Written Answers Nos. 1134-1153
1134. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on home support waiting lists for funding and for a carer by CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55090/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1135. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are in receipt of home support or a carer but who are not in full receipt of their hours, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55091/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1136. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent of the data collected and collated on home support at national level. [55092/22]
View answer1137. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent of the data collected and collated on home support at CHO level. [55093/22]
View answer1138. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent of the data collected and collated on home support at LHO level. [55094/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1136 to 1138, inclusive, together.
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1139. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views with regard to home birth services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55096/22]
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 in relation to the issue of the HSE's National Homebirth Service, as soon as possible.
In relation to investment in maternity services, including community based midwifery services, it is important to note that, under Budgets 2021 and 2022, almost €16m in new development funding was provided for maternity services. This significant level of investment is ensuring the continued implementation of the National Maternity Strategy and the ongoing roll out of the Strategy’s new model of maternity care.
The investment in 2021/22 is providing for additional WTEs into maternity services, covering a variety of disciplines, including, obstetrics, neonatology, endocrinology, anaesthetics, dietetics, midwifery, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. It is improving access to specialist and allied health services in the maternity care system, as well as further developing community-based midwifery services. It is also improving the infrastructure of our maternity services by providing additional home-from-home birthing suites, upgrades to theatres and wards, as well as providing additional training and supports for maternity staff.
1140. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a home help package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55103/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1141. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive home care packages delivered in each of the years 2021 and 2022, by LHO, CHO and month in tabular form. [55105/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of intensive home care packages delivered in each of the years 2014 to 2020, by CHO, in tabular form. [55106/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1143. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for intensive home care packages, by LHO, CHO and month, in tabular form; and the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay accessing intensive home care. [55107/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1144. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of consumers directed home support applications and grant approvals in each of the years 2021 and 2022, by LHO, CHO and month in tabular form. [55108/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of consumer directed home support applications and grant approvals in each of the years 2017 to 2020, by CHO in tabular form. [55109/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1146. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to replace the paper-based system used to collate home care applicants' details called the Common Summary Assessment Report (CSAR) with an electronic Single Assessment Tool (SAT); the timeline that he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55110/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed overview of the current age profile of home care workers employed directly by the HSE and those employed by external providers contracted by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55111/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will establish a licensing framework for home care providers and secondary legislation, setting out the minimum standards with which providers must comply in order to be licensed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55112/22]
View answerThe Department is currently developing a regulatory framework for home-support providers with the aim of ensuring high quality care for service-users. This framework will comprise primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations (minimum requirements), and HIQA national standards.
On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to the Minister for Health to draft a General Scheme and Heads of Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. The Heads of a Bill are currently at draft stage, and it is intended to bring this legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity.
At an advanced stage, are the draft regulations which set out minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license. These draft regulations have been informed by targeted stakeholder consultation and regular discussions with HIQA, HSE, Provider and Service User representative groups.
A 7-week public consultation concluded August 4th and 210 responses were received. The Institute of Public Health have completed an analysis of responses and are currently preparing a report for the Department of Health. Findings will inform final amendments to regulations. Legal expertise is assisting with drafting of regulations and interpretation of core issues, such as, capacity legislation, employment laws and health and safety issues.
In tandem with this, HIQA are developing standards for home care and home support services, which will go out for public consultation early next year.
1149. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when home care services will be provided to a person (details supplied) to enable them to be discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55115/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when medical records will be released for persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55116/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1151. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason Tipperary University Hospital is not covered by the NCCP grant for those travelling to the hospital for cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55123/22]
View answerI have been advised by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) that there are two services administered by the Irish Cancer Society which offer financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment.
