Written Answers Nos. 1718-1738
1718. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he anticipates he will be able to accommodate the meeting request made to his office by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2334/23]
View answerAs the Deputy would be aware, my office receives many requests for meetings from individuals and organisations. The meeting request referred to by the Deputy is currently under active consideration.
1719. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the dermatology waiting lists in Galway University Hospital; the number who have been on the list for between one and two years, and for more than two years; the possible effect on long-term outcomes by the delay in treatment; the steps that are being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2339/23]
View answerIt 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 information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached document.
|
Report |
Archive Date |
Hospital Name |
Specialty Name |
Count |
Total Patients on GUH Dermatology outpatient waiting list 3286
|
Outpatient Galway over 1 Year (Dermatology) |
22/12/2022 |
Galway University Hospitals |
Dermatology |
2245 |
|
Outpatient Galway over 2 Years (Dermatology) |
22/12/2022 |
Galway University Hospitals |
Dermatology |
1478 |
Due the small volume of patients waiting on the GUH IPDC Dermatology waiting list, to preserve patient confidentiality, the total number of patients cannot be shown and have been aggregated into a 'Small Volume Specialties' cohort on the NTPF webisite at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
|
IPDC Galway over 1 Year (Dermatology) |
Galway University Hospitals |
Dermatology |
0 |
|
|
IPDC Galway over 2 Years (Dermatology) |
Galway University Hospitals |
Dermatology |
0 |
1720. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the case for making the flu vaccine free to accelerate uptake at this time of acute pressure. [2370/23]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.
The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
During the 2022/2023 flu season, the flu vaccine is available free of charge to adults over 65 years, individuals in specified at-risk groups and children aged from 2 to 17 years of age. This programme ensures that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access to the flu vaccination without a charge.
1721. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the FEMPI changes, which were introduced affecting the income of pharmacists; if there is a process in place for considering the restoration of such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2371/23]
View answerUnder the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation, payments to pharmacy contractors were restructured in 2009, 2011 and 2013, under:
- S.I. No. 246/2009 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2009;
- S.I. No. 300/2011 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2011; and
- S.I. No. 279/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2013.
Among other things, dispensing fees moved from a mixture of professional fees and retail mark-ups to an increased standard fee which was reduced on a sliding scale based on the number of items dispensed in a month, as follows:
- €5.00 for the first 1,667 items each month;
- €4.50 for the next 833 items; and
- €3.50 for any remaining items.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure that were made under section 9 of the FEMPI Act 2009 expired at the end of 2019.
Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, these regulations had to be replaced by 1 January 2020 in order to maintain a statutory basis for contractor payments and to prescribe the fees payable from that date.
The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019 – S.I. No. 639 of 2019 – gave effect to the current pharmacy fees.
Any future changes to the pharmacy fee structure will need to be made by regulations under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
As Minister for Health, I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of health service reform. Their participation in national COVID-19 vaccination rollout – the largest ever undertaken by the State – and in the recently launched free contraception scheme are examples of the importance of their role in the functioning of our health service.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures.
This group – now called the Community Pharmacy Planning Forum – had examined the operational and clinical challenges confronting community pharmacists during the COVID-19 emergency and played a key role in resolving them to the benefit of the people of Ireland.
The work of the Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
1722. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the report by the Heredity Cancer Model of Care will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2372/23]
View answerIn line with Recommendation 6 of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 and to support the implementation of Recommendation 19 of the Strategy, a Model of Care for Hereditary Cancer is being developed. This will inform the development of services for the identification and management of people with an inherited cancer predisposition.
The Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. New development funding of €20 million was allocated in 2021 and a further €20 million was provided for 2022. This funding has facilitated work in the area of hereditary cancer genetics, including:
- Recruitment of staff to cancer genetics services;
- Development of GP referral guidelines for breast family history;
- Completion of a needs assessment for those with a BRCA gene alteration;
- Development of online training for health care professionals delivering mainstreamed BRCA testing, i.e. genetic testing embedded in oncology services; and
- Recommendations on universal tumour testing in certain types of cancer for possible Lynch Syndrome, an inherited condition which causes people to have a higher risk of developing certain colorectal cancers.
The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) established an Advisory Group for Hereditary Cancer which has been working to develop the Hereditary Cancer Model of Care, incorporating the identification of those with an inherited cancer predisposition and their ongoing management.
The NCCP made the draft Hereditary Cancer Model of Care available for public consultation on 13 December 2022. The consultation process remained open until 12 January of this year. The NCCP is currently in the process of reviewing the responses received on this consultation process. It is expected that the Model of Care will be finalised and published in Q2 2023.
The Department of Health and the HSE recently published the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland in December 2022. My Department and the HSE will collaborate in relation to its implementation in areas relevant to cancer predisposition and cancer treatment.
1723. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progression of the new community nursing development at St. Mary's Hospital, Dublin Rd, Drogheda; when the project is expected to be completed; if he will supply other relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2381/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1724. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of the annual funding for the aids and appliances for persons who are blind or vision impaired in each CHO in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. [2428/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the provision of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1725. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the national standardised list of community funded aids and appliances and prescribing criteria, including the list of all aids and appliances on the list; if there is a specific category for persons who are blind or vision impaired; and if so, the aids and appliances that are included for this category. [2429/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for the provision of aids and appliances under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1726. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will immediately cease the practice of preliminary team assessments as a waiting list measure to address the long delays in the assessment of needs process. [2430/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1727. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that there are clear and compulsory communication channels between the HSE and families concerning postmortems, especially in perinatal cases. [2431/23]
View answer1728. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that no human organs or tissue are retained during or after postmortems without the expressed permission of the deceased person’s next-of-kin. [2432/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1727 and 1728 together.
