Written Answers Nos. 614-633
614. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the availability of dedicated private spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in each acute and community hospital in each CHO. [48089/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
615. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Covid-19 bonus payment for a person (details supplied); the reason that the payment has not been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48091/22]
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 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.
It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. 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.
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.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
616. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health when the 1% increase due since October 2021 to retired HSE employees under the sustaining progress agreement will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48093/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
617. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will clarify a matter (details supplied). [48094/22]
View answerCORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator for regulating health and social care professionals. The role of CORU is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards There are two forms of application to CORU: applications for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and applications for registration.
Professional qualifications awarded outside the State are assessed through a process of “recognition” which involves expert assessment of a qualification’s alignment with the standards of proficiency required in Ireland, and assessment of professional experience and lifelong learning where required.
Where a health and social care professional qualifies outside the State and applies to register in Ireland, they must apply for the recognition of their qualification. EU/EEA applicants have the right to have their qualifications assessed in accordance with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 and Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2017 (SI No 8 of 2017). Once a complete file has been submitted to CORU, i.e., one containing all the required documentation, a decision must issue within four months.
The Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2022 has been introduced to the Oireachtas. The primary purpose of the Bill is to address an issue which currently prevents holders of UK medical degrees from accessing medical intern training posts in Ireland. The Bill does not affect the recognition process that applies to those who seek to practise as Medical Scientists.
I met with the Chairperson and CEO of CORU last year and raised the issue of timeframes for the recognition of qualifications and registration applications. Following our discussion, several measures have been initiated by CORU aimed at further reducing timeframes.
Until last year applicants were required to complete the recognition process before initiating the registration process unless they had confirmed job offers. All applicants are now invited to initiate an application for registration as soon as they have submitted a complete application file to the recognition department. This will have the effect of reducing the period of time required to both complete the recognition and registration process.
My Department will continue to support CORU in achieving its strategic vision and improving timeframes for all applicants in the future.
618. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the steps that the HSE has taken alongside the Department of Health and the National Treatment Purchase Fund to address the cost-differential between private and public nursing homes, following a value-for-money review including nine recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/22]
View answerThe 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. A Value for Money (VFM) Review on Nursing Home Care Costs was undertaken between March 2018 and March 2021 under the direction of a Steering Committee comprising representatives of the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), led by an independent chair. The VFM Review sought to identify, quantify and analyse the reasons for any cost differential between private/voluntary and public nursing homes and, following analysis, to make recommendations for improving the value for money obtained by the Health sector. The review was published in December 2021 and can be viewed by following this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3859f-a-value-for-money-review-of-nursing-home-care-costs/ Among the issues raised were the pay costs of staff in nursing homes, the dependency levels of residents, energy costs, and medical supplies charges to the NHSS. The report found that the cost differential is largely driven by variances in staff-to-resident ratios and the skill mix in public and private nursing homes. However, the review also found that establishing like-for-like comparisons was complex and not always possible, especially when considering differences in dependency levels. The VFM Review made nine recommendations which the Department continues to take forward. It should be noted that many of the recommendations from the report were already in progress and overlap with existing workstreams.
- The Department has set out a plan for how each of the recommendations will be addressed and by which organisation. Progress against these recommendations will be monitored through existing NHSS oversight structures.
- The Department continues to engage with the NTPF on a range of topics in respect of data sharing and analysis - the additional types of data that might be required to inform future policy-making is still being considered.
- Funding has been secured for an additional 128 InterRAI Single Assessment Tool care needs facilitators and recruitment has commenced. The Department intends that InterRAI Single Assessment Tool will be rolled-out to long-term residential care when the initial phase of recruitment is complete.
- The respective home support and residential care policy teams within the Department are currently engaging to evaluate the testing of a reformed model of service delivery that will provide the basis for the development of a system of care banding. Testing is ongoing in four pilot sites and an interim report is expected in November.
- Significant progress continues to be made in relation to Safe Staffing and Skill Mix Framework for Residential Care and will continue throughout 2022 with a view to developing national policy. The Department expects policy implementation to commence in 2023.
- Terms of reference for an extensive review and audit process of the public cost of care, while still under development, are temporarily paused to allow the HSE complete their own ongoing audit of public bed capacity. Nevertheless, the Department expects to be able to commission an independent review in the latter part of the year.
- The HSE have committed to publishing a list showing the actual eligible costs, highlighting any variances against the maximum cost of care, incurred by each nursing home in respect of the calendar year 2022 onwards.
- The Department of Health and the HSE continue to work on a number of initiatives to support both the discharge of patients from an acute setting and demand from the community, depending on the assessed care needs of the individual client/patient. It is expected that a review of the impacts of these initiatives will be concluded by the end of 2022.
- The Government is committed to the implementation of the 86 COVID-19 Expert Panel recommendations. While it is accepted that this broad programme of wide-ranging and complex reform will take time to implement, the fourth progress report on the implementation of the recommendations, published in June 2022, highlights the important progress that has already taken place across a number of areas and sets out clearly the structures and processes that have been established to ensure continued implementation.
619. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health his proposals to address the cost increases relating to inflation to private and voluntary nursing homes; and the way that his Department and the National Treatment Purchase Fund will address these challenges to ensure that private and voluntary nursing homes remain operational. [48097/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the specific challenges faced by the nursing homes sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. 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 provided substantial supports to the nursing homes sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €144 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payments Scheme (TAPS) since spring 2020. TAPS continues in effect and the Government has now agreed to extend the scheme for nursing homes to the end of the year. The scheme will be refocused on addressing this year's inflationary pressures related to energy and heating. Details are being finalised and these will be communicated in the coming days. 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 capacity The 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.
