Written Answers Nos. 665-684
667. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the review process of the role of radiation therapists; when the recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/22]
View answerAn independent radiation therapist review has been agreed between the HSE, Department of Health and SIPTU, under the auspices of the WRC.
Cancer cases are increasing in line with our ageing and growing population. The National Cancer Control Programme estimates that up to 60% of patients will require radiation oncology for primary treatment and palliative care in coming years.
Radiation Therapists are highly skilled professionals regulated by CORU. The Review will align with the National Cancer Strategy, taking account of the increasing demand for radiation oncology, the advances in technology, increased specialisation and more targeted treatment.
A Chair for the Review has been identified and agreed between the parties. An initial meeting has been scheduled to start the review process in early November.
All outcomes of the review will be given due consideration by the Department of Health. Implementation of any recommendations from the review are subject to approval from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform.
668. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the disposal of land by the Department of Education to his Department to provide a primary health care centre in Collinstown, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/22]
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.
669. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if required hearing aids are covered by a full medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) who appears to not be covered via PRSI stamps for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53319/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
670. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider establishing a position of chief pharmacy officer within the HSE. [53327/22]
View answerThe Department of Health recognises the key role of Pharmacy in the Community, and the significant contribution made by this sector to patients and the public.
The Department has professionally qualified pharmacists among its staff and they continue to work with key Stakeholders such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union to ensure that pharmacy matters come to the fore. Currently there are no active proposals to develop a Chief Pharmacist Role in the Department of Health.
Within the HSE sits the Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit including a Chief Pharmacist who is head of that unit. They interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications and the operation of the national pricing framework agreements.
671. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on the delay in recognising pharmacists from non-EU countries to help address the shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53328/22]
View answerPharmacists wishing to practise in Ireland must be registered with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI — The Pharmacy Regulator). It is the PSI’s responsibility in the public interest to ensure that Pharmacists as healthcare professionals are competent to practise. The role of a pharmacist is a significant and responsible one, and patients must be assured that pharmacists are capable of providing a safe and effective pharmacy service.
The PSI operates three routes of recognition/registration depending on where the pharmacy qualification has first been acquired – the national route, EU route and non-EU (third country qualification recognition - TCQR) route under established processes based in Irish and EU law, and cognisant of obligations emanating from Community Membership, and other legislative frameworks including Equality legislation. Currently, each individual applicant going through the TCQR process has the qualification presented assessed through a defined process, which may/may not include the requirement for completion of a period of adaptation, based on the outcome of the individual’s performance in an Equivalence Examination, and conducted on behalf of the PSI by a third party, currently UCC.
The PSI has recognised that its Third Country route of qualification recognition and registration is complex for applicants and is currently in a process to review it so that it is more streamlined and easier to navigate, with the aim being to have an improved TCQR route in place. This is a strategic project being progressed as part of the PSI Service Plan for 2022.
672. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the consideration that has been given to the impact that the new assisted decision-making legislation will have on adults with extreme complex needs, whose care is being provided in the UK and paid for by the HSE. [53332/22]
View answerAs this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
673. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 4 October 2022, if he will address a part of the original question 'including, in the short terms, while provisions are made for a more robust public service paying for people to get private treatments as is the case for other adult health conditions'; and the reason that this system is in place for adults in need of medical procedures but not for children requiring disability services. [53351/22]
View answer674. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 4 October 2022, if he will provide a comprehensive plan for the way that the family forums will cut waiting lists; and if he will outline the timeframe for same. [53352/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 674 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
675. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when all workers covered by the pandemic special recognition payment will receive their €1,000 payment; if a payment contractor has been appointed following the tendering process to obtain same; when further information will be published for those certain eligible non-HSE/non-Section 38 healthcare employees who are covered by the Government decision and information on the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53353/22]
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.
The HSE tendered for an external provider to assist in setting up and implementing the process of gathering required information from the relevant employers to facilitate payment of the Pandemic Recognition Payment to their eligible staff.
The Department is aware that the deadline for the HSE's tender process on this matter was extended to 23 September.In accordance with public procurement guidelines, from the time a preferred tenderer is selected by the HSE, a standstill period of 14 days must be observed before any contract can come into effect.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
676. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect admission for an angiogram to St. James's Hospital, Dublin. [53354/22]
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.
677. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of children under the age of 18 years with an intellectual, physical or sensory disability, currently referred and waiting to be seen by an organisation (details supplied), which is the largest body outside of the HSE providing child disability services, broken down into north and south Tipperary for each of the years 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the length of time that each child is on the waiting list to be seen by the organisation; the type of service that they are waiting to attend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53356/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
679. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who contracted long-Covid during their work as a nurse in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital will be provided with special leave with pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53375/22]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have provided for Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for the recommended isolation period, for all civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments.For certain employees who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a scheme, specific to the public health service has been introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and employees who meet the criteria for eligibility for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022. Those who do not meet the eligibility criteria may avail of the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme if they remain unwell.
680. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on whether an elective hospital should be considered for Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52538/22]
View answerIn December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. We are developing additional capacity which will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.The locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to implement a national elective care programme that will tackle waiting lists on a national basis. This means that the new facilities will be designed to maximise their capacity and in doing so will operate to cover as wide a catchment area as possible, extending beyond existing and future health areas including Limerick and the mid-west.The locations were also chosen in line with good practice which suggests that, in order to maximise economies of scale, dedicated, standalone elective centres should be “as big as is reasonably possible” to meet identified demand while providing appropriate population coverage. Locating the new facilities in Cork, Dublin and Galway will enable the provision of a national service while aiming to maximise the coverage of the ECCs as far as is reasonably possible. A central point of introducing these new facilities is not that they will only benefit the subset of the population that sit within their direct catchment but rather that the introduction of this new delivery capability into the Public Healthcare System will benefit the whole population, including those who do not fall within the immediate geographical catchment. It is envisaged that the Cork and Galway facilities combined will cater for up to 350,000 patients/procedures annually.The Government is committed to continued improvement of the elective care system in Ireland through the National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. We also note that a number of solutions have been developed at individual hospital-level to address local need and will keep an open mind as to how elective care can be best delivered both in Limerick and across the country.
681. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if new policy approaches are being considered for the delivery of therapy services to pupils who need them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53390/22]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the School Inclusion Model which comes under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills.
682. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health when staff who worked in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic period will receive their €1,000 bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53396/22]
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. The Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention.
I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
683. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the rising incidence of perinatal mental illness in Ireland; the steps that he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53417/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there are adequate mental health supports for those experiencing perinatal mental health illness in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53418/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