The Minister and the Department of Health recognise the need to introduce safeguards to protect the integrity of the human body before and after death. The Human Tissue (Transplant, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill secured Cabinet approval for publication on the 29th November 2022, and has since been published on the Oireachtas website. The Bill is due to be presented for Second Stage debate later this month.
This Bill is a composite piece of legislation that will introduce a statutory framework across the areas of organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures in hospital settings, anatomical examination and public display of bodies after death.
The overarching aim of the Bill is to further embed in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive matters. It implements recommendations of the Madden Report and establishes a new regulatory regime to ensure best practice is followed in the conduct of post-mortem examinations.
The Human Tissue Bill introduces consent provisions for non-coronial post-mortems and sets out a clear framework for how consent should be obtained and the information that must be given to families when seeking such consent. The Bill also introduces regulations for the retention, storage, use, disposal and return of organs and tissue from deceased persons following a post-mortem examination.
Recognising the need to enhance provisions to encompass all post-mortems that are conducted in hospital settings, the Bill will amend the Coroners Acts 1962-2020 to address issues with regard to material removed and retained from a deceased person in a post-mortem examination directed by a coroner.
It is important to note that the Corners Acts 1962-2020 remain as the primary legislation governing post-mortem examinations directed by the coroner. Where a coroner has instructed that a post-mortem should take place, consent from the next of kin is not required because there is a legal requirement on the coroner to investigate certain types of deaths.
The HSE is committed to ensuring postmortem services comply with best practice across all hospitals and has undertaken a programme of work to progress the eight recommendations identified in an audit report on the post-mortem process published earlier this year.
Actions taken so far include:
- The Chief Clinical Officer has established a Post-Mortem Examination Services Group to review and update the 2012 Standards. This Group is due to complete its work shortly;
- The National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) has accelerated a review of the provision of perinatal pathology, and the HSE is currently developing a National Perinatal Pathology Practice Framework Document to support services;
- The HSE is continuing to invest in perinatal pathology services with the aim of ensuring that all hospitals will have access to a regional service either as part of their Hospital Group or a network of Hospital Groups; and
- HSE National Acute Operations has engaged with local hospital management to ensure that existing guidelines are followed.
Overall, the legislation along with the measures being undertaken by the HSE will lead to improved standards of practice across both the coronial and non-coronial system and will complement updated guidelines currently being drafted by the HSE which are scheduled for publication shortly.
1730. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the funding or provision of equipment that is available for persons who have been medically assessed as requiring mobility scooters. [2434/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances free of charge under the Community Funded Schemes to eligible patients (such as those with medical cards or those on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment, the funding available within local budgets, and a determination of the most appropriate product that will meet the eligible person’s needs.
The HSE provides aids and appliances to a wide section of the community including older people, people with diverse chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities. Mobility scooters are among the many products provided.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE and 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.
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations specified 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
1731. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to address the shortages of ambulances in Cork south west. [2435/23]
View answer1732. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the average response time of ambulances in west County Cork; the number of ambulances that are ordinarily based at each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2442/23]
View answer1733. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of paramedics who are assigned to ambulance services in west County Cork; and the optimum number of paramedics who should serve that area. [2443/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1731 to 1733, inclusive, together.
As these items are related to operational and service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1734. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all individuals with diabetes are provided with medical equipment to monitor their sugar levels free-of-charge. [2444/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances free of charge to eligible people (those with medical cards or those on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional.
The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is a collective name for the many aids and appliances that are provided through community services. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment, the funding available within local budgets, and a determination of the most appropriate product that will meet the eligible person’s needs.
The CFS provides aids and appliances and assistive technologies to a wide section of the community including older people, people with diverse chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities. The actual products and services provided are subject to ongoing assessment and change in line with developments in clinical practice, and as new products are developed and become available to the market.
In order for glucose monitoring devices to be added to the devices available under the CFS national tender arrangements, the relevant marketing authorisation holder needs to apply to the HSE through the national framework application process.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE and 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.
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations specified 16 illnesses covered by the scheme, including diabetes. Under the LTI scheme, patients receive medicines and medical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
1735. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his engagement with family members representing service users with physical and intellectual disabilities in a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2445/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government – ‘Our Shared Future’ includes a commitment to continue with moving people out of old style congregated settings, into new homes within the community, with the necessary supports. People are now being supported to live lives of their choice out in the community.
The position of the HSE is that it wishes to see all individuals supported to have the option of living independently in the community provided this is in their best interests and in partnership with their families. It is recognised that this will take time to put in place.
While I as Minister of State for Disabilities have not had any direct, recent meetings with family members, I have engaged on several occasions with local Oireachtas members on a range of matters relating to St. Mary of the Angels, Beaufort.
1736. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current state of feeding eating-drinking-swallowing impairments FEDS pathways for assessment and treatment in CHO 4. [2446/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1737. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase TAMS grants on calf feeders, in recognition of the promotion of dairy calf to beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63138/22]
View answer1738. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase TAMS grants on calf sheds, in recognition of the promotion of dairy calf to beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63139/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1737 and 1738 together.
There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II. To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS II, including transitional expenditure, is €390m with commitments of an additional €117m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments.
The rate of grant aid for TAMS II is set at 40% except in the case of qualified young farmers where the rate of grant aid available to such farmers is increased to 60%.
In relation to TAMS III, changes to the support for capital investments are subject to a Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment and Commission approval. It is proposed to reset the investment ceiling to €90,000 and include proposed increased grant rates for specified investments in farm safety, the Lower Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme, the Organic Capital Investment scheme and the Solar Scheme which will include those eligible from the Dairy Sector to apply in TAMS III in 2023. In the case of eligible qualified young farmers and women farmers, the rate of grant aid available will be increased to 60%.
The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised. All reference costs for new and existing investments are also being reviewed.
