Alan Farrell
Question:182. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for paediatric ophthalmology services across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26536/23]
View answerHealth Services Waiting Lists
Questions (182)
Written 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 Services
Questions (183)
Alan Farrell
Question:183. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in his Department since the formation of Government to promote women's health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26537/23]
View answerWritten answers
Progressing women’s health is a priority for myself and for this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government 2020 and are fully committed to the continued development and improvement of women’s health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health and experiences of healthcare across the whole life cycle.
Underscoring our commitment to women’s health was the establishment of a Women’s Health Taskforce in September 2019 to improve both health outcomes and experiences of healthcare for women and girls. The Women’s Health Taskforce continues to work with the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the European Institute of Women’s Health to prioritise different issues each year with the aim of improving women’s health outcomes and experiences. Critical to this work is the process of listening to women - the Taskforce has so far listened to, engaged with and worked with thousands of women and hundreds of organisations representing women and girls across the country and commits to continued listening.
The Women’s Health Action Plan 2022-23 was published on 8 March 2022, marking International Women’s Day. The Action Plan identifies key actions to improve health outcomes and experiences for women in Ireland. It provides the foundation to address women’s whole health and help ensure that action on women’s health looks beyond reproductive health to make a real difference to women’s lives.
Prioritisation of women’s health is further supported through the significant investment contained within Budget 2022 and 2023, which allocated €31m and €69.2m respectively in funding for new developments in Women's Health. This includes:
2022:
• €8.66 million additional funding for the National Maternity Strategy.
• €9 million to fund access to free contraception for women aged 17-25.
• €5.3 million to grow access to “see and treat” gynaecology clinics; specialist menopause clinics; and specialist endometriosis services.
• €1.34 million to support initial establishment of a perinatal genetics service.
• €0.71m investment in tackling period poverty for the first time.
• €0.54million to establish an expert Obstetric Event Support Team to support services and sites that report severe maternity incidents
• €0.25m additional investment in Sexual Assault Treatment Units.
• €10m Women’s Health Fund, supporting implementation of key priorities for women's health.
2023:
• €11.7 million to provide access to publicly funded IVF treatment.
• Elimination of VAT on HRT and period products.
• Expansion of the Free Contraception Scheme to cover women aged 30 and under.
• €10million investment in the Women’s Health Fund to continue support for women’s health priority areas.
• €0.9m investment in the development of Women’s Health Hubs, for the holistic provision of women’s healthcare.
Prioritisation of women’s health in our service provision is seen in the completed and ongoing work happening to improve healthcare for women across the country. There have been a number of key developments since the establishment of the Women’s Health Taskforce and the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022-23.
• Contraception : A scheme to provide free contraception to women aged 17-25 was launched successfully on 14 September 2022 and was expanded to include 26-year-olds on 1 January 2023. Budget 2023 has allocated funding to support the scheme and work is underway expand it to women under 30 in 2023.
• Menopause: 6 Specialist Menopause Clinics to treat complex symptoms of Menopause, with 5/6 clinics currently open and operational. A GP Quick Reference Guide on Menopause was launched in October 2022 to support primary care practitioners in treating menopause and referring patients to Specialist Clinics. The first National Menopause Awareness Campaign (Radio, Online, Print, TV) was launched by the Department of Health to raise awareness and “lift the taboo” around menopause. www.gov.ie/en/menopause was launched as a one-stop shop for information about menopause and its symptoms as well as advice on proactive management. Removal of VAT from HRT in Budget 2023.
• Fertility: 6 Regional Fertility Hubs are being established to provided tailored, low-level intervention for patients with fertility issues. Investment to support publicly-fund Assisted Human Reproduction has also been allocated and will see the first National Advanced AHR Centre established.
• Gynaecology: A network of 20 “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics are in development, where an estimated 70% of general gynaecology referrals are suitable for management. 13 Ambulatory Gynae Clinics are currently open and operational, with additional clinics in development. The national network will improve access to services; help to reduce the requirement for multiple gynaecology appointments; help to ensure sustainability of service provision into the future given the significant waiting lists for this specialty; and will, ultimately, help improve clinical outcomes.
