Tuesday, 28 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 629-644

Hospital Facilities

Questions (629)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

629. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 18 January 2023, if further details can be provided on bed-capacity analysis for Galway University Hospital; in terms of the figure of 222, what this addition would bring the capacity to; and if details can be provided on the requirement for an extra 24 beds in Portiuncula hospital; and if he will clarify whether or not this takes into account the new 50-bed block currently under construction. [14715/23]

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.

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (630)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

630. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all procurement competitions, if any, in which companies (details supplied) won contracts from his Department since 2016. [14726/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department has not awarded contracts following procurement competitions to any of the detailed companies in the specified period.

Official Travel

Questions (631)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

631. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total costs of accommodation and travel expenses associated with his recent foreign trip, or foreign trips by Ministers for State at his Department, for St Patrick’s Day; and if a breakdown can be provided on travel costs, accommodation costs, country/state visited, number of departmental staff accompanying him, and the duration of the trip, in tabular form. [14744/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The table below sets out the travel costs associated with Ministerial engagements for St Patrick's Day for my Department. It should be noted in some instances the Department of Foreign Affairs makes arrangements for accommodation and this may be billed to my Department at a later date. Also, Minister Naughton, who is Government Chief Whip as well as Minister of State in my Department, had her travel and accommodation expenses paid by the Department of the Taoiseach. Some or all of these costs may be billed to my Department at a later date.

	Location	From	To	Flights	Hotel
Minister Donnelly	Toronto/Ottowa	13/03/2023	19/03/2023	€1,706.05	€794.52
Private Secretary to Minister Donnelly	Toronto/Ottowa	13/03/2023	19/03/2023	€1,706.05	€794.52
Policy Advisor to Minister Donnelly	Toronto/Ottowa	13/03/2023	19/03/2023	€1,706.05	€794.52
Private Secretary to Minister Naughton	Miami/Mexico City	10/03/2023	16/03/2023	€4,278.39

Health Strategies

Questions (632)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

632. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the review and revision of Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland: the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 – 2021; if a new plan will be developed for the period from 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14771/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Hildegarde Naughton)

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to promote an increase in the number of new mothers breastfeeding. The Department of Health and the HSE have prioritised supports for breastfeeding in national health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of some actions, the HSE extended the implementation of the Breastfeeding Action Plan until the end of 2023 and continue to work on priority outstanding actions. A review of progress against the plan will be carried out in 2023 to inform future planning and priorities

The Department of Health will continue to work with the HSE National Breastfeeding Co-ordinator, the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group and other key stakeholders to ensure that policy and strategy will provide support to mothers who breastfeed and improve breastfeeding rates in Ireland.

Health Promotion

Questions (633)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

633. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for a five-year hypertension awareness and behaviour change campaign led by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14772/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

This PQ is best placed with the HSE as an Operational/Service matter.

Health Strategies

Questions (634)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

634. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health what funding has been allocated to the national stroke strategy so that its recommendations are implemented in full. [14773/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 was published on the HSE’s website on World Stroke Day, 29th October 2022. The strategy recommends the strategic development of the service over 5-year period 2022-2027. The HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 is based on an estimated overall investment of approximately €36m. This will provide significant improvements in service delivery with improved patient flow, access and efficiency in the delivery of stroke services expected in return. On Budget Day 27th September 2022 I announced that funding of €4.9 million would be made available in 2023 to fund the National Stroke Strategy. It is a matter for the HSE to determine how this funding should be used to implement the recommendations contained in the Strategy.

Health Strategies

Questions (635)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

635. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health what funding has been made available for the national stroke strategy; what the funding is being used for; what actions are being implemented in 2023 as part of the national stroke strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14774/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

On Budget Day 27 September 2022 I announced that funding of €4.9 million would be made available in 2023 to fund the National Stroke Strategy. As the question of implementation of the Strategy relates to service matters, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (636, 637, 638, 639)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

636. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds for stroke patients in Ireland; the deficit that exists for the population on the basis of recommendations contained in the UK’s National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke on the care to be provided for persons who have suffered a stroke; the estimated cost of meeting the staffing requirements for a single bed in a stroke unit; the estimated cost required to meet the increase in the incidence of strokes; the additional staffing needed for the development of acute stroke unit bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14775/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

637. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of stroke units that operate below the recommended nurse and or staffing level; the estimated cost of putting the recommended staff levels in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

638. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals with access to clinical psychology as part of stroke unit care; the estimated cost and staffing associated with ensuring that this service is available to all stroke units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14777/23]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

639. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs associated with the further development of the early supported discharge of people who have suffered a stroke; the current staffing deficits in existing teams that are below the level recommended by the national stroke programme; the estimated costs to ensure that staffing deficits are addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14778/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 636, 637, 638 and 639 together.

As these questions relate to service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Question No. 637 answered with Question No. 636.

Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 636.

Question No. 639 answered with Question No. 636.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (640)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

640. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health what plans have been established to fund the implementation of the new cardiac rehabilitation model of care. [14779/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Referring to HSE as this is an operational/service planning matter.

Departmental Data

Questions (641)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

641. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the costs of ensuring adequate national capacity to deliver cardiac rehabilitation to all patients for whom it is recommended, ensuring that staffing and resources are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14780/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Referring to HSE as this is an operational/service planning matter.

Health Services

Questions (642)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

642. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to make available under the drug payment scheme or medical card scheme the drug NP thyroid, which is used to treat thyroid conditions and autoimmune diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14782/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) tablets are not on the formal GMS Reimbursement List and are an Exempt Medicinal Product not licensed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). They have never been on the formal GMS Reimbursement List. However, the product is available on an exceptional basis under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements and the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS).

Health Services Waiting Lists

Questions (643)

Seán Canney

Question:

643. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the longest time that a child who is classified as urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent is waiting for an MRI scan in UHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14783/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Health Services Staff

Questions (644)

Michael McNamara

Question:

644. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of whole-time equivalent (WTE) positions at University Hospital Limerick and within the UL Hospitals Group on 31 January 2020 and on 31 January 2023 by profession, in tabular form, to include consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals such as pharmacists, occupational therapists, radiographers, physiotherapists, accountants and administration personnel; if he will provide the number of said personnel employed via agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14786/23]

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.