Written Answers Nos. 1215-1234
1215. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that new parents in Dublin 18 are still not being offered public health nurse developmental checks for their new children, despite this service being offered to new parents in other areas of Dublin; if he is taking steps to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55453/22]
View answerUnfortunately, in some areas, staffing shortages are having an impact on the capacity of the Public Health Nursing Service to deliver routine Public Health services.
Where these shortfalls are arising, the HSE has assured the Department that they continue to prioritise and support patients who have the greatest need in the community.
I fully acknowledge the stress and frustration that this is currently causing families. I have been advised that the HSE is making every effort to recruit and fill vacant posts and I want to assure you that my Department will continue to engage with the HSE on this matter. I would encourage any parent who has a specific concern about their child’s development to contact their GP or local Public Health Nursing service.
Given that there is a service delivery element to the Deputy’s question, I have also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1216. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the measures and additional supports that the HSE is putting in place to assist GP practices and others across County Donegal to support Ukrainian refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55454/22]
View answerIt is a priority for the Department and the HSE to ensure that Ukrainian refugees are provided with appropriate health and social care services.
Ukrainian refugees will be able to access the equivalent health services as people who are already ordinarily living here, and are entitled to apply for a medical card.
The HSE has arranged a range of bespoke GP services for those accommodated in hotels and other settings. The exact model for each site varies, however all have access to GP Out-of-Hours services, while those staying in private accommodation can register with local GPs.
As the provision of GP services to Ukrainian refugees in County Donegal is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1217. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent dental radiographers employed by the HSE in 2021 and to date in 2022; the locations where these radiographers are located, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55461/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1218. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the annual value of the contract for the patient advocacy service; the number of staff that it supports; the annual funding for the service for each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of persons supported in each year since 2019; the projected number for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55465/22]
View answerThe new PAS contract commenced on 1 November 2022 for the next 5 years with a total estimated funding of €21,226,947.07. Here is the estimated annual funding from 2022 (November - December) to 2027 (January - October). It should be noted that these figures are excluding VAT and they denote the upper ceiling of expenditure. PAS is only paid for the actual expenditure incurred.
|
Year |
2022 (November) |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 (October) |
|
Total Estimated Annual Funding |
€532,830 |
€3,350,834 |
€4,024,038 |
€4,499,105 |
€4,499,191 |
€4,320,948 |
The current headcount of PAS as of October 2022 is 18 staff and PAS advise that recruitment is ongoing as services under the new contract are rolled out.
PAS was established in 2019 and the table below outlines the actual annual funding of the organisation in each of the years until October 2022. The total amount spent from October 2019 to October 2022 is €3,566,165.29.
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (October) |
|
Total Actual Annual Funding Spent |
€562,348.92 |
€895,106.98 |
€905,723.03 |
€1,202,986.36 |
PAS services were rolled out in October 2019 to support service users. From October to December 2019, PAS supported 8 service users; in 2020, 427 service users; in 2021, 1205 service users; and in 2022, 1772 service users (1,452 service users supported by PAS by end of October plus an average estimated 160 new contacts per month for November and December).
1219. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of resignations among nurses and midwives, respectively, for each hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number who resigned in September and October 2022, respectively; the figures for the same months in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55466/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1220. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses and midwives’ positions, respectively, that remain unfilled for each hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55467/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1221. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of unfilled consultant positions that currently remain unfilled for each hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55468/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of officials in his Department who have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date; the grade of each official; and the cost for each attendee, in tabular form. [55484/22]
View answerMy Department is committed to supporting staff in their continued professional growth and development. According to Departmental records no officials from the Department of Health have undertaken the Harvard Business School advanced management programme in the past ten years to date.
1223. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of discussions on home births with relevant stakeholders, including GPs, as of November 2022 and as promised by him as part of a national policy in the context of the national maternity strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55493/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1224. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the national maternity strategy offers birthing choices, including home births, irrespective of location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55494/22]
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.
1225. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health his views on restoring home birth services in the mid-west region, following the suspension of such services by the UL Hospitals Group earlier in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55497/22]
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.
1227. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55500/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities to meet their needs. There are a range of services in place to protect individuals and families from excessive costs for their medical and surgical needs.
The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability assist people to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These works can include making it wheelchair-accessible, extending it to create more space, adding a ground-floor bathroom or toilet or a stairlift. The scheme is administered by local authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In late 2020, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offered guidance to local authorities that fixed ceiling-track hoists should not be included in the Housing Adaptation Grants. That Department did not consult with the Department of Health and/or the Health Service Executive at the time, prior to making the decision to remove funding. Engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this matter – with a view to resolving the difficult issues involved as soon as possible and ensuring that people receive the services they require.
Applications to the Health Service Executive for a wide range of aids and appliances - including beds, wheelchairs, mobile hoists, respiratory equipment, etc. - are made on foot of prescriptions from relevant health care professionals and based on an applicant's eligibility under the Health Act 1970 (as amended). These applications are made under the Community Funded Schemes and are considered by Resource Allocation Groups within each Community Health Organisation. A determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding available within local budgets. These aids and appliances play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning and to remain living in their homes and local community. The Community Funded Schemes have not generally funded fixed ceiling-track hoists given the need for structural adaptations necessary to install them and, also, that they had been funded under the Housing Adaptation Grants.
I am aware that the unilateral decision to remove funding without ensuring that another Government agency could take over the funding of these items has caused considerable distress to many people who can no longer access a service that they require to meet their health and safety needs. I also understand that the HSE has seen an increase in the number of applications for mobile hoists, but that these may not be as clinically appropriate as fixed ceiling-track hoists in some situations.
I have, therefore, also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, on whether an application for a mobile hoist may be clinically appropriate in this case.
1229. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the respiratory department at Naas General Hospital has a full complement of staff, including consultants, respiratory nurses, physiotherapists and physiologists; and if this number is deemed sufficient. [55521/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1230. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new day support services that will be delivered to elderly persons in 2023, in tabular form; and the number of persons who will receive these services. [55522/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1232. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an assessment appointment for a person (details supplied). [55541/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1233. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will allow access to the Ozempic weight loss drug for those on the drugs payment scheme without a diagnosis of diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55558/22]
View answerThe 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.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.
Medicines can only be reimbursed by the HSE when prescribed for HSE-approved indications. Ozempic (Semalgutide) is licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland and indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ozempic was approved by the HSE for addition to the Reimbursement List for the treatment of diabetes in 2018. Diabetes is one of the Long Term Illness (LTI) conditions for which eligible LTI persons can access their medicines to treat their diabetes free of charge.
Controls are in place within the Primary Care Reimbursement Service scheme management systems (and are put in place and updated as required) on claiming processes to ensure that only HSE approved indications are reimbursed across a range of medicines. Controls are currently in place for Ozempic to restrict reimbursement support to the HSE approved indication of diabetes.
I would refer the Deputy to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) website which has recently published communication to prescribers in Ireland with regard to the licencing and reimbursement of Ozempic: www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/novo-nordisk---glp-1-product-range.pdf?sfvrsn=2.
1234. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the research carried out by the Manchester Metropolitan University as part of the review of the State's abortion legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55561/22]
View answerThe 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 Review has two main phases. The first phase is comprised of a three-part appraisal of the operation of the Act, with research focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. The research on service providers is being undertaken by Manchester Metropolitan University and is due to conclude shortly.
The second phase of the Review is being led by an independent Chair, Marie O'Shea BL, who will analyse the research strands from the first phase to assess the extent to which the objectives of the 2018 Act have been achieved.
A final report will be submitted to me as Minister in late 2022 for my consideration.
