Written Answers Nos. 319-339
319. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for Jigsaw by CHO and length of wait for January, February, and March 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form. [15953/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
320. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on diagnostic waiting lists at the end of quarter 1 2023; the number for each quarter of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15954/23]
View answerThe HSE advises that a pilot project commenced in 2016 by the HSE Acute Hospitals Division to progress the collection of national radiology waiting list data. The project has been supported by the Radiology Clinical Care Programme and has involved key stakeholders across the system including the National Integrated Medical Imaging System (NIMIS) Team, Hospital Groups, and the support of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for data collection and data management expertise.
The information that is currently being collected is presently being tested and validated at hospital, hospital group and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
- Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Groups.
- Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
- Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Group level. Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
- The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
- This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
In relation to the number of persons on diagnostic waiting lists at the end of quarter 1 2023, the National Treatment Purchase Fund will commence collating this data at the end of March and the Quarter 1 report will be available sometime after that.
While I have previously provided the Deputy with the Quarter 1,3 and 4 reports in response to earlier PQ they are again attached for ease of reference.
Diagnostic waiting list report Q1 2022
Diagnostic waiting list report Q2 2022
Diagnostic waiting list report Q3 2022
Diagnostic waiting list report Q4 2022
The Quarter 2 2022 report sets out waiting list data for CT, MRI and Ultrasound. The HSE advises that, at present, further diagnostic scans (including cholangiopancreatography, electroencephalogram, angiogram, and bone scan), are not yet captured as part of this project.
In Q2 2022, there was a total of 238,605 patients reported on the waiting list from all sites, this represents all outpatients waiting, urgent, semi urgent, routine and planned/surveillance (where diagnostic access is planned at particular time intervals).
321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists on the dental treatment services scheme at the end of each month of 2023 to date by LHO, in tabular form; the number at the end of each year 2017-2022; the number of dentists who submitted claims or were otherwise paid under the scheme in each full year; the number of claims made in each full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15956/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children on HSE dental and orthodontic waiting lists at the end of January, February, and March 2019-2023 to date, broken down by standard waiting times, by area, in tabular form. [15957/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
323. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that approximately 300,000 people in Ireland are currently living with a rare disease; if he will provide adequate resources for genetic services in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/23]
View answerOne of the key ambitions the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland. In 2023, the HSE will begin developing a National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics, which will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland and provide a more transparent process to referrals. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce wait time. The Strategy also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023 I approved €2.7 million including the appointment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.
In addition to expanding a broad genetics and genomics service, I have also supported several key measures in rare diseases. My Department has worked with the National Rare Disease Office to facilitate Irish entry into 18 European Reference Networks (ERNs) for rare diseases and support an EU Joint Action for the integration of ERNs into the national system. These ERNs include representation from five academic hospitals and three universities. This represents a significant achievement by the health service, to drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care. The Department has also progressed Irish entry into Horizon Europe Partnerships on Rare Disease and Personalised Medicine. Participation in ERNs and Horizon Europe Partnerships ensure greater coordination and sharing of best practices in key areas such as genetic testing with European partners. Finally, I have recently announced a plan to develop a revised National Rare Disease Plan. This Plan will be a key step in progressing an improved overall service for individuals living with a rare disease.
324. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis and the number of children with spina bifida on waiting lists at the end of March 2019-2023, inclusive, and at the end of June, September, and December 2019-2022, by waiting list, including the number of suspended cases, by specialty and by location, in tabular form; the number waiting 0-6 months, 6-12 month, 12-18 months, and 18+ months; and the average waiting time of all relevant patients on each list. [15964/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
325. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children on paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists for March 2019-2023, inclusive, and at the end of June, September, and December 2019-2022, by waiting list, including the number of suspended cases, by specialty and by location, in tabular form; the number waiting 0-6 months, 6-12 month, 12-18 months, and 18+ months; and the average waiting time of all relevant patients on each list. [15965/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
326. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric orthopaedic appointments, by appointment type, cancelled in January, February, and March 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15966/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
327. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children removed from paediatric orthopaedic waiting lists in January, February, and March 2023, by the reason for removal; the number removed without having a procedure carried out; and the reason. [15967/23]
View answerIn 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.
328. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the total number of GPs in Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary that are registered with the type 2 diabetes cycle of care. [15969/23]
View answerThe Diabetes cycle of care programme was introduced in October 2015. Under the programme, adult GMS patients, those who hold a medical card or GP visit card, with a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes are eligible to be managed as part of the programme by their GP. This programme has largely been replaced by the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme which commenced in 2020 and has now been fully rolled out. The CDM Programme is for adult GMS patients who have one or more specific chronic diseases, amongst them Type 2 Diabetes.
In relation to the percentage of GPs in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary that are registered under the Diabetes cycle of care programme, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with this information as well information on the percentage of such GPs registered under the CDM programme, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he expects the x-ray facility to be installed in the primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15972/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
330. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 1 February 2023, the awards made following a tender process to management consultancy firms, by firm and by his Department, excluding aegis bodies and the Health Service Executive, in each of the years 2018 to date in 2023, inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [15975/23]
View answerDetails of the contracts awarded to management consultancy firms by my Department that exceeded a value of €25,000 excluding VAT, and which were subject to a competitive tendering process for the period 2018 to 2023 are provided in the attached file.
331. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans for the revision of the criteria for the nursing home support scheme medical assessment following the submission of the application for consideration, in light of the public concerns expressed with regard to its inadequacy by his Minister of State; when the review of this specific assessment procedure commended within his Department; the timeline for the introduction of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15985/23]
View answerThe Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone, and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, the legislation which underpins the scheme, outlines in Part 2, Section 7 (6) the criteria which comprises the care needs assessment under the Act. Those seeking to apply for the NHSS scheme must complete a care needs assessment. The care needs assessment is used to identify the individual requirements and care needs of the applicant and includes evaluation of the applicant’s capacity to perform activities of daily living, their cognitive ability, the family and community support that is available as well as the applicant’s access to medical, health and personal social services being provided to or available both at the time of the carrying out of the assessment and generally. The Act also includes provision for any other matter that affects a person’s ability to care for himself or herself, and consideration of the likelihood of a material alteration in the person’s circumstances during their lifetime that could potentially inhibit their ability to care for themselves.
There are currently no plans to revise the Nursing Homes Support Scheme care needs assessment criteria. I have not expressed, nor do I have, any particular concerns regarding the adequacy of the care needs assessment procedures under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. My recent public comments have expressed ongoing legitimate concerns in relation to safeguarding older adults which materialise whenever further changes to the NHSS are suggested.
It is therefore important that any proposed changes to the scheme are equitable, evidence-based and also provide appropriate safeguards for vulnerable older people. As the NHSS is governed by primary legislation any proposed future changes cannot be completed without due diligence, gathering and analysing all available evidence, and giving due consideration to the implications and consequences of those proposed changes.
332. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment for an operation in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15997/23]
View answerUnder 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.
333. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) will expect to receive a date for an operation at St James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15998/23]
View answerUnder 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.
334. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health in the matter of a proposed new model of care for those with gender dysphoria, encompassing children, adolescents, young people and adults under the auspices of the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, if he will confirm the level of consultation, if any, with medical consultants in the national gender service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16004/23]
View answerIn 2020, a steering committee was established to address specific issues in relation to the development of transgender healthcare 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.
Further to the Cass Interim Report on the Tavistock Clinic, the HSE held an event recently with Dr Hillary Cass, which was attended by a wide range of stakeholders from the HSE, the Department of Health, Children’s Heath Ireland, the Ireland East Hospital Group and others involved in providing services.
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 advocacy groups.
The Minister for Health has meet with the national gender service to hear it views and proposals for service design and delivery and I understand that the HSE chief clinical officer has also engaged with the service as part of the development of a new model of care.
I am 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.
335. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that Ireland has only half the staff it needs for genetic services; if he will address a matter arising in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16005/23]
View answerThe Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland, including at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) in Crumlin. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland, launched in December 2022, is to build a strong national genetics service. This will be a patient and family-centred service that can be accessed equitably across the country and across the lifespan of patients. The Strategy outlines a plan to achieve this ambition by improving the evidence-base and infrastructure supporting genetic testing in Ireland.
A key step in building a strong genetics service is addressing our current staffing needs in this area and ensuring national genetic testing capacity is strategically delivered. These objectives will be achieved largely through the planned National Testing Directory for genetics and genomics. The HSE will begin developing this Directory by the 2023 year end. It will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland, provide a more transparent process to referrals, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of our future genetic staffing needs. This development, therefore, will be a key steppingstone to improving national genetic testing and ultimately help reduce wait time.
The National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland also outlines a plan to build a strong genetic workforce for the future. This will be achieved by not only recruiting new staff, but training and development for a future workforce, and professional development for current staff within the health service. To start implementing the Strategy in 2023, I approved €2.7 million including the appointment of key staff. These appointments included a National Director for Genetics and Genomics, a Bioinformatics Lab Director, two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.
336. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the HSE report of the Chief Clinical Officer on the matter of the referral of Irish children to the Tavistock gender identity clinic, London. [16008/23]
View answerAs the referenced report is a HSE report, its publication is a matter for the HSE, and this question has been referred to them for direct reply.
337. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the funding available to psychology trainees undertaking doctorates for counselling and education psychology; the funding available for those outside of first year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16011/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.
I am focussed on using the funding from Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits all students in all years of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are now taking place between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.
338. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on funding for counselling psychology trainee programmes, particularly pertaining to those currently enrolled (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16012/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.
I am focussed on using the funding from Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits all students in all years of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are now taking place between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.
339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in respect of the existing qualification of healthcare assistants from abroad who work here in the context of QQI 5 level qualifications; and if he will provide an update in respect of a national framework of qualification QQI level 5 course for the occupation of healthcare assistant in Ireland. [16016/23]
View answerIn response to work undertaken by the Department of Health, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment provided access to the General Employment Permit in June 2021 for the role of healthcare assistant. The framework agreed with the Department of Health included the requirement for the employment to offer a remuneration level of €27,000 or more and for the permit holder to achieve a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification after two years in the role. The Level 5 qualification after two years is the minimum required for this role. This criterion was established to ensure all workers in the healthcare assistant role would work towards building their skills and range of qualifications and in safeguarding the care of vulnerable patients that a similar standard of learning will be met and delivered upon across care settings.
It is also worth noting that among the recommendations of the Department of Health SWAG Report is the recommendation that ‘a competency framework for the healthcare assistants and care workers should be developed to enable the recognition of prior learning and qualifications and to align grades of employment with qualifications in line with relevant regulations’ .
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment works with other Departments, including the Department of Health, to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce.
I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and my officials will work with Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment officials in relation to clarification of qualification comparisons from non-EU college courses.
