Written Answers Nos. 715-727
715. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding given to the voluntary and community mental health sector in the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26010/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
716. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the current number of authorised officers in the HSE; the target number of authorised officers by quarter 4 of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26011/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
717. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health how many deficits in authorised officer numbers will be addressed by quarter 4 of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on all the independent advocacy services available in mental health, for both inpatient and outpatient services, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form, indicating those that are for children and young people only, and those that are for adults only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26013/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
719. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the projected costs of implementing the proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26014/23]
View answerA Mental Health Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001 – 2018 and overhaul our approach to mental health legislation. While the Department expects many of the proposed changes in the new Bill to be dealt with generally within existing resources, some of the planned changes are expected to carry additional costs, such as the enhanced role for Authorised Officers in the involuntary admission process and the expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s regulatory remit to include community residences and services.
More broadly, mental health services are moving towards more community-based care for people accessing mental health services, and away from prolonged care in inpatient mental health settings where possible. In line with our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, and Sláintecare. Continued investment in mental health services at all levels, including community and inpatient services, will be needed to ensure the continued efficacy and improvement of services and to continue to uphold the rights of people accessing services.
Priority drafting has been granted to the Bill in both the spring and summer legislative session. When the Bill has been finalised, the Department will begin to look at the implementation of any changes, including costs, prior to commencement.
720. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the costings of restructuring the HSE to regional health areas from 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26015/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to the implementation of Health Regions (formerly known as Regional Health Areas or RHAs), as outlined in the Programme for Government. A detailed implementation plan will be presented to Government for decision in the coming weeks, and transition to the six new Health Regions will take place through 2023. It is intended that Health Regions will commence operation from February 2024, and further reforms and devolution of authority will take place on a phased basis through 2024 and 2025.
€5.6m in funding was approved in Budget 2023 for the implementation of Health Regions, including the appointment of senior leadership teams. This includes €1.4m in non-pay costs for the year. Sanction will be finalised in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform for the creation of six new Health Region Chief Executive Officer posts. This is an initial outlay only and any further expenditure will be sought via Estimates in the usual way.
With the exception of the Health Region CEOs, which have already been provided for in Estimates 2023, it is planned to undertake this reform within the current senior post-holder headcount. The creation of the wider leadership teams of the new Health Regions will be achieved within the existing allocation/headcount of senior posts across the current HSE Centre, the Hospital Groups and the CHOs. This will be important in terms of ensuring efficiency, clear lines of reporting, and a lean HSE centre, in line with the recent comments from the HSE CEO and his plans to re-organise the HSE centre in partnership with Health Regions senior leadership teams.
721. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will report on workforce planning for the mental healthcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26016/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
722. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the amount of additional funding allocated to the expansion of the national clinical programmes in mental health in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26017/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
723. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the start date for the new child and youth mental health lead at assistant national director level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26018/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department presentations at the nine acute model 4 hospitals in the country for the month of April; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26038/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress to date of the working group chaired by a person (details supplied) to consider the cost of medical claims; if he will provide in tabular form the details of the dates on which the group has met and a timeline for the group's work plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26041/23]
View answer726. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the details of the membership of the working group chaired by a person (details supplied) to consider the cost of medical claims, including details of the organisation each member represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/23]
View answer727. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if any representative of the victims of medical negligence or any individual who has taken a case against the medical profession or the HSE has been appointed to the membership of the working group chaired by a person (details supplied) to consider the cost of medical claims; if not, why; if the absence of such a voice on the group does not fatally undermine the group and its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26043/23]
View answer728. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if any representative of the legal profession, any legal professional who has represented the victims of medical negligence or any legal professional who has acted for an individual who has taken a case against the medical profession or the HSE has been appointed to the membership of the working group chaired by a person (details supplied) to consider the cost of medical claims; if not, why; if the absences of such a voice on the group does not fatally undermine the group and its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26044/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 725 to 728, inclusive, together.
For context, Government at its meeting on the 31st January 2023, approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims and consider mechanisms to reduce costs and approved the Terms of Reference and membership of the Group.
The Group is chaired independently by an expert healthcare professional, Dr Rhona Mahony and is comprised of membership from across key Government Departments and Agencies (Departments of Health, Justice, An Taoiseach, Finance, Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, Office of the Attorney General, the State Claims Agency and the Health Service Executive).
In fulfilling its terms of reference as approved by Government, the Group may consult with a range of relevant parties. It is considered that securing the views of patients, the legal profession and others will be of enormous value to the deliberations of the Group. On that basis, it is intended that these consultations will take place in an appropriate manner.
The Group held its first meeting on 14th March 2023 and has met five times since on the following dates: 28th March, 11th April, 25th April, 9th May and 23rd May.
It is expected that the Group will produce a final report within 9 months of its first meeting. In the meantime, the Group is engaged in a schedule of work and consultations with relevant parties.
