Written Answers Nos. 232-251
232. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if funding is available for a group to obtain and install a defibrillator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47358/22]
View answerDefibrillators (AEDs) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations.
The Department of Health does not provide grants in relation to the supply and installation of defibrillators.
233. 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. [47359/22]
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 2,522 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of September, there are 24 GMS vacancies across the country, just under 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels; there is one GP GMS vacancy in County Monaghan in Monaghan town.
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.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.
The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
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.
234. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the latest correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who cannot get a general practitioner to accept them or their spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47362/22]
View answerWhere a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
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.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.
The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
Preparatory work has commenced on a strategic review of GP services to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice in general and in rural areas specifically, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.
These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
235. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 20 September 2022, if he will provide details of the review commissioned by the HSE of the evidence regarding long-Covid, including the models of care in other jurisdictions, from the Health Information and Quality Authority; the other jurisdictions that are being studied as part of the review; when the review commenced; the timeline for the completion of the review; if the final review report will be published; the terms of reference of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47371/22]
View answer240. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1817 of 8 September 2022, the reason those running the long-Covid clinics were not included in the discussion in relation to which hospitals were allocated and funded for long-Covid clinics. [47386/22]
View answer241. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1817 of 8 September 2022, the person who will be reviewing the business case by the Mater hospital; and when his Department will notify them of a decision. [47387/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 240 and 241 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
236. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report published by an organisation (details supplied); if he has considered the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47372/22]
View answerThis question refers to research conducted on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society in relation to the experience of people affected by cancer when accessing financial products and services. The report makes reference to health insurance which is under my responsibility, however due to the community-rated nature of the Irish health insurance market people will not be adversely affected by a history of cancer when purchasing or renewing health insurance. While other types of insurance do not fall under the remit of the Department of Health, I have been advised neither the Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can intervene in the provision or pricing of insurance products. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (the Solvency II Directive). My Department, in conjunction with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme and voluntary groups such as the Irish Cancer Society, continues to work to improve outcomes for patients through the ongoing implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. Ireland is very supportive of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, which closely mirrors the goals of Ireland’s National Cancer Strategy to reduce the cancer burden, provide optimal care, maximise patient involvement and quality of life, and enable and assure change. Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan includes an initiative for 2021-2023 to “Address fair access for cancer survivors to financial services (including insurance), via a code of conduct and a reflection on long-term solutions”. This work is being undertaken through the EU Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (SGPP) Subgroup on Cancer, which includes representation from Ireland. The Department of Health will closely monitor any developments at the SGPP Subgroup on Cancer regarding this issue, and will liaise with other Government departments as required. The Irish Cancer Society Report also calls for the Government to ensure additional capacity, resources and funding for the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI). The Department of Health continues to engage closely with the NCRI to ensure it has the resources to effectively address its core functions, while expanding the cancer patient data it collects and ensuring a focus on increasing and optimising the uses of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients, as recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026. Through the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy and by working together, with EU Member States, the European Commission and cancer organisations across the EU, we can achieve the aims of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, to the ultimate benefit of patients and their families.
237. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the engagement his Department or the HSE has had with Mayo County Council regarding the transfer of a site (details supplied) from the HSE to Mayo County Council to facilitate the relocation of an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47375/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
238. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the administration of the front-line pandemic payment for private nursing home staff who either no longer work in that nursing home or in cases in which the nursing home has closed down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47376/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
While I am not in a position to address more specific or individual queries at this point, I can confirm that t he HSE and my Department have been working to progress 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.
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.
Regarding cohorts 1-4, a contractor is being sought to assist with gathering and processing information, with a tendering deadline of 23 September. Once a contractor is in place and details of the necessary processes are finalised, information will be published for those certain eligible 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 information is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter. It is expected that at that point the Department will be able to give further information on matters such as those raised by the Deputy.
Regarding cohorts 5 and 6, the Department and HSE are engaging with other Departments involved to progress payments as soon as possible for eligible staff.
239. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the correspondence and instructions the HSE received from the Mental Health Commission regarding the centre for mental health care and recovery in Bantry General Hospital prior to the decision by the commission to recommend the closure of seven beds in the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47384/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
242. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the date the European Union pharmaceutical cross-departmental group last met; the date it will next meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47402/22]
View answer262. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the last time the European Union pharmaceutical cross-departmental group met; the date it will next meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47492/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 262 together.
The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, published on 25 November 2020 is the second major building block of the new EU Health Union, and is fundamentally about ensuring safe, affordable medicines for all citizens and patients.
The strategy has four key aims that are focussed on
- ensuring access to affordable therapies for patients, and addressing unmet medical needs (in the areas of antimicrobial resistance and rare diseases, for example)
- supporting competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of the EU’s pharmaceutical industry and the development of high quality, safe, effective and greener medicines
- enhancing crisis preparedness and response mechanisms, establishing diversified and secure supply chains and addressing medicines
- ensuring a strong EU voice in the world, by promoting a high level of quality, efficacy and safety standards
Significant progress has been made to date on the delivery of actions laid out in the Implementation Plan, with some of the mechanisms of delivery addressing more than one of the desired actions. (55 outlined actions both legislative and non-legislative which will operationally realise the objectives of the strategy). This includes ongoing work on the revision of the General Pharmaceutical, Orphan and Paediatric legislation, work to define/set criteria for unmet need, creation of the Health Emergency Response Authority, Structured Dialogue Initiative, and Clinical Trials Regulation.
