Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the delivery of community neurorehabilitation teams across each of the CHO areas; the steps that have been taken to address barriers in recruitment of multi-disciplinary teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61338/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
102. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that lack of affordable accommodation is severely affecting recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61299/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
104. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a community neurorehabilitation team in CHO 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61035/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
105. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of therapists who will be recruited for disability services in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61367/22]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
106. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he plans to make hormone replacement therapy, HRT, medication free for persons going through menopause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61093/22]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. 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).
The HSE reimbursement list is the same for the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme and the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). Therefore, some hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications are available to medical card holders under the GMS scheme, subject to the statutory prescription charge. These same HRT medications are also available under the DPS, which ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
While there are no plans to make the provision of HRT products free of charge, the VAT rate for non-oral forms of HRT will be reduced to zero from 1 January 2023, as announced in Budget 2023. This should reduce the cost of these forms of HRT for private patients who need them.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Finally, individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
107. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when the 2023 HSE service plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61073/22]
View answerThe HSE has submitted the National Service Plan 2023 for my consideration. I am currently considering the Plan in accordance with the Health Act.
If the Plan is approved, it must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of its approval. Once the Service Plan is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
108. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with or meet constituents in County Meath regarding the future of Navan hospital. [60796/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me or by government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration.
From the week commencing 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. I understand the HSE is communicating this change at local level, as necessary.
109. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the potential closure of a GP service in Blarney, County Cork; the status of the proposed primary care centre for Blarney; and the timeline for same. [61283/22]
View answerAs both issues raised are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this issue, as soon as possible.
110. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his plans to address the shortage of home care provision by the HSE in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61231/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
111. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the deficiency in terms of vacancies being filled in the west Clare primary care team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61230/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
112. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will detail his Department’s efforts to address long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60236/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the way that he intends to speed up the recruitment process of qualified personnel within health organisations (details supplied). [61268/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
114. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the action that is being taken to address the shortage of care workers in home support and long-term residential care for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61072/22]
View answerAddressing the shortage of care-workers in Ireland is an urgent priority for the Government. To this end, I established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group in March 2022 to examine, and formulate recommendations to address, the challenges in front-line carer roles in the home-support and long-term residential care sectors. Working closely with key stakeholders, the Group examined the recruitment, retention, training, career-development, and pay and conditions of care-workers.
The Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants was published on 15 October 2022. Providing an overview of the work of the Group and its key findings, the report presents a suite of 16 recommendations spanning the areas of areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development, sectoral reform, and monitoring and implementation.
I strongly endorse all of the Group's recommendations and work towards their implementation has commenced. I will be closely monitoring this implementation on an on-going basis to ensure that the recommendations are enacted in a full and timely manner.
115. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of dementia day care centres; the number currently being provided; the plans that are in place for future provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61028/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
116. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the closure of a centre (details supplied) in Midleton, County Cork; if he will provide an update on the ongoing supports being provided to the remaining residents and their families in the process of being transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61305/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
117. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that all women who choose to have home births are supported in their decision. [60994/22]
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.