• Maternity: Under Budgets 2021 and 2022, €16m in new development funding was allocated to the National Maternity Strategy to ensure the continued implementation of the Strategy and the ongoing roll out of the Strategy’s model of care. This investment is providing for further development of community midwifery services, expansion of breastfeeding supports, improved access to allied and specialised services and strengthened training and education supports for staff. This investment is also improving the infrastructure of our maternity services by providing additional home-from-home birthing suites and upgrades to theatres and wards.
• Mental Health: The Women’s Health Fund provided investment in 2022 to support a range of services for women and girls, including digital mental health services access, improving perinatal mental health supports, enhancing specialist eating disorder supports, providing targeted mental health supports for marginalised women and women in addiction and responding to the needs of young girls at risk of developing psychosis.
• The Women’s Health Fund has invested in a range of service areas, responding to the needs of women in year. Areas include cancer screening and immunisation, primary care supports, maternity services and postnatal hubs, gynaecology, mental health and supports for marginalised groups.
• Period Poverty: Removal of VAT from period products in Budget 2023. Funding of €714,000 was allocated for period poverty initiatives in Budget 2022, this funding was then increased in 2023 to €814,000. This funding supports period dignity measures rolled out in partnership with the HSE, local authorities and NGOs. To date in 2023, period poverty supports have been allocated to 18 Local Authorities and 10 NGOs. The Healthy Ireland Survey, 2022, included a module on menstrual health and period poverty, finding that 51% of women currently having periods experience disruption to participating in daily life (work, school, sports, social events) as a result of symptoms, and that 24% have experience of period poverty.
In the longer-term, through a population health approach championed in the Sláintecare report, we will be planning services around the health and social care needs of our entire population. Factors that will inform this include age, socioeconomic status, disability status, health care utilisation patterns, ethnicity, and gender. The insights gained from this will form an evidence base that will inform future service planning, workforce planning, review of eligibility, and capital planning. The service needs of women will be considered as part of all this.
Implementation of the services listed above represents significant development and advancement for women's health nationwide, but this remains a work in progress. I am committed to the full implementation of the Women's Health Action Plan 2022-23 and will continue to drive progress in all areas of women's health to fulfil its mandate into the future.
Health Services
Questions (184)
Alan Farrell
Question:184. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in his Department since the formation of Government in implementing publicly-funded fertility treatment services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26538/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, a commitment to “introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment” is included in the Programme for Government. The Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) in order to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary. This Model of Care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the Model of Care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks, in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with fertility-related issues at this level of intervention. Patients are referred by their GPs to their local Regional Fertility Hub, which provides a range of treatments and interventions, including: relevant blood tests, semen analysis, assessment of tubal patency, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, fertility-related surgeries, ovulation induction and follicle tracking.
There are currently five out of six Regional Fertility Hubs in service and the completion of Phase One of the roll-out of the Model of Care, envisaged for later this year, will result in fully operational Regional Fertility Hubs at six locations across the country.
Phase Two of the roll-out of the Model of Care will see the introduction of tertiary fertility services, including IVF, provided through the public health system. In this regard, funding was secured in Budget 2023 to support access to advanced AHR treatments, including, crucially, to allow the commencement of Phase Two of the roll-out of the Model of Care.This investment will facilitate the first steps to be taken towards the provision of a complete publicly-provided fertility service, which is the ultimate objective of Government. In particular, it will allow the historic development of the first National Advanced AHR Centre, delivering IVF and ICSI through a wholly public clinic and is scheduled to open in 2024. Subject to the provision of additional funding in future, it is envisaged that additional National Advanced AHR Centres will be developed and become operational on a phased basis elsewhere in the country.The 2023 allocation is also being utilised to support the Regional Fertility Hubs in order to expand the scope of services by introducing the provision of IUI (intrauterine insemination), which can, for certain cohorts of patients, be a potentially effective, yet less complex and less intrusive, type of AHR treatment.
Separately, as an interim measure, I have instructed that some funding be made available to support access to advanced AHR treatment via private providers from September 2023.
