Tuesday, 18 Apr 2023

Hospital Admissions

Questions (1716)

John McGuinness

Question:

1716. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, as a matter of urgency. [17939/23]

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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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1717)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1717. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the increase health risks people are suffering as a result of Covid-19. [17961/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1718)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

1718. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if staff in an organisation (details supplied) will be recognised for their work during the pandemic. [17968/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Last year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation.

While the Department cannot comment on individual cases, I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:

- Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and

- Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and

- Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and

- Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:

Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);

Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;

Agency roles working in the HSE;

Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

Only those staff who meet all of the above eligibility criteria are covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens, provided important services during this most difficult time. While this is not questioned, it is important to recognise that this in itself is not sufficient to be considered eligible for this payment.

The Government appreciates that those organisations and staff who are not encompassed for this particular payment may feel disappointed. It was tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which eligible front-line workers faced, following careful consideration. While undoubtedly immense efforts have been made by other healthcare staff since the onset of this pandemic, it is right that the Government pursue this course to recognise those at greatest risk in the performance of their duties throughout the pandemic, including those who worked in the very acutely affected environments above.

In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. As of February this year there is also a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.

Finally I want to again express my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during what has been a challenging period for our health services.

Mental Health Services

Questions (1719)

Pa Daly

Question:

1719. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health how many cases are involved in the ongoing north Kerry look-back review into CAMHS; how many families/patients came forward; and if he will provide an approximate timeline for the completion of the review. [17969/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1720)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

1720. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have received the pandemic bonus payment; the number of applicants who have not yet received their payment and if a person (details supplied) will receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17980/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1721, 1722)

Thomas Gould

Question:

1721. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a first consultation with a geriatric specialist in Cork. [17982/23]

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Thomas Gould

Question:

1722. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting a consultation with a geriatric specialist in Cork by waiting time, in tabular form. [17983/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1721 and 1722 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. On the 7th March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the next stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists, and builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, which was followed by the first full year Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both having reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.

The 2023 Plan sets out the priorities to continue to address waiting lists this year. The 30 actions in the Plan, which are governed by the Waiting List Task Force, focus on delivering capacity, reforming scheduled care and enabling scheduled care reform.

For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to implement longer term reforms and provide additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. This will reduce hospital waiting lists by 10% in 2023 as well as continuing to significantly reduce waiting times in line with Sláintecare recommendations. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.

With this ambitious 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving our vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.

In relation to the particular query raised, the attached table, provided to my Department by the NTPF, shows the number of patients waiting for a first appointment with a consultant in Geriatric Medicine at each of the hospitals in Cork at the end of March 2023. The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.


	Total Number of Patients waiting for a Geriatric Medicine Outpatient Appointment in CUH, Mercy & SIVUH Hospitals by Wait Time Band as at 30/03/2023


Sum of Total	Column Labels
Row Labels	0-6 Months	6-12 Months	Grand Total
Cork University Hospital	151	34	185
Mercy University Hospital	21		21


Hospital	Average Wait Time (Days)	Median Wait Time (Days)
Mercy University Hospital	29	23
Cork University Hospital	108	91

Question No. 1722 answered with Question No. 1721.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1723)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

1723. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who, following their pre-assessment for cataract surgery in January at University Hospital Limerick, has yet to receive an appointment date for surgery, having already waited four years for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17985/23]

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Written answers

Written answers

Minister for Health

I 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.

Disability Services

Questions (1729)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1729. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason a 14-year-old child in Nenagh, County Tipperary who requires occupational therapy for sensory processing disorder and dyspraxia cannot access this service through CAMHS Nenagh (details supplied); the reason this is the case; and how this child is supposed to access the service they urgently require and should be entitled to. [17992/23]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1730)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

1730. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will implement the European Commission recommendation that member states recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease if contracted by healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17994/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Currently, Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) is provided for the recommended isolation period, for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid.

For certain public health sector workers who are suffering from long-Covid, a temporary scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced and employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme in July last year.

I understand that my colleague, 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.