Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1637)

Matt Carthy

Question:

1637. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an MRI scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1936/23]

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Written answers

Under 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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1638)

Seán Canney

Question:

1638. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who are waiting for pain management at University Hospital Galway; the length of time that they have been waiting; his plans to address the crisis in waiting times for pain management in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1940/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic and the current pressures on Emergency Departments.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan set targets to reduce both the number of people waiting for care and the length of time they are waiting. Positive progress was made in 2022 in relation to both targets, despite negative impacts throughout the year on scheduled care from continued COVID-19 surges, emergency department pressures and other operational factors, including staff hiring. In 2022, there were c.1.56m patients removed from the Waiting list and c.1.53m patients added to the waiting list – a net reduction of c.30k (4%). Long waiters were significantly reduced in 2022: the number of patients exceeding the 18-month maximum wait time target for new outpatient (OPD) appointments target decreased by c.59.0k (38.5%) and the number of patients exceeding the 12-month maximum wait time target for in-patient day case (IPDC) procedures and GI Scopes has decreased by c3.8k (22.6%) and c.3.5k (86.5%) respectively.

Through the 2022 Plan, €350m funding was allocated to the HSE and the NTPF to provide additional public and private activity to reduce the waiting list backlogs that were exacerbated during the Pandemic, but also as the first stage of an ambitious multi annual approach, to lay the foundations for important reforms that will deliver sustained reductions in waiting lists.

For 2023, funding of €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists, some €360m of which is targeted at acute hospital waiting lists. The plan to utilise this part of the funding is being developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE and NTPF. This will include details of new capacity planned for 2023 as well as important reforms that will improve capacity in the public hospital system.

The NTPF have advised my department that they have approved an outpatient insourcing initiative for funding so far in 2023, for Galway University Hospital, which will facilitate treatment for 400 patients on the GUH OPD Pain Relief waiting list.

In relation to the waiting list information requested by the Deputy concerning pain management at University Hospital Galway, this information is published monthly and is available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (1639)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1639. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a young child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for an assessment of need; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/23]

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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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1640)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1640. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when cataract surgery will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1943/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1641)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in accessing the CAMHS service in Galway city and county; the urgent action that is being taken to provide a quality service to young persons in the county who require these services urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1947/23]

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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 directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (1642)

Brian Stanley

Question:

1642. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the senior dietitians that were promised on 24 June 2022 for the diabetic clinic at Portlaoise Hospital will be appointed; if he will further confirm that funding is in place to fund these posts; the stage that recruitment is at; and the likely timeline to have them in place. [1948/23]

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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.

Questions (1646)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

1646. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of speech therapy for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1964/23]

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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.

Question No. 1647 answered with Question No. 1528.

Disability Services

Questions (1648)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1648. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the action that he will take in 2023 to address the long waiting lists and ensure that children with autism spectrum disorder receive the necessary supports for early intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1982/23]

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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.

Dental Services

Questions (1649)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1649. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if dentists in County Kerry are taking on patients with medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1983/23]

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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 Charges

Questions (1650)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1650. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that there are charges of up to €179 per week charged to patients who have been more than 30 days in hospital and are discharged to community hospitals when that would not be charged if they remained in hospital or were transferred to a private nursing home under the transitional care funding for convalescent beds in private nursing homes; if he intends abolishing such charges in community hospitals in the interest of equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1984/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The issue raised relates to Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions (RSSMACs). These are statutory contributions towards accommodation and maintenance costs that must be paid to the HSE, under the provisions of sections 67A, 67B, 67C and 67D of the Health Act 1970, by certain recipients of non-acute residential support services provided by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The applicable contribution rates (current maximum €179 per week) are provided for under the Health (Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation Contributions) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 467 of 2016) and related amending regulations (most recently S.I. No. 1 of 2022).

The RSSMACs contribution requirement does not apply to acute in-patient services, out-patient services or long-term residential care services funded under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 (“Fair Deal”), and some exemptions apply under sub-section 67C(7).

The contribution requirement is subject to a 30-day threshold of service provision over a “rolling year”, meaning that these statutory contributions are payable on a given day by service users who have already, during the 12-month period up to that day, received an aggregate of at least 30 days of residential support services.

The RSSMACs framework includes features to ensure that contributions are reasonable and fair and that service users' contributions are based on what they can afford, taking account of their individual circumstances. For example,

- rates are structured to ensure that service users retain a reasonable amount of income for personal use;

- the rates payable by individuals are based on sliding scales, with proportionally lower rates applying to lower incomes;

- service users may apply for and be granted full or partial waivers, depending on their individual circumstances; and

- service users may appeal RSSMACs decisions, including in relation to rates payable and waiver applications.

To assist in the fair and consistent application of the framework nationally, the HSE has published general implementation guidelines, together with comprehensive waiver guidelines (approved by the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure and Reform) on the individual circumstances where such contributions may if appropriate be reduced in full or in part.

The categories of recipients of residential support services provided by or on behalf of the HSE that are liable to pay RSSMACs to the HSE include (inter alia):

- community hospital patients receiving non-acute care;

- patients who remain in acute hospitals following certification that they no longer require acute in-patient services; and

- patients receiving non-acute convalescent care services (including those transferred to nursing homes under transitional care funding).

Comprehensive information about the RSSMACs framework is published by the HSE at: www.hse.ie/longstaycontributions.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (1651)

Michael Lowry

Question:

1651. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he has received a letter from Clare County Council regarding a notice motion and resolution passed at the January meeting of Clare County Council (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1985/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I can confirm that correspondence from Clare County Council dated 10th January 2023 has been received in my Department. A reply to this letter will issue shortly.

Defibrillators Provision

In line with Act, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.

Funding allocated to each service area will be documented in the NSP when approved and published.