cystic fibrosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46224/22]
View answerKaftrio has been a life changing drug for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, and I want to see it made available to everyone who needs it.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
I have been advised by the HSE that engagement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals is ongoing, which I hope can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone.
131. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will list all of the eligible categories of workers for the pandemic special recognition payment. [46225/22]
View answer132. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason that firefighters and paramedics with Dublin Fire Brigade have not received the pandemic special recognition payment despite providing front-line ambulance services during the crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46226/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
The Government decision on the Pandemic Recognition Payment provides, subject at all times to the other eligibility criteria as set out on the HSE website www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html, that eligible staff within the following are covered for the Pandemic Recognition Payment:
1. HSE and Section 38 organisations;
2. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
3. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
4. Agency roles working in the HSE;
5. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
6. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
7. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
For eligible staff in cohort 7 above, the Department and the HSE are engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments as soon as possible. There are complexities associated with redeployed staff, and it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria are applied correctly. However, my Department is keen that payments to eligible staff will be made as soon as possible.
133. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health when firefighters and members of Dublin Fire Brigade will receive their pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46230/22]
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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, it is hoped that information will be published shortly for those 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.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
134. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health Network teams that serve the HSE CHO 9 area; his views regarding a letter received by a person from one of the Children’s Disability Network teams that states there is a minimum 40 week wait to be seen by them in view of the fact that most children have been waiting for many years under the previous regime without being seen; the reason that the wait list is so long; if there are staffing and other resourcing issues at play; his plan to rectify the issue; for a timeline for such plans that can be provided to waiting families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46312/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
135. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic recognition payment will be paid to Fire Brigade Paramedic staff who were on the front line during the pandemic. [46336/22]
View answerThe 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, it is hoped that information will be published shortly for those 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.
With regard to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6, the Department of Health is engaging with the Department of Defence, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to progress payments to these cohorts as soon as possible.
136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for speech and language therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [46339/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for physiotherapy by CHO, and age category; and time waiting in tabular form. [46340/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for occupational therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting in tabular form. [46341/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