To answer your specific question, the Department of Health has established a Cross Departmental/Agency Group with key Stakeholders with differing perspectives so as to be best equipped and informed to react holistically from a national perspective as the implementation of the strategy progresses. The Group has already held two meetings with a third one planned for early October.
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when appropriate treatment will be made available in the appropriate hospital location in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been treated in James Connolly Hospital and is being referred to Beaumont Hospital; if the necessary arrangements will be made without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47413/22]
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.
244. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the reimbursement application for a treatment (details supplied); and when he expects this treatment will be made available to patients in Ireland. [47424/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (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 asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
245. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a replacement general practitioner for Ballymore Health Centre, County Westmeath. [47428/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
246. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of making continuous glucose monitors available on the long-term illness scheme for all those living with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/22]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
The HSE is unable to provide the cost of extending eligibility for a continuous glucose monitoring device to all people with type 1 diabetes, in the absence of a full Health Technology Assessment. The HSE has asked the Health Information and Quality Authority to undertake a system wide review which would include an assessment of budgetary impacts.
247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of placements provided for training across all healthcare disciplines in each of the past three years, by discipline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47438/22]
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.
248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the payment of the Covid-19 recognition payment to eligible workers in non-HSE and non-section 38 organisations; if he will guarantee payments will be issued to this cohort of workers before Christmas 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47439/22]
View answer261. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a more detailed and accurate timeline for the release of information and issuing of the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare employees, given these staff have been waiting an extended period of time without clarity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47479/22]
View answer267. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when agency staff (details supplied) will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47502/22]
View answer277. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview of the implementation of the issuing of pandemic bonus payments to front-line healthcare workers who are not employed by the HSE; the organisation that is carrying out this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47558/22]
View answer278. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the pandemic bonus payment to front-line healthcare workers in a centre (details supplied) in September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47559/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 261, 267, 277 and 278 together.
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
While I am not in a position to address more specific or individual queries at this point, I can confirm that the HSE and my Department have been working to progress 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.
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, and it is expected that timeframes will become clearer in due course.
Regarding cohorts 1-4, a contractor is being sought to assist with gathering and processing information, with a tendering deadline of 23 September. Once a contractor is in place and details of the necessary processes are finalised, information will be published for those certain eligible 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 is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
Regarding cohorts 5 and 6, the Department and HSE are engaging with other Departments where applicable to progress payments as soon as possible for eligible staff.
249. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the approval of evusheld for the treatment of Covid-19 by the European Union; if he intends to fast-track approval of this treatment based on this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47440/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
250. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that when the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 is implemented, all assisted human reproduction treatments currently available in Ireland today will continue to be allowed and nothing in the Act will prohibit the use and development of new techniques and treatments in line with international best practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47445/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 (AHR Bill) passed Second Stage in the Dáil on March 23rd 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage.
The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken in this jurisdiction.
Ireland is currently very much an outlier internationally and we do not have a specific regulatory framework in place in respect of this area of health care. This means that individuals are currently availing of complicated and sometimes risky procedures in what is effectively a legal vacuum.
Once enacted, this legislation will lead to a specific regulatory framework being put in place in respect of this complex, innovative and fast-moving area of medicine, which is currently predominately provided through the private sector. It will assist people to have children safely, clarify the legal position of children born from AHR, and ensure research and new reproductive technologies are carried out within a prescribed ethical context.
The provisions outlined within the AHR Bill generally will ensure that AHR practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight, but it is specifically the establishment of the AHR Regulatory Authority (or AHRRA) which is of central importance in this regard.
I am not certain as to whether the Deputy has specific types of AHR “techniques and treatments” in mind, but it is important to reflect that this regulatory framework will regulate how AHR treatments are provided. In the first instance, for example, the legislation provides for a licensing system in place and treatment providers will be required to hold the requisite licence in order to provide treatments. The AHRRA will oversee and monitor this system, including to ensure that providers operate within the scope of the law and their licence. This regulatory framework will help bring guidance, clarity and peace of mind to service users, as well as providers.
I wish to reiterate my commitment to progress this much-needed and long-awaited piece of historic legislation as quickly as possible to ensure that a robust regulatory framework for AHR is in place.
251. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set up a commission for a new national cardiovascular health strategy that specifically includes heart valve disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47454/22]
View answerThe National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives.
The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to recommend configuration for a national adult cardiac service to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive. . This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults and includes heart valve disease.
The COVID-19 Pandemic impacted on the progress of the review during 2020 and into 2021 as the Chair of the Cardiac Services Review has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response.
Substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services since the Steering Group reconvened in September 2021 and it is currently in its concluding stages. The Steering Group met most recently in September and is due to meet again in October where recommendations will be finalised and the Report will be sent to the Minister for consideration.
