Written Answers Nos. 974-993
974. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the current number of medical staff vacancies, per role, at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54436/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
975. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if any changes have been made in recent weeks to the discharge times for new mothers at University Maternity Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54437/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
976. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a payment, now approved under the application under the discretionary hardship arrangement, in the case of a person (details supplied) will issue, given that the pharmacy has yet to dispense the required medication due to not receiving payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54441/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
977. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied). [54445/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
978. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of claims for reimbursement which were made under the primary care reimbursement scheme for termination of pregnancy in each of the years 2019 and 2020. [54446/22]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
979. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE has not responded to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54450/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
980. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for home support (details supplied). [54451/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
981. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be placed on an “active list” with the CDNT. [54453/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
982. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a matter (details supplied) will be resolved. [54454/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
983. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be scheduled for surgery in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54459/22]
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.
984. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of medical professionals who are certified to fit and remove long-acting reversible contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54463/22]
View answer985. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of medical professionals who have been certified to fit and remove long-acting reversible contraception since the introduction of the scheme on 14 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54464/22]
View answer986. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs who are participating in the free contraception scheme since its introduction on 14 September 2022; if he will provide a breakdown in respect of CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54465/22]
View answer987. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when the contact details of the GPs participating in the free contraception services contract scheme will be uploaded to the HSE website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54466/22]
View answer988. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of women aged 17 to 25 years who availed of free contraception in the first four weeks of the programme since its commencement on 14 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54467/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 984 to 988, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the Programme for Government and Women’s Health Action Plan commitments, the free contraception scheme for women aged 17-25 was launched on Wednesday 14th September.
Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for the scheme in Budget 2022. Further funding of approximately €32 million is provided, through Budget 2023, to support the contraception scheme and to expand it to include 16-30 year olds in 2023. The scheme will be expanded to include 26-year-olds on 1 January 2023, with 16 and 27-30 year olds becoming eligible on 1 September 2023. The expansion of the scheme to 16 year olds is subject to legal advice, detailed consultation and the required legislative amendments.
The scheme is currently open to 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and provides for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of necessary consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which are also available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
The legal framework for the scheme is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was enacted in July and commenced in September, 2022. Digital information regarding the scheme, how to access it and wider information on contraceptive options is available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie .
Over 2,000 GPs and over 1,800 pharmacists have entered into contracts with the HSE to be providers under the scheme and are currently able to access the re-imbursement systems in place.
Funding has been allocated for a training programme that has been developed by the Irish College of General Practitioners to provide training to additional GPs in terms of fitting and removal of LARCs. The HSE also maintain records of the numbers of GPs and pharmacies entering into contracts under the scheme, and of the numbers of claims.
Therefore, as many of the matters raised are service matters, I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
989. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in New Ross, County Wexford, who are currently on the dental treatment service scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54472/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
990. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that no dentists in the New Ross area in County Wexford are taking on new patients with medical cards; the plans to address this urgent issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54473/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. I am aware that a significant number of dentists chose to leave the Scheme during the pandemic, which has led to difficulties for medical card patients in accessing dental care in some parts of the country. Following discussion with the Irish Dental Association, a €26 million package of additional investment in and expansion of the Scheme came into effect from 1st May 2022, over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021.
While the number of dentists submitting claims under the scheme has not yet increased, the numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have both increased in recent months. The HSE will assist patients who are still having difficulties accessing services and may provide emergency dental services directly to patients where necessary. I have secured an additional €5 million in Budget 2023 to help enable provision of such emergency care.
I recognise that there is a need to substantively review and reform the DTSS to align with best international evidence and practice. It is my intention that this will be addressed in the context of the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, which sets out a body of substantial services reform. An unprecedented allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services. On top of this €15 million allocation, resources will also be made available for new clinical leadership posts and for other supporting staff. These clinical leadership posts will drive substantive reform of the provision of public oral healthcare services to both adults and children, through policy implementation.
991. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in each municipal district in County Wexford who are currently on the dental treatment service scheme. [54474/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
992. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in each municipal district in County Wexford who are currently accepting new patients with medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54475/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
993. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the additional supports that will be put in place to help private nursing homes by way of an increase in the fee payable under the fair deal scheme to achieve pay equalisation with HSE nursing homes to ensure the sustainability of the private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54484/22]
View answerProviders of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) can, from this week, obtain additional funding supports to help meet increased energy costs due to inflation through the Temporary Inflation Payments Scheme (TIPS). Eligible private and voluntary nursing homes can claim 75% of their heating and electricity increases up to a maximum payment of €5,250 per month per nursing home. The aim of the new scheme (TIPS) is to alleviate pressures put on nursing homes by an increase in energy prices and the new scheme will run in parallel with the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. The Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme will be kept under review and further funding of these supports will be looked at towards the end of this year.
Prior to Budget Day I stated that my priority was to secure additional funding for Budget 2023 to ensure the continuation of all services to a high standard. Long-term residential care will be supported through additional funding for the NHSS to maintain services and manage inflationary increases. The additional energy supports were announced as part of Budget 2023. A total of €10 million in funding will be made available specifically for nursing homes, drawn from the €100 million once-off fund that has been allocated to support community-based health and social care service providers for 2022 cost increases related to energy inflation.
Budget 2023 also saw an additional €180 million of funding for services for older people for winter 2022 and into 2023, building on unprecedented increases of recent years. This will bring investment in these services to over €2.4 billion in 2023, including nearly €12 million of new developments.
The Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €145 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Government has now agreed to extend TAPS to the end of the year by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support.
Implementation of Policy Reviews
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 and overall budgetary capacity.
The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations. The Department of Health published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021.
The Review of the Pricing System for Long Term Residential Care Facilities was carried out under the oversight of a steering group with representation from various departments and agencies. The group made four recommendations, which are now being taken forward by the Department of Health and NTPF.
There are differences in the cost of care between public and private homes, with public, HSE-run nursing homes (Community Nursing Units) generally having a higher cost of care. The main driver of the difference between public and private nursing homes is the resident ratios and a different balance between nursing and other health care staff, with more nursing staff in HSE-run nursing homes. The HSE is staffed to deliver more complex care, typically with a higher nursing ratio per resident and a different skill mix to private nursing homes.
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.