The first of these services is the Travel2Care Scheme – a limited transportation assistance fund, funded by the NCCP. This is available to patients travelling to a designated cancer centre, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and will cover part of the associated costs for said travel. Application for financial assistance from the fund requires that the patient meet the following criteria:
- Permanent residence in the state,
- Travelling over 50km to their designated cancer centre, approved centres, or approved children’s hospital,
- A genuine financial need for assistance,
- No qualification for other schemes, such as transport funded by the HSE or voluntary services such as the Volunteer Driver Service (however, it is possible for a child to receive assistance from both the Irish Cancer Society’s Children’s Fund and the Travel2Care scheme simultaneously).
Application is conducted using two separate forms depending on the treatment being travelled for. In the case of cancer tests, application can be made by submitting Form A to the Irish Cancer Society - which is available via cancer.ie, emailing travel@irishcancer.ie, calling 01 231 6643 / 01 231 0522 to request a copy, or by requesting a copy via the mail.
Form B is for ongoing treatment – such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or palliative care – and is only available from a healthcare professional such as a medical social worker or your GP. Said healthcare professional is not obligated to provide the application form and must believe there is genuine need for financial assistance to provide it.
The following hospitals are covered by the Travel2Care scheme:
- Beaumont Hospital
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
- St James’s Hospital
- St Vincent’s University Hospital
- Cork University Hospital
- University Hospital Waterford
- Galway University Hospital
- University Hospital Limerick
- Letterkenny General Hospital (approved satellite centre)
- Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin
- St Luke’s Hospital
- Whitfield Clinic (if you are a public patient travelling over 50kms for radiotherapy treatment)
- Altnagelvin Area Hospital
The second scheme available aiding those travelling for cancer treatment is the Volunteer Driver Service. This is a volunteer delivered transport service wherein patients are driven to and from treatment in designated partner hospitals and centres. Drivers are interviewed, trained, Garda-vetted and must attend annual Support & Supervision sessions run by the Irish Cancer Society to participate in the service.
The service is free to the patient, with all costs paid by the Irish Cancer Society, and applications are conducted by approaching a healthcare professional in a partnered hospital who will then discuss the suitability of it for the patients' needs and make a decision on referral. Once referred, the patient must book appointments in advance with the Irish Cancer Society to arrange transport.
Participating hospitals and cancer centres for the scheme are:
- Cavan General Hospital
- Cork University Hospital
- The Mercy Hospital
- South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
- Beaumont Hospital
- St. Vincent's University Hospital
- St. James's Hospital
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
- Tallaght University Hospital
- Connolly Hospital
- Letterkenny General Hospital
- Merlin Park University Hospital
- Galway University Hospital
- Portiuncula Hospital
- Kerry General Hospital
- Naas Hospital
- St. Lukes General Hospital
- University Hospital Limerick
- Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
- Mayo General Hospital
- Midlands Regional Hospital
- Sligo General Hospital
- South Tipperary General Hospital
- University Hospital Waterford
- Wexford General Hospital
- Donegal Cancer Flights & Services, Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Upper Dore, Bunbeg, Letterkenny, Donegal
- The Community Intervention Team, Anam Cara, St Canice’s Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 (Outreach centre for The Mater and Beaumont Hospital).
It is also my understanding from the NCCP that the Irish Cancer Society is happy to receive requests outside the guidelines on an exceptional basis.
1152. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the input that midwives, clinicians and women’s health advocates had in framing the HSE recommendation to limit home births to women who live within 30 minutes of a maternity hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this recommendation restricts options for women and families in rural areas around one of the most important life events; and his views that this recommendation is contrary to the National Maternity Strategy’s priority to ensure that ‘women have access to safe, high quality, nationally consistent, woman-centred maternity care'. [55124/22]
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.
1153. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for non-HSE and non-Section 38 healthcare employees; if a contractor is now in place; if any further information can be provided with regards to a timeline for the issuance of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55125/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. To date, over 124,000 workers have received the payment, and payments to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff are substantially complete.
Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision. These include eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above. Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations.
The Department of Health has transferred funding to the Department of Defence and Dublin City Council to enable payments to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6 above, and payments to these staff will be arranged by their respective organisations.
