Written Answers Nos. 645-661
645. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors and nurses employed at University Hospital Limerick and within the UL Hospitals Group engaged in administrative roles who no longer involve direct medical care on 31January 2020 and on 31 January 2023. [14787/23]
View answerReferred to HSE : As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
646. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of any tree-removal contracts worth in excess of €5,000 awarded by CHO4 HSE services since 1 January 2018, in tabular form, namely, the value of the contract awarded in each instance; the number of trees removed in each instance and the location of these works; if a tendering process applied to each of these works; if he will provide details on this where that was the case; the reason a tendering process may not have applied in particular instances; the name of any independent arborist that was commissioned by the HSE in CHO4 to assess trees as part of these works; the name of the managers awarding the contract in each instance; and the name of the successful company. [14788/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
647. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 recognition payment will be paid to a qualified person (details supplied) who has supplied their information as requested in November 2022. [14792/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information.
648. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health f he will ensure that a wheelchair will be urgently provided to a patient (details supplied) who is receiving palliative care treatment in their home from their elderly partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14793/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
649. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot access funding for dialectical behaviour therapy treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14807/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
650. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health what measures are in place to reduce audiology lists in Limerick for those under the age of 4 years and those over the age of 4 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14809/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
651. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to reduce waiting times for children to receive speech and language therapy in Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14810/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
652. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of home care hours delivered, by CHO, by month, in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, in tabular form. [14811/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
653. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of home care hours provided directly by the HSE in 2019-2022, by CHO by year; the number provided by voluntary providers on behalf of the HSE; and the number provided by private providers on behalf of the HSE. [14812/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
654. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of surgical hubs which will be established; the number of surgical hubs already established; the cost, staffing requirements and capacity of surgical hubs already established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE, which is working with Hospital Groups to progress proposals for Surgical Hubs, to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
655. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mean, median, and maximum wait time on NTPF-reported waiting lists, by speciality and by location for February 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form. [14814/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
656. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on NTPF-reported waiting lists, by specialty and by location for February 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form; and the mean, median, and maximum wait time. [14815/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
657. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people aged over 65 and over 75 years on NTPF-reported waiting lists, by specialty and by location for February 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form; and the mean, median, and maximum wait time. [14816/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
658. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he has listened to and consulted with the trans community in relation to their healthcare needs and the provision of that care currently; if he will consider reviewing the National Gender Service in terms of international best practice and how it is currently working from the trans community’s perspective; if he will listen to the trans community’s call for an informed consent model that is led by GPs in local communities and respond accordingly; if he will consult with the trans community, in addition to consulting with medical professionals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community.
In 2020, a steering committee was established to address specific issues in relation to the development of Transgender Identity Services. The Committee had a wide range of stakeholders from the agencies involved in delivering care, as well as service user representatives, including a representative from TENI.
The Minister for Health has met with TENI, the transgender representative body, to hear their views on service design and delivery.
The HSE is committed to developing a seamless and integrated service for those with gender identity issues on an ongoing basis, with the support of all relevant stakeholders, and are focused on providing a high quality and safe service to an often extremely vulnerable patient group. Throughout this process, the HSE will be consulting with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of the new model of care. Including those who provide and use these services, and representative groups.
I strongly believe that patients have a central role to play in the development of health policy and the reform of the health services. I am committed to engaging with transgender representative groups to hear their views on service design and delivery.
659. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the plan for the use of the €5 million funding announced in Budget 2023 to address backlogs in the HSE public dental service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14818/23]
View answer660. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made by his Department and the HSE that no additional dentists or dental team members will be hired under the €5 million funding announced in Budget 2023 to address backlogs in the HSE public dental service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 659 and 660 together.
There are challenges in the provision of dental services and patients of all ages are waiting longer than they should have to, to access care. This is not acceptable. I am responding to this by an unprecedented allocation of an additional €15 million in Budget 2023.
€5 million of this additional allocation is being invested to address backlogs in the HSE Public Dental Service. This is non-recurring funding which is being invested to support access to current services while reform of oral healthcare services proceeds, through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.
As the funding is non-recurring, recruitment of staff will not be involved. The initiative will support existing provision for both HSE and non-HSE staff to operate additional clinical sessions in which HSE patients will receive oral healthcare, for which they will receive a fixed fee per session.
The funding will support the HSE's targeted screening programme which invites children, usually in second and sixth classes, for a checkup with a HSE dentist, who will provide further treatment if needed.
This €5 million funding will also support the HSE to provide emergency care for adult medical card holders who are having difficulty accessing a local dentist under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme.
Discussions are underway with the HSE to ensure this initiative is operational as soon as possible.
661. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if a mechanism will be established to enable workers who have not yet received their pandemic bonus payment to claim the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