My Department and the Government is fully committed, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, to ensuring that patients always receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention.
Health Strategies
Questions (185)
Alan Farrell
Question:185. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the National Cancer Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26539/23]
View answerWritten answers
Successive National Cancer Strategies have delivered continuing improvements in outcomes for Irish cancer patients in terms of earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and improved rates of survival. This Government’s commitment to implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is evidenced by significant investment in recent years. €20m new development funding was allocated to cancer services and €15m was allocated for new cancer drugs in both 2021 and 2022. This increased total funding for cancer services to €139m in 2022.
We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past six years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). It is important that we continue to invest in cancer services, as the incidence of cancer is projected to grow due to demographic change and improved detection of cancer.
In 2022, 172 new staff were recruited to cancer services from this new development funding, which represent a 20% increase in total staffing for cancer. Cancer surgeries returned to above 2019 thresholds with more than 16,200 surgeries performed, more patients were seen at Rapid Access Clinics with attendances at 104% of 2019 levels, and over 126,000 chemotherapy treatments were administered, more than than ever before.
The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2022 is currently being prepared, and it is expected that this Report will be published very shortly. The annual Implementation Report will outline how this funding was used to support ongoing initiatives and to drive improvements across all stages of the cancer continuum, facilitating further developments across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and patient supports. My Department continues to work with the NCCP to implement the recommendations of the Strategy in 2023, including the recruitment of staff into cancer services and the improvement of services for patients.
National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) data shows substantial progress being made to control the four major cancers (prostate, breast, lung and colorectal), with mortality rates falling or stabilising for each. These comprise over half of all invasive tumours (not including rarely fatal nonmelanoma skin cancers).
Treatment in our medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology services also continues to improve, with an estimated 200,000 people in Ireland living with and beyond cancer.
The implementation of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 is a Government priority and continued improvements in cancer services will be driven by both my Department and the National Cancer Control Programme within the HSE. Priorities for 2023 will include the further centralisation of cancer services which has a direct impact on positive outcomes for patients, and the implementation of models of care for areas such as medical oncology and psycho-oncology, which ensure continuity of care and support for cancer patients and their families.
Health Strategies
Questions (186)
Alan Farrell
Question:186. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the National Dementia Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26540/23]
View answerWritten answers
The National Dementia Strategy contains a range of actions to increase awareness and understanding of dementia; to improve diagnosis and provide integrated services, supports and care; and to improve education and research on dementia. The National Dementia Office was established in the HSE in 2015 to provide leadership on, and coordinate the implementation of, the Strategy across the dementia care spectrum
Work has continued in 2023 to further implement the National Dementia Strategy, with a focus on assessment, diagnosis and post-diagnostic supports and care initiatives to ensure timely access, reduce waiting times and improve the quality of care provided to people with dementia.
A Model of Care for Dementia diagnosis and post-diagnostic support has been developed by the National Dementia Office and is being launched today, 31 May. The Model of Care sets measurable targets and practice recommendations to advance treatment, care and support for people living with dementia in Ireland. It outlines best practice for diagnosis, communication of a diagnosis, care planning and post-diagnostic support.
Over the past three budgets, the Government has invested significant resources to support the implementation of the new Model of Care. Funding was provided for nine new Memory Assessment and Support Services, two new Regional Specialist Memory Clinics and and an Intellectual Disability Memory Service in locations around the country in 2021 and 2022, and the HSE aims to have most of these services operational by the end of this year. For 2023, the Government has funded a tenth Memory Assessment and Support Service and provided increased staff resources for all of the new memory services and the existing Regional Specialist Memory Clinics in St. James’ and Tallaght Hospitals.
In addition to investing in diagnostic memory services for dementia, Government has also made funding available for a variety of post-diagnostic support services in recent years. There are now 29 Dementia Advisers throughout the country providing free and confidential supports and signposting to help connect people with dementia and their carers with essential services.
The Government has also funded a national network of 23 Memory Technology Resource Rooms (MTRRs) which provide free occupational therapist assessments and advice on assistive technology to help people adapt to their condition and maintain a degree of independence for as long as possible, while also providing support to family carers. These MTRRs form a key component of the post diagnostic pathway.
