Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1342. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16325/23]
View answerDisease Management
Questions (1342)
Written answers
The Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland, including at Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at 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. In line with the principles of Sláintecare, we will continue to support the enhancement of genetic services across the Regional Health Areas (RHAs). This service will be supported by a National Office for Genetics and Genomics, who will work with RHAs to ensure the effective delivery of a national service at a local level.
The Strategy also 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. The government has substantially increased funding for new innovative medicines for rare diseases, investing €100 million over the last three Budgets. 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.
Medical Cards
Questions (1343)
Matt Carthy
Question:1343. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if medical card holders can be charged for having blood samples taken at their GP clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16334/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
The issue has been raised previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances. It is intended to raise this issue again at an appropriate time.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. The HSE does not have any role in relation to such fees.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1344)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1344. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when an individual (details supplied) will be seen for an appointment with the Orthopaedics Section of UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16335/23]
View answerWritten 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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1345)
Michael Lowry
Question:1345. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if the CHO3 adult ADHD clinic is fully staffed; the number of vacancies, if any, that exist in CHO3, adult ADHD services; what the current caseload of the team serving the CHO3 ADHD clinic is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16339/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1346)
Michael Lowry
Question:1346. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if there are active policies and procedures in place in CHO3 to guarantee a smooth transfer from CAMHS to adult ADHD services for children with ADHD who reach 18 years old (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16340/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 (1347)
Jackie Cahill
Question:1347. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a Parkinson’s nurse specialist for Waterford and Tipperary University Hospitals, following a funding allocation under Budget 2023 for the provision of 22 neurologist speciality nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16351/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (1348)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1348. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of all costs associated with the removal of trees in Merlin Woods, Galway to date in 2023; the name of the companies or persons that were commissioned by the HSE for any associated services, including the arborist assessment, the tree-removal works themselves, the clearance of the timber and the tree-planting assessment and any other associated costs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16352/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Service Executive
Questions (1349)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:1349. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the details of the HSE decision-making process leading to tree-felling works carried out in Merlin Woods, Galway in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16353/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1350)
John McGuinness
Question:1350. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the Covid recognition payment has been issued to an organisation (details supplied) for payment to its staff. [16357/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Services
Questions (1351)
John McGuinness
Question:1351. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the services provided at St. Brigid's Hospital Carrick-on-Suir; the plans to provide other services at this location; his views on the demands articulated by the local community relative to the improvements in the services required through the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16359/23]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Health Service Executive, South-East Community Healthcare (SECH) area remains committed to providing quality health services for the population of Carrick-on-Suir and its environs.
Following the discontinuation in 2020 of short-stay inpatient care at the St. Brigid’s District Hospital building, when the hospital was designated as a COVID-19 step down facility, it was important to ensure that St. Brigid’s would not lie idle and underutilised. It was equally important to ensure that St. Brigid’s remained an asset to the local community in Carrick-on-Suir.
In order to preserve the community ethos at the existing St. Brigid’s Hospital site, it was determined that St. Brigid’s would be utilised as a hub for integrated Enhanced Community Care (ECC), incorporating both Integrated Care for Older Persons and Chronic Disease management. The ECC Programme aims to deliver increased levels of healthcare with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care, and community-based services. The focus is on end-to-end pathways that will prevent admissions to acute hospitals where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
The HSE's development of health services at the St. Brigid’s Primary Care Campus in Carrick-on-Suir (which incorporates St. Brigid’s Hospital and the state of the art, purpose built, Primary Care Centre) has seen the provision of the following services: Public Health Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics Outreach, Registration for Births, Deaths and Marriages, Area Medical Officer, Mental Health services, an Ante-natal clinic which is provided by Tipperary University Hospital, Diabetic retinal screening, Social Workers, Older Persons services coordinator and Health Promotion.
There are also many further supports in place to meet the health and care demands of the local community in Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding areas.
Those who require convalescent, respite and/or palliative care services are being supported in alternative settings in the South Tipperary area including St Theresa’s Hospital Clogheen, HSE Cluain Arann in Tipperary town, HSE St Anthony’s Unit Clonmel and private nursing homes.
Two private Nursing Home beds, on contract to the HSE, provide respite to individuals in the Community. The provision of respite maintains an individual in the Community and contributes to hospital avoidance. These beds are closely monitored to ensure maximum utilisation.
There is ongoing close liaison between South-East Community Healthcare (SECH) Services for Older People and Acute Hospital Services. SECH Older Persons services continue to support our acute colleagues in both hospital avoidance and in the delivery of services to individuals post an acute episode.
Tipperary University Hospital are advised of both short (convalescent and palliative) and long stay residential vacancies within Older Persons services on a daily basis thus facilitating the transfer of inpatients to either of these residential settings.
The Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons and the Frailty at the Front Door programmes support either the frail older person to remain at home or to be discharged early, should they be admitted to acute services.
Home Support also prioritises the allocation of home support services to those within acute services in order to facilitate early discharge.
In relation to the roll-out of further services in St. Brigid’s, I would like to inform the Deputy that South-East Community Healthcare Primary Care will continue to explore options while developing and expanding the current services in an integrated manner with all care groups and acute colleagues.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (1352)
Seán Canney
Question:1352. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what steps should be taken by nursing home workers where a former employer sought and was paid the Covid bonus payment on their behalf, but the worker has not been paid by their now former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16368/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Industrial Relations
Questions (1353)
John McGuinness
Question:1353. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress if any in resolving the pay issues arising from the section 42 report and the Labour Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16376/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Report 42 matter is progressing as per the Labour Court recommendation (LCR 19986) under the sectoral bargaining provisions of Building Momentum whereby outstanding adjudications, recommendations, awards and claims may be looked at again.
The outstanding pay awards under Report No. 42 have already been accepted and acknowledged as part settled by Fórsa on 13/04/2022 in their letter to the HSE they stated the following:
"The Senior grades comprehended by the Report no.42 of the review body on Higher Remuneration will accept 1% during the lifetime of this agreement as part settlement of this outstanding matter which still requires absolute resolution following expiry of the current agreement."
Further progress to resolution is expected through the next public service pay agreement as the mechanism recommended by LCR19986
Question No. 1354 answered with Question No. 1331.
Nursing Education
Questions (1355)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:1355. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reinstating the €100 placement grant that was available to students on placement as a result of the pandemic, particularly for healthcare assistants who have returned to study nursing or midwifery; if he is aware of cases in which students are required to work for 31 hours per week for 49 weeks for no pay as part of their compulsory placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16384/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, Clinical placement learning is mandatory and comprises 50% of nursing and midwifery undergraduate educational programmes. Mandatory supernumerary clinical placements occur for 45 weeks from year 1 of the programme right through to the first semester of year 4. Allocation to a clinical placement is driven by educational needs enabling the student to achieve stated learning outcomes. In line with Directive 2013/55/EU, supernumerary clinical placements ensure learning takes place in a clinical learning environment and that essential experience is gained under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife called preceptors. These supernumerary students are not employees and are therefore not paid. As students, rather than employees, the primary focus of their clinical placements is on learning. Changing the supernumerary status of those placements to that of an employee would remove the educational protections that enable such students to participate in an observing and a learning capacity.
The Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week was an exceptional and temporary measure put in place to assist eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary clinical placement specifically during the pandemic while work was ongoing by my Department to progress the recommendations arising from the 'Longer Term Review - Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives' undertaken by Mr. McHugh.
The enhanced travel and subsistence scheme for student nurses and midwives undertaking supernumerary clinical placement arose following recommendation from the McHugh Report, which was an examination of the existing arrangements regarding additional travel, subsistence and accommodation requirements of student nurses and midwives on clinical placement specifically. It is governed by Circular 4/2023: Payment of Clinical Placement Allowances to Undergraduate Supernumerary Nursing and Midwifery Students, as issued by my Department on 27th February 2023.
Student nurses and midwives’ final year internship placement consists of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement as the student nurses and midwives and are considered as 0.5 WTE of the workforce. I am ensuring that their salary is set in line with the relevant recommendation in the McHugh Report, by increasing their rate of pay to 80% of Point 1 of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale. As these internship students receive a paid salary, they are not eligible for clinical placement allowances which are designed specifically to support student nurses and midwives undertaking supernumerary clinical placements.
A sponsorship scheme is available from the HSE for public health service employees to train as a nurse or midwife, governed by HR Circular 40/2020: Sponsorship for Public Health Service Employees wishing to train as Nurses/Midwives. This sponsorship scheme is open to support staff in the Irish public health service who want to become nurses or midwives. To be eligible for this scheme, employees must be directly involved in delivering care to patients or clients in a nursing/midwifery context. For example, and as the Deputy refers to, healthcare assistants are eligible for this scheme. Successful applicants under this scheme, remain paid employees for the duration of their nursing or midwifery degree programme, and as such continue to receive their basic salary, in addition to receiving sponsorship of fees for their chosen programme of study. As with nursing and midwifery interns who are employees and therefore paid, students on the sponsorship scheme are paid employees and therefore, are not eligible to receive supernumerary clinical placement allowances. There are no plans to change this.
Departmental Data
Questions (1356)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1356. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children diagnosed with scarlet fever and hospitalised due to same in the months October 2022 to March 2023, inclusive, broken down by individual hospital, and the age range of those children affected, in tabular form. [16387/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.