Tuesday, 29 Nov 2022

Health Services

Questions (628)

Matt Carthy

Question:

628. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for an ASD assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58842/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (629)

Matt Carthy

Question:

629. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if funding is in place for children's non-complex needs ASD assessments through the children's disability network service at St. Davnet's Complex in Rooskey, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58843/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (630)

Matt Carthy

Question:

630. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who contracted long-Covid during their work as a nurse in Cavan General Hospital will continue be provided with special leave with pay; if cases of HSE employers deeming those suffering with long-Covid as fit-for-work have been drawn to his attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58844/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have provided for Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for the recommended isolation period (currently 7 days), for 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 temporary scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.The full details of the Scheme and associated criteria for eligibility is available to view online here www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-022-2022-temporary-scheme-of-paid-leave-for-public-health-service-employees-unfit-for-work-post-c-19-infection-updated.html

Employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme will have transferred to the Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022.For those who do not meet the criteria for the temporary Scheme but remain unwell, the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme may be utilised.

Health Services

Questions (631)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

631. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that lucentis, a drug for macular degeneration, is available to patients with private health insurance, but not to those on the general medical scheme; the reason that this is the case; if the position will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58845/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) has been licensed for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Ireland and throughout the EU since 2007.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is given by intravitreal injection (injection into the vitreous humour, the jelly-like fluid in the eye) and must be administered, under aseptic conditions, by a qualified ophthalmologist experienced in intravitreal injections.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has maximum hospital pricing approval and is available to suitable patients in Irish hospitals. In view of the particular nature and use of the product, Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is currently approved for hospital use only.

Hospital Services

Questions (632)

Alan Dillon

Question:

632. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will outline workforce planning details to provide full restoration of day care services at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar to pre-pandemic levels when fully re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58847/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Questions (633)

David Stanton

Question:

633. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the situation with respect to the registration and regulation of psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58862/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health and Social Care Professionals Council and Registration Boards, collectively known as CORU, are responsible for protecting the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competence amongst the professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act (2005).

The Act is being implemented on a phased basis as registration boards and their registers are being established. The members of the Psychologists Registration Board were appointed in July 2017, and they held their inaugural meeting in September 2017.

The work of a registration board includes consideration of the titles to be protected, the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners, and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the Psychologists Registration Board (PSRB) is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions, owing to the many different educational pathways into the profession, and the variety of specialties and titles used.

In November 2020, the PSRB opened a public consultation on the education and training standards and all stakeholders were encouraged to participate. The consultation, which received over 700 submissions, revealed a lack of consensus on how to proceed with the regulation of the profession.

Last year CORU wrote to me on behalf of the PSRB seeking guidance on potential regulatory approaches. Having considered the complexity of the issues, I wrote to CORU last August requesting that the PSRB consider a dual stream and phased approach to regulating the psychology profession. This approach would envisage that, as an interim and preliminary measure, the Board could begin to consider the regulation of certain psychology specialisms which present the greatest risk to public safety while simultaneously working towards the regulation of the title of psychologist in the future.

Health Services Staff

Questions (634)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

634. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the reason that a tracheostomy nurse was not made available to a person (details supplied) for post-operative care; in the event that none was available, the reason that a bespoke training programme to train an existing member of staff in tracheostomy care was not provided.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58865/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (635)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

635. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 489 of 20 September 2022, if mental health treatment will be put in place for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58872/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (636)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

636. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the establishment of five specialist menopause clinics, following the opening of one such clinic in the National Maternity Hospital earlier in 2022; if the locations have been chosen for the two specialist menopause clinics announced in April 2022 to support the eastern seaboard and to ensure that there is a clinic in each maternity network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58873/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The majority of women with menopausal symptoms and requiring treatment can be managed appropriately by their GP. However, a proportion of symptomatic women will require specialist medical expertise in menopause, which cannot be dealt with at the primary care level.

As part of the reforms to how we approach menopause care, these more complex cases will be dealt with in six specialist menopause clinics being developed across the country, through a combination of funding from the Women’s Health Fund and Budget 2022.

The first of the dedicated specialist menopause clinics opened in the National Maternity Hospital last December. A second clinic within the University of Limerick Hospital Group is located in the new Regional Women’s Health Hub at Nenagh General Hospital and opened in May 2022. I officially opened the third specialist clinic in the Rotunda in October this year. Since then, the fourth and fifth specialist clinics have opened this November, in University Hospital Galway and the Coombe respectively.