Funding has also been provided in 2023 for the appointment of dementia service leads in each Community Healthcare Organisation to improve the coordination and integration of dementia services.
Establishing these essential services will ensure that there is timely access to both diagnosis and post-diagnostic supports, and a reduction in waiting times.
New funding of €2.1 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to ensure that dementia-specific day care centres can return to full operational capacity. Dementia in-home day care supports will also continue for those who are unable to attend centre-based day care. Furthermore, the proportion of new home support hours allocated to people with dementia will increase to 15% in 2023, up from 5% in 2021 and 11% in 2022. This increase is valued at €5.2 million.
The National Dementia Office has conducted two audits of dementia care in acute hospitals in recent years which have highlighted the need for a range of improvements in care for people with dementia. The Government has provided resources over the past three budgets for the appointment of nursing specialists to improve dementia care pathways in acute hospitals so that people with dementia can receive the best possible care and be discharged back to the community as early as possible and as appropriate.
Arising from the results of the acute hospital audits, a National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medications for non-cognitive symptoms of dementia has been developed. It is now being rolled out progressively across acute, community and residential care settings to ensure that psychotropic and antipsychotic medications are only prescribed when needed and that people with non-cognitive symptoms of dementia are provided with alternatives to medication where appropriate.
In order to improve the quality of home supports provided to people with dementia, the National Dementia Office, together with DCU, has developed a QQI Level 5 programme for home support assistants and, with ongoing Government funding from 2023, will progressively roll out the programme to HSE home support staff countrywide.
The Model of Care recognizes the importance of statutory, voluntary and community partners working together to meet the broad spectrum of social needs of people with dementia. Understand Together in Communities, through its network of partner organisations and community champions, has been instrumental in opening up opportunities for engagement for people with dementia, who are more likely than other older people to experience social isolation.
Community resources like dementia cafés, dementia and carer support groups provide information and connection, and combat isolation. All of these resources form part of the dementia model of care and people can be referred to the supports most suited to their own needs and individual preferences.
Research is recognised as a priority in the National Dementia Strategy. The Health Research Board (HRB) funds the Dementia Research Network Ireland (DRNI), which aims to support and facilitate collaborative interdisciplinary research on dementia and thereby to positively impact knowledge translation and policy development. The HRB is also funding Dementia Trials Ireland over a five year period to establish a national infrastructure to develop, attract and conduct dementia clinical trials across the State and ensure that people with dementia have the opportunity to take part in clinical trials.
The Government has also provided funding to the HSE to develop a National Dementia Registry which will gather important data on dementia assessment, diagnosis, treatment and care. The Registry’s minimum dataset will have a particular emphasis on timely access to diagnostic and post diagnostic supports provided under the new Model of Care.
I am confident that these measures will continue to make a real difference to the lives of people with dementia and their families.
Health Services Staff
Questions (187)
Alan Farrell
Question:187. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurse vacancies currently in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26541/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (188)
Denise Mitchell
Question:188. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans to include the i-port advance injection device on the long-term illness scheme for the treatment of persons with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26563/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (189)
Seán Haughey
Question:189. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health his plans to make a product (details supplied) available under the long-term illness scheme to treat type 1 diabetes and administer insulin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26570/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Question No. 190 answered with Question No. 157.
Mental Health Services
Questions (191)
Martin Browne
Question:191. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the access to care fund could be accessed by the family of a patient (details supplied) who has ARFID and autism, who cannot gain access to a dietitian with knowledge of ARFID, who cannot gain access to a psychologist and who has been deemed unsuitable for CAMHS on the basis that ARFID is not a mental health issue; if he will outline a scheme that would provide financial assistance to enable the family to access services abroad in the event that no treatment is available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26614/23]
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.
Medicinal Products
Questions (192)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:192. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if the drug, fenfluramine, will be funded and be made available in Ireland to a child (details supplied) for the treatment of a rare form of epilepsy called Dravet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26615/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Questions (193)
Ivana Bacik
Question:193. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the adequacy of supports for persons with a foetal alcohol syndrome diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26630/23]
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.
