Written Answers Nos. 1227-1248
1227. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be transferred from Letterkenny University Hospital to the Mater public hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63486/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1228. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to recruit more neurologists given the unacceptable and potentially dangerous length of time that patients are forced to spend on waiting lists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63487/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1229. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if the attention of his Department has been drawn to reports that neurologists in private practice have closed their lists to new patients such is the extent of the backlog; his plans to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63488/22]
View answerIn relation to the query raised by the Deputy, Private Health Care providers are independent organisations and the range of services available, and the criteria for access to those services does not fall under the remit of the Department of Health.
1230. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health Ireland’s position in the EU in terms of waiting list length and the numbers waiting for a specialist consultation as a proportion of the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63489/22]
View answerI thank the Deputy for the question.
My Department has been collectively working on generating an evidence base for waiting list policy including benchmarking with other jurisdictions. While acute scheduled care waiting list data is readily available for our closest neighbours in Britain, and for the North, similar comparable waiting list data has proven challenging to access for other jurisdictions, including in the EU.
The EU Commission's statistical agency, Eurostat, which has responsibility for compiling EU-wide comparable official statistics, does not unfortunately collate data on waiting lists. Therefore, no official ranking of Ireland's position in the EU regarding waiting lists currently exists. However, some reasonable international comparisons have been made by the OECD, but for a very small selection of procedures and for a limited number of countries.
In February my Department intends to publish a number of Health Spending Review reports in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This will include a report entitled 'Acute Hospital Waiting Lists: International Comparisons and Waiting Lists in Ireland', which will be of interest to the Deputy.
There were 584,626 records listed on the active Outpatient waiting lists at the end of December 2022 (as published by the NTPF on 13th January), or c.11% of the population (based on published 2022 census data from the CSO). It should be clarified that this number is for waiting list records and not individual patients, as some patients are on multiple waiting lists simultaneously.
1231. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged under 65 years who are inappropriately living in nursing homes that have been successfully moved out of nursing homes and onto a rehabilitation pathway towards independent living during 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63492/22]
View answerAs this relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
1232. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of new admissions of persons under 65 years to nursing homes in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63493/22]
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 Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for speech and language therapy in the medical centre, Ballyminion, Longford will issue to a person (details supplied). [63496/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1234. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for speech and language therapy appointments in County Longford. [63497/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1235. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of speech therapists assigned to County Longford; if that number is sufficient to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63498/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1236. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) relating to dermatology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63510/22]
View answerIn addition to the question tabled by the Deputy I have received the correspondence attached under other covers and I have sought information from the HSE in relation to the matters raised.
1237. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if financial and other supports will be made available to those who have who have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63512/22]
View answerThe Deputy is advised that in June 2018, the Government agreed to the establishment of the expert group to review the management of clinical negligence claims. It was chaired by the High Court judge, Mr. Justice Charles Meenan. The expert group examined the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively, yet more sensitively, with certain cases.
Mr. Justice Meenan submitted the final report on the current system for managing clinical negligence claims to the then Minister for Health and Minister for Justice in January 2020, prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic. The Government subsequently published the Meenan report in December 2020. One of the report's recommendations is that a compensation scheme be established.
On foot of a request from my Department, the Health Research Board, HRB, carried out an evidence review on the vaccine injury redress programme in other jurisdictions, which was completed in March 2019. The expert group's report, in addition to the HRB's evidence review, and consultation with other Departments and relevant State agencies will inform the development of proposals regarding the establishment of a compensation scheme, including the need for primary legislation.
While some preliminary scoping work has been undertaken by the Department, during the Pandemic all available Department of Health resources were devoted to the Public Health response. This has meant that progress on the development of policy in this area could not be progressed as intended.
There is still significant work required to develop proposals for consideration by Government regarding vaccine damage compensation. As part of that work, it is anticipated that consideration will also be given to the inclusion of claims relating to alleged adverse reactions from COVID Vaccines. I plan to progress this work further in 2023.
1239. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a full complement of therapists will be provided for a school (details supplied). [63525/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1240. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the date on which the external audit of temporary assistance payments scheme to nursing homes was received by the NTPF; the cost of this audit to date; the findings of the audit; if it has been received by his Department; if so, the date on which it was received; if he will publish this audit in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63527/22]
View answerThe 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 2022 by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support and the scheme is currently under review. A robust control framework was put in place for the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, including requirements for validation, review of claims by an external accountancy firm, and provision for all claims to be audited and any misallocated funds clawed back for up to six years following. The thresholds also provided a strong control on costs.
Claims to the scheme were administered by the NTPF (National Treatment Purchase Fund).
As part of the 2020 Internal Audit Plan, Mazars was requested to perform an internal audit review of the process and controls surrounding the management of the administration of the scheme performed by NTPF and KPMG. The focus of this audit consisted primarily of the governance and management of the administration of the scheme.
The NTPF reports that the audit was completed in February 2021 and carried a total cost of c. €6,350. In accordance with the classification of audit opinion, audit results indicate that Substantial Assurance can be placed on the on the sufficiency and operation of internal controls to mitigate and/or manage one or more of those key inherent risks to which the financial activities are exposed.
Private and voluntary nursing homes also received a substantial package of non-financial assistance throughout the pandemic, including the provision of almost € 72m of PPE, staff accommodation, training, COVID Response Teams and more. Many of these supports continue. As previously advised, the NTPF and the HSE are currently undertaking an audit of payments (in addition to the internal audit as mentioned above) and a report will be published when this audit is finalised. This audit is in progress.
