Written Answers Nos. 1611-1625
1611. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric orthopaedic appointments, by appointment type, cancelled in January and February 2019-2023, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17478/23]
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.
1612. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health what measures are in place to combat the shortages of Ozempic, a medication for type-2 diabetes; the reason for the ongoing shortages; what long-term solutions are in place to prevent these shortages recurring in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17494/23]
View answerShortages of the diabetes medicine Ozempic are linked to the increased demand which has been attributed to the off-label use of the product to treat obesity.
Novo Nordisk, the marketing authorisation holder for Ozempic, has notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of intermittent supply issues with Ozempic products due to increased global demand. The company anticipates that intermittent supply will continue throughout 2023. Similar supply constraints are being experienced in other EU countries.
Novo Nordisk has implemented monthly allocations to help ensure continuity of supply and equitable distribution of Ozempic stock to Irish patients. The company has issued letters to relevant stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, to ensure they are aware of this supply issue and its management.
Information relating to medicines shortages, including particular information relating to Ozempic, can be found on the HPRA's website (Medicines Shortages (hpra.ie). Information on shortages is dynamic and changes depending on the current information the HPRA has to hand, including removal from the list when a shortage has been resolved.
1613. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to ensure that the special leave with pay for healthcare workers with long-Covid will continue beyond 30 June 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17497/23]
View answerI am mindful that the temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave in respect of long-Covid is due to conclude at the end of June and officials in my Department are actively engaging with key stakeholders in exploring what options are available in this regard.
The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.
I understand that Minister Humphreys has committed to reviewing the EU Committee recommendation regarding the occupational recognition of Covid in respect of the Department of Social Protection Benefits Schemes, and the list of prescribed diseases/illnesses set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The outcome of this review is awaited.
1614. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on recognising long-Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17498/23]
View answerThe EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety have recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.
In Ireland, Special Leave with Pay is provided for the recommended isolation period, and those remaining unwell beyond that timeframe may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
For certain employees who remained unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a temporary Scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection. That Scheme is scheduled to conclude at the end of June this year.
I understand that Minister Humphreys has committed to reviewing the EU Committee recommendation regarding the occupational recognition of Covid in respect of the Department of Social Protection Benefits Schemes, and the list of prescribed diseases/illnesses set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The outcome of this review is awaited.
1615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on enabling individuals to purchase six-months of HRT in one calendar month to avail of the drugs payment scheme given that this medication is not being provided for publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17499/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Some Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medications are available to medical card holders under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge.
These same HRT medications are also available under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). The DPS ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
As announced in Budget 2023, the VAT rate for non-oral forms of HRT was reduced to zero from 1 January 2023. This measure has reduced the cost of non-oral forms of HRT for all those who need them.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the public body established in law to protect the health, safety and well-being of patients and the public by regulating pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland. The PSI is an independent body and an agency of the Department of Health.
The PSI sets standards for pharmacists and pharmacies and ensures compliance with the regulatory framework in place governing the practice of pharmacy, and the supply of pharmaceutical care and medicinal products, in accordance with legislation, to patients and the public.
The length or duration of a prescription is at the clinical discretion of the prescriber, but ordinarily a prescription in Ireland is valid for a maximum period of six months. The rationale for this time limit is to ensure that appropriate medical care continues to be afforded to persons in receipt of prescriptions.
It has always been the position that only one month’s supply should be dispensed under the GMS scheme or other community drug schemes, including the DPS. Pharmacies can dispense more than one month supply to private patients in circumstances where no patient safety issues arise and there are no concerns in respect of the continued supply of the product.
1616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that dementia and Alzheimer's disease treatment and care are informed by the latest best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17500/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the home support waiting list in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17501/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1618. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to recruit more healthcare support assistants in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17502/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1619. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE proposals to limit home birth services for women and pregnant people living within 30 minutes of a maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17503/23]
View answerAs the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1620. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on funding recently allocated to a meals-on-wheels service (details supplied); if he will ring fence adequate annual funding for the service to ensure its long-term viability to meet the ongoing demand for the service in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17509/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1621. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the hospital appointment of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17516/23]
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.
1622. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on any discussions between his Department and the Irish Dental Association on further revision of the dental treatment service scheme; the plans his Department and the HSE have to ensure that patients in Louth and Meath who have medical cards receive the timely treatment they need in the interim; if he will provide the most recent figures on the number of registered dentists in the scheme in both Louth and Meath as of 1 April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17517/23]
View answerIt is a top priority for myself and for the Government to improve patient access to oral healthcare services, both in the short term through a range of measures, and in the long term through transformational reform of oral healthcare services in Ireland. This reform will be achieved through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy.
I, along with officials from my Department, met with the Irish Dental Association (IDA) on 20 November 2020. My officials then continued to engage with the IDA on a package of measures introduced from 1 May 2022, to expand the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders and increase the fees paid to contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have all increased in recent months.
In addition, the Chief Dental Officer and other officials in the Department of Health met with the IDA on 29 July 2022 and 2 December 2022 to discuss implementation of the National Oral Health Policy. I will be meeting the IDA again on Monday, 24th April.
At end-March 2023, there were 21 dentists registered on the DTSS in Louth and 11 in Meath.
I am aware that there are some towns with no or limited DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquiries and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by directly contacting private contractors or arranging treatment to be provided by HSE-employed dentists.
An additional allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services. This includes €5 million allocated on a once-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety-net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still having difficulty accessing a local dentist.
1623. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he has had representations from an organisation (details supplied) regarding an inquiry into the situation of families affected by a medication sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17518/23]
View answerWhen I met with the patient groups involved with this issue, I supported their call for an inquiry into sodium valproate and I am committed to making that happen. I understand that the delay in establishing this inquiry is frustrating for those impacted and I share their frustration.
During 2022 the Terms of Reference were agreed after close consultation with patient groups. However, after further cross Departmental engagement these needed to be re-drafted to ensure the inquiry could be delivered in a meaningful way within a reasonable timeframe. I am aware that amended Terms of Reference have been prepared, again with input from patient representatives. My Department is taking steps to complete the policy documentation required to support this inquiry and to bring a memo to government seeking approval for the inquiry to commence.
This inquiry will be designed to provide a voice to persons with a diagnosis of foetal valproate spectrum disorder (FVSD) and their families. It will seek to document the regulation of sodium valproate and the control practices in place around prescribing and dispensing.
There are various stakeholders involved in addition to the advocate groups, including prescribers of the drug, and our medicines and pharmacy regulators. As a result, there is a lot of preparatory work involved in laying the groundwork for this inquiry. It is important that enough time and resources are invested in completing this work, as there are many factors to consider. I want to ensure that the inquiry delivers and allows those impacted to tell their story. My officials are working to ensure that this will be facilitated.
Completion of this work is important to me and I am determined that an inquiry will commence as soon as it is appropriate.
OACS Ireland are an important stakeholder in this process and my officials continue to engage with this group.
I would like to inform you that in parallel to the work on the inquiry a Valproate Stakeholder Group has been established by the Department to assess current systems in place around valproate use in women of childbearing potential. The Sodium Valproate Stakeholder Group had its second meeting recently and a representative from OACS Ireland is included in the meeting group. I look forward to monitoring the outcome of the work of this group.
1624. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress update on the new east Meath primary care centre; the latest expected date for completion of the project and for services to commence locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17522/23]
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.
1625. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a final decision has been agreed upon to provide the appropriate resources to the accident and emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, identified in the HSE review of the closure of the accident and emergency department in Navan Hospital; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17525/23]
View answerThe HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.
No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me or by government.
While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.
For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration, and engagement in relation to this matter is ongoing.