Medical Qualifications
Questions (194)
Ivana Bacik
Question:194. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that graduates of the military medicine training scheme are sufficiently enabled to register as a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26631/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, the Medical Council is responsible for quality assuring medical education and training in Ireland. This includes the approval of specialist training programmes and the medical schools and postgraduate training bodies which deliver those programmes.
I understand that Military Medicine is a five year training cycle. The Medical Council has advised that all elements of general practice training are faithfully observed over the course of the training programme, not only in terms of the content, but also in the time allocated for delivery in the various educational settings. Trainees must also complete all elements of the ICGP assessment process. The Faculty of Military Medicine of Ireland has stated that general practice constitutes the single most significant element of military medical practice.
The Medical Council has advised that Military Medicine trainees follow the same core curriculum and complete the same basic training as GP trainees. Following examination of the curriculum and training pathway for Military Medicine during the accreditation process, the Council were satisfied that Military Medicine trainees are sufficiently enabled to register as a General Practitioner.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (195)
Denis Naughten
Question:195. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff presently availing of the special scheme of paid leave in respect of long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26644/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am keenly aware that the temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave in respect of long-Covid is due to conclude at the end of June. At present, those who remain unwell beyond that date may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, however I have asked officials to look at options in this regard.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the number of staff presently on the temporary Special Scheme.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (196)
Denis Naughten
Question:196. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of his engagement with the Minister for Social Protection on designating long Covid as an occupational illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26645/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have indicated my support to the Minister for Social Protection in respect of the EU recommendation regarding Covid-19. The outcome of the review being undertaken by Minister Humphreys Department in this regard is awaited.
Health Services
Questions (197)
Ged Nash
Question:197. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will consider amending the long-term illness scheme to includeinflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26649/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme.
These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
While there are no current plans to extend the list of illnesses covered by the LTI Scheme, it is important to remember that the Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework. The Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
The significant investment in Budget 2023 will facilitate better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for people at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on everyone. In 2023 this includes:
• an expansion of GP care without charges to people earning no more than the median household income,
• all public in-patient hospital charges abolished since 17 April 2023,
• an extension of free contraception to 26-year-old women since 1 Jan 2023, and further extension to 27-30 years old women from 1 September 2023.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), 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.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Parking Provision
Questions (198)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:198. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if his Department will look at abolishing the car parking rates for cancer patients in all HSE and local authority car parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26686/23]
View answerWritten answers
Hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses. Consequently, many hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge and reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.
The Programme for Government - Our Shared Future, makes a commitment to introduce a maximum daily car parking charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services.
Health Services Staff
Questions (199)
Holly Cairns
Question:199. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1475 of 18 April 2023, if he will clarify whether he has plans to recruit more personnel beyond the 'two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors' in response to population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26730/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics and genomics services in Ireland. In 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics Medicine in Ireland. This allocation included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the appointment of key staff. Staff appointments included two clinical genetic consultants and six genetic counsellors.
The HSE has been actively progressing the implementation of this Strategy, with recruitment for the allocated posts in currently underway. As part of the implementation plan, one of the key outputs for 2023 is the development of a model of care for genetics and genomics. This model of care will be developed in alignment with the Regional Health Areas and will serve as a needs assessment for frontline staff to support a national genetics and genomics service.
The Interim National Director and Interim National Clinical Director are responsible for progressing this model of care. Once the model of care is developed, it be brought to the Implementation Steering Group for review and finalisation. It will then be used to inform where additional frontline resources are allocated in 2023 and 2024.
Health Services
Questions (200)
Holly Cairns
Question:200. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure all maternity hospitals and units are permitting partners to attend all of the labour process and visit during set hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26731/23]
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.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (201)
Brian Leddin
Question:201. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the planning policy and guidelines regarding the establishment of new hospitals and new healthcare centres to ensure they are aligned with the Climate Action Plan, the National Planning Framework's compact-growth objective and the Government's Town Centres First policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26750/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.