1242. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 640 of 13 December 2022, if there is a timeline for a resolution from the engagement between his Department, the HSE and the NTPF and an organisation (details supplied) on allowing public system patients awaiting cancer surgeries to be treated at private hospitals. [63538/22]
View answerThe Government has allocated significantly increased funding to cancer services in recent years, which was used to maintain services during Covid-19 and to drive improvements. In 2021 the Government allocated an additional €57 to cancer services: €20 million in new development funding, €12 million for measures against Covid-19, €15 million for new cancer drugs, and €10 m for cancer screening. In 2022 the Government allocated €35 million extra funding: €20 million for new development funding, €15 million for new cancer drugs.
Services resumption following the Covid pandemic is evident. Medical oncology has made making a strong recovery after the first months of the pandemic with 2022 activity at 102% of 2019 figures so far, and treatments across radiotherapy and surgery have total activity levels for the year at 80-90%+ of 2019 figures.
This recovery has continued through 2021 and 2022, with the longest waiting times for rapid access clinics for the four main cancer types improved compared to the previous 11 months; Urgent breast cancer down 21.1%, non-urgent breast cancer down 18.8%; lung cancer down 57.3% and prostate cancer down 60%.
The number of people coming forward to their GPs and being referred to cancer Rapid Access Clinics (RAC) has continued to improve. From January to September of last year, GP e-referrals to RACs (35,840) are at 137.7% of 2019 activity for the same period. Total attendances at RACs for Jan-Nov stands at 31,851 new patients.
The Department of Health and the HSE recognise the vulnerability of scheduled care activity at this time of year when our acute hospitals and healthcare staff are under significant pressure. We are seeing increased ED attendances which means that some cancellations of elective procedures are required, and we recognise the impact this will have on patients.
The Department of Health and the HSE are working together to protect all scheduled care activity in particular that which is urgent and time critical.
As part of the Winter Planning process hospitals were asked to identify support requirements, including use of private capacity, to support them through the winter period. Private capacity identified was supported on the basis that local arrangements were in place to ensure effective patient flow and transfers. Hospitals and Hospital Groups engage locally with individual Private Hospitals on a daily basis to access additional capacity where available.
The HSE also directly engaged with the Private Health Association ahead of the Christmas period and asked that any additional capacity available be identified through HSE Acute Operations.
The engagements between the Department, HSE and NTPF referred to in my reply on 13 December relate to discussions around a potential longer term more strategic agreement with the private hospital sector and these engagements are at an early stage.
1243. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the provisions that his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in counties Roscommon and Galway; the services that are available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current scheme will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63539/22]
View answer1246. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in County Tipperary; the services that are available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current scheme will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63542/22]
View answer1249. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in County Galway; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current dental treatment services scheme will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63545/22]
View answer1280. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in County Wexford; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current DTSS will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63652/22]
View answer1287. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current DTSS will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63659/22]
View answer1290. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in Galway city and county; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current DTSS will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63664/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1243, 1246, 1249, 1280, 1287 and 1290 together.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. Since these measures came into effect, both the numbers of treatments and patients being seen have increased.
I am aware that there are some towns with no or limited DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by directly contacting private contractors or arranging treatment to be provided by HSE-employed dentists.
An additional allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services. This includes €5 million allocated on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety-net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still having difficulty accessing a local dentist.
The Government recognises that substantive reform of the DTSS is required, as set out in the National Oral Health Policy. My Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure the establishment of focused implementation structures for the Policy to drive implementation. These implementation structures include the need for new clinical leadership and reform leadership posts in the HSE for which resources will be provided. These implementation structures will help to substantively reform the provision of public oral healthcare services to all ages, in line with the National Oral Health Policy. This will include work on planning new services for medical card holders.
While it will take a number of years to bring reform to complete fruition, there will be an early emphasis in implementation on addressing the current issues, including the reform of the provision of services for medical card holders.
1244. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in counties Roscommon and Galway which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past five years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision that is in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63540/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, is also available. Patients with additional needs can access a broader range of treatments.
The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders, including those with additional needs, to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.
Adults with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice setting may need special care services provided via the HSE Public Dental Services. A general dental practitioner or a GP can refer a patient to the HSE for receipt of special care services. A patient or caregiver can also make contact with the HSE directly. These patients who have additional needs are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided using additional supports where necessary. Supports to care include Relative Analgesia, IV sedation and Dental General Anaesthetic.
I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.
1245. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in counties Roscommon and Galway which have ceased providing medical card services in the past five years; the medical card dental services currently available to medical card users; the provision that is in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63541/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are also available.
The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.
I am aware that there are some towns with no or very few DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. For this reason, €5 million of additional funding has been allocated through Budget 2023 on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety-net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist.
I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.
1247. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Tipperary which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past five years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provision that is in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63543/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, is also available. Patients with additional needs can access a broader range of treatments.
The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders, including those with additional needs, to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.
Adults with additional needs who cannot receive care in a general dental practice setting may need special care services provided via the HSE Public Dental Services. A general dental practitioner or a GP can refer a patient to the HSE for receipt of special care services. A patient or caregiver can also make contact with the HSE directly. These patients who have additional needs are given an oral health examination and have their treatment provided using additional supports where necessary. Supports to care include Relative Analgesia, IV sedation and Dental General Anaesthetic.
I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.
1248. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Tipperary that have ceased providing medical card services in the past five years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provision in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63544/22]
View answerThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. More complex care, such as dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are also available.
The DTSS is a “choice of dentist” scheme which does not require the patient to register with a particular dentist and enables medical card holders to attend any DTSS contractor directly without recourse to the HSE. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances the HSE directly assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by contacting private contractors or arranging treatment through HSE-employed dentists.
I am aware that there are some towns with no or very few DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. For this reason, €5 million of additional funding has been allocated through Budget 2023 on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety- net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist.
I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly with the service-related information sought.