A Value for Money (VFM) Review on Nursing Home Care Costs has also been carried out under the direction of a Steering Committee with an independent chair. The VFM Review sought to identify, quantify and analyse the reasons for any cost differential between private/voluntary and public nursing homes and, following analysis, to make recommendations for improving the value for money obtained by the Health sector. The review was published in December 2021 and can be viewed by following this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/3859f-a-value-for-money-review-of-nursing-home-care-costs/ Among the issues raised were the pay costs of staff in nursing homes, the dependency levels of residents, energy costs, and medical supplies charges to the NHSS. The report found that the cost differential is largely driven by variances in staff-to-resident ratios and the skill mix in public and private nursing homes. However, the review also found that establishing like-for-like comparisons was complex and not always possible, especially when considering differences in dependency levels. The VFM Review made nine recommendations which the Department continues to take forward.
620. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if agency security staff who worked in hospitals during the Covid pandemic will be entitled to the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48098/22]
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 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.
It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. 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.
At this point, the Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases. Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised and once information on which organisations shall be paid is published, eligibility for payment at that point can be assessed.
621. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if the Workforce Advisory Group, which was established to examine the workforce in the homecare sector, has reported its findings; if he will outline the next steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48103/22]
View answerIn March 2022 I established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front-line carer roles in home-support and nursing homes, and to develop recommendations to address these. The Group met six times between March and August 2022. In addition, the Group undertook a structured programme of stakeholder-engagement to gain insight into the challenges arising from the perspective of key sectoral groups. The report of the Group, which outlines their key findings and recommendations, is currently being finalised prior to submission to me for my consideration.
622. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a contingency plan to ensure that staffing levels are in place at Ennis injury clinic at all times following its closure at short notice on 20 August, 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48120/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
623. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce measures to alleviate the financial pressure on those with pre-existing conditions who regularly have to pay hospital charges that are not covered by health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48126/22]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the State are eligible, subject to certain charges, for public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. Currently, all persons accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- children under 16 years of age
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases, including Covid-19;
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
As part of Budget 2023, the Minister for Health announced his commitment to abolish all public inpatient hospital charges next year. This measure, when enacted, will help alleviate the financial burden of everyone who currently has to pay the public inpatient charge when accessing care in a public hospital.
624. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when two children (details supplied) will be contacted for intervention. [48127/22]
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 Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the reason that the new vaccine for shingles is not available on the medical card or the drug payments scheme; if he will review this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48130/22]
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.
626. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will include respreeza under the general medical scheme and or the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48136/22]
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.
627. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he intends to commission a public inquiry into deaths in nursing homes and other care settings throughout the Covid-19 pandemic in view of calls for such an inquiry among many bereaved relatives. [48146/22]
View answer635. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a public inquiry is conducted in relation to the lives that were lost in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to help inform the reforms that are needed in the care system (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48161/22]
View answer707. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if there will be a public inquiry into nursing home deaths during the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, the timeframe for an inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48546/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 635 and 707 together.
There has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic and, where necessary, to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises.
The Taoiseach has indicated that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past two years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type emergency arrives. Consideration is being given as to what the best model for this evaluation will be.
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been significant and ongoing consideration of the impact of COVID-19 and the evolution of the response to it, as evidence and knowledge emerged and as national and international understanding of the virus evolved. Throughout, this has included a specific and sustained focus on older persons, and in particular, those resident in nursing homes. Various examinations and reports with a focus on COVID-19, its impact on nursing homes and the pandemic learnings that can inform future policy, regulation and the model of care for older persons have been undertaken.
In particular, the independent COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established in May 2020, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort in nursing homes and to provide real-time learnings and recommendations to inform the ongoing approach to the management and mitigation of risk to older persons resident in nursing homes as the pandemic evolved. This report outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes, based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19.
One of the most important things we can take from the experiences of the past two years is our learning and understanding of the challenges facing the nursing home sector. Through engagement with key stakeholders in this sector, including residents, their families and advocacy groups, we are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Nursing Homes Expert Panel and a programme of reform is ongoing across health agencies and stakeholders to ensure an improved quality of service and experience for residents into the future.
Significant progress has already been made in implementing the recommendations of the Expert Panel, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, and work to progress medium and longer term reform recommendations is ongoing. Four Expert Panel Progress Reports have been published, the latest published on 21 June 2022, and all Progress Reports are available on my Department’s website.
628. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide confirmation of the opening hours of the minor injuries unit in Our Lady’s Hospital Cashel; the number of patients who have attended this service in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48147/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
629. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a child (details supplied) will be examined; if an appointment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48148/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
630. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of submissions that have been made to the three-year review of the abortion law that were received in the public submissions process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48150/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, The Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 commenced in line with statutory and Government commitments in December 2021. The Review will assess the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The public consultation provided organisations, stakeholders, advocacy groups working in the area and all other interested parties with the opportunity to inform the Review of the operation of the legislation. The consultation closed on 1st April. Submissions received as part of this process are currently being reviewed. The total number of submissions received was 6,968.
631. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount that was spent on private residential care in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [48154/22]
View answer632. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount that was given to each company providing private residential care in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022. [48155/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 631 and 632 together.
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
633. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the Action Plan for the Disability Capacity Review will be published; if the contents of the Review were included in Budget 2023; the reason for the delay in the publication of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48156/22]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised for approval. In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
The following funding has been provided for 2023
|
Funding |
Measure |
|
€109m |
To support existing levels of service |
|
€4.3m |
Digital Initiatives/Disability Awareness and Participation Fund |
|
€25m |
Building Capacity (Core Services) |
|
€39m |
One off Costs associated with activity during Covid-19 |
A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. Details of the fund including its administration are being finalised.
The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how services, including relevant KPIs, can be progressed in 2023 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.