It is anticipated that the final clinic in Cork will open in early 2023, which will result in a total of six such clinics nationwide, one in each maternity network, for women who require complex, specialist care.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (637)

Carol Nolan

Question:

637. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the date ranges from 1 March 2020 to date that licensed premises were legally prohibited from opening as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. [58899/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the public from COVID-19 and manage the spread of the disease in the community, since the pandemic was declared in early 2020. In that time, several pieces of public health legislation were drafted and brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition, an unprecedented number of Statutory Instruments were drafted to give legal force to the public health measures recommended by NPHET and approved by Cabinet. All of these statutory instruments can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/#2022.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (638)

Carol Nolan

Question:

638. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the date ranges from 1 March 2020 to date that gatherings for public worship and religious services were prohibited as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. [58900/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the public from COVID-19 and manage the spread of the disease in the community, since the pandemic was declared in early 2020. In that time, several pieces of public health legislation were drafted and brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition, an unprecedented number of Statutory Instruments were drafted to give legal force to the public health measures recommended by NPHET and approved by Cabinet. All of these statutory instruments can be found at www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/#2022

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (639)

Joan Collins

Question:

639. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm whether any capital funding or supports have been contributed to the construction or maintenance of the primary care centre on the Navan Road; and if he can confirm any ongoing supports currently available to the centre. [58914/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Health Promotion

Questions (640)

Joan Collins

Question:

640. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the results of the HSE investigation into the recreational use of nitrous oxide canisters by young people; the programmes that are currently available to tackle the issue; and the measures that are being considered to ban the sale or use of these canisters. [58916/22]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (641)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

641. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the status of the public health obesity Bill, as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58921/22]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Health Promotion

Questions (642)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

642. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the latest edition of the code of standards for advertising and marketing communications has had the desired effect when it comes to the marketing of unhealthy food to children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58923/22]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Departmental Funding

Questions (643)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

643. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if there is a process through which individuals can seek funding from the HSE in order to be reimbursed, having obtained surgeries or other medical treatments privately in Ireland due to HSE waiting lists; and if so, if he will outline the application process for same. [58926/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (644)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

644. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an offer by a private consultant surgeon (details supplied) to assist with surgeries at a hospital due to lengthy waiting lists; and the reason that the offer was not accepted. [58927/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Questions (645)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

645. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter (details supplied) in relation to costs for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58933/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I recognise the important part smaller voluntary and family-run nursing homes play in communities and I am committed to supporting them in these challenging times.Providers of long-term residential care who participate in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) can, from 11 November, 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 for vouched heating and electricity increases, with 75% of year-on-year cost increases to be reimbursed up to a maximum payment of €5,250 per month per nursing home. Claims for increased energy costs can be backdated to 1 July 2022 which means that each nursing home can apply for up to €31,500 in vouched energy increases. The aim of the new scheme (TIPS) is to alleviate pressures put on nursing homes by an increase in energy prices. The new scheme will run in parallel with the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS). 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 further funding will be made available specifically for nursing homes through TIPS, 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 also 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.Role of NTPF

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. Implementation of Policy Reviews

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. A steering group has been established to oversee the delivery of the recommendations; this group has met on a regular basis since publication of the review. The terms of reference for the group include a final report to be submitted to ministers, reporting on delivery of recommendations 1-4 set out above and making any further recommendations as appropriate.To address strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) was established in March 2022 and published a report on 15 October outlining 16 key recommendations spanning the areas of recruitment and retention, pay and conditions and overall sectoral reform. I strongly endorse the Group’s recommendations to address the critical shortage of care workers in Ireland and a dedicated Implementation Group has started working to progress these immediately.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.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (646)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

646. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the total budget per month and the amount spent per year on paediatric aids and appliances by an organisation (details supplied) in CHO5, in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58938/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (647)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

647. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for aids and appliances for those under 18 years of age in CHO5 which covers south Tipperary; the length of time that they have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58939/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Questions (648)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

648. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if the Government plans to include the coverage of prescribed high doses of vitamin B2 under the national medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58940/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Departmental Funding

Questions (649)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

649. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been allocated to University Hospital Kerry under the winter plan; the way that this compares to other hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58945/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Data