Thomas Gould
Question:9. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the timeline and delivery of the elective hospital and the regional eye care facility in Cork. [26659/23]
View answerHospital Facilities
Questions (9)
Written answers
Last December, the Government approved the next stage of the Enhanced Provision of Elective Care Programme and progression of the development of new Elective Hospitals with the preferred location in Cork being St Stephen’s Hospital. The HSE is currently developing a detailed project brief, procurement strategy and pre-tender business cases – which will be submitted to me for approval later this year. A design team is taking forward the design process, site investigations are progressing and engagement with local Planning authorities will commence shortly. I expect the Elective Hospitals to receive their first patients in 2027. In relation to the eye care facility, a Regional Eye Care Service is currently under development to serve the Cork and Kerry area. This involves collaboration between Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, South/Southwest Hospital Group, and South Infirmary Victoria Hospital. The service will be based at the new Primary Community Care Centre in Ballincollig. It will provide a designated specialised infrastructure for community procedures related to ophthalmology. The building in Ballincollig is operational and ready for equipping to deliver the Integrated Eye Care Service. Recruitment is underway, and the provision of a preliminary service at the new site is due to begin in July. Additionally, supporting this, a new ophthalmology unit at South Infirmary-Victoria Hospital including two operating theatres is planned to open in June.
Questions Nos. 10 and 11 answered orally.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (12)
Gino Kenny
Question:12. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) recently reported that the number of long-waiters for hospital treatment has increased by 12% since start of 2023 and has risen 22-fold over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26577/23]
View answerWritten answers
Waiting lists for scheduled care were too long before the pandemic and they worsened with COVID. However, since the peak of the pandemic, excellent progress has been made. We must acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of our healthcare professionals, who not only dealt with COVID, but are still dealing with its impacts today, including exacerbated waiting list backlogs.
We are focused now on those who have been waiting the longest for care. In 2021, we began to address waiting lists in a sustainable way as part of our multi-annual approach to achieving the maximum wait times recommended in the 2017 Oireachtas Sláintecare report (10 weeks OPD, 12 weeks IPDC/GI Scopes). As a result, in 2022 we saw the first annual reduction in waiting lists since 2015, as well as significant reductions in waiting times - 11% reduction (56,000 people) in patients waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets, and a 24% decrease compared to waiting list peaks experienced during the pandemic.
Our goal with the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan is to eliminate long waiters completely, with a focus on achieving the all-party agreed Sláintecare maximum wait time targets. I met with the HSE and NTPF to review progress earlier this week. The latest figures published by the NTPF show that, at the end of April, 492,639 people are exceeding these Sláintecare targets, of which 161,304 were waiting over 12 months. This is a decrease of 9,635, or 6%, compared with the numbers waiting over 12 months at end-December 2022.
Question No. 13 answered orally.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (14)
Thomas Gould
Question:14. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has taken action to address the long delays in accessing equipment for children with disabilities. [25904/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of aids and appliances to eligible people following assessment by a relevant health professional.
Vacancies in Children's Disability Network Teams can cause delays in these assessments being carried out.
The aids and appliances are provided by the HSE through community services known as Community Funded Schemes.
They are prescribed on the basis of an identified clinical need and provided in line with established criteria.
Community Healthcare Organisations undertake a range of initiatives to ensure optimum use of resources, including recycling of appropriate items.
Waiting times for items approved for funding vary depending on the priority rating and priority is given to individuals with the greatest level of clinical need.
The waiting time from approval for stock items is generally no more than two weeks.
For bespoke items, which need to be designed, manufactured and delivered by the supplier, the waiting time is longer.
The HSE established a National Service Improvement Programme to develop national prescribing guidelines with the aim of improving the value for money and equity of access of the Community Funded Schemes.
In respect of aids and appliances, the category lists are completed, the contracts are in place, and category specific information for prescribers is now published on the HSE website.
The work to improve services is ongoing.
Medicinal Products
Questions (15)
Holly Cairns
Question:15. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking ensure that hormone replacement therapy medication is available without charge for persons going through menopause. [26394/23]
View answerWritten answers
Supporting women before, during and after menopause is a priority for me. This includes providing improved information, awareness, and treatment.
The National Menopause Awareness campaign launched in October 2022, includes a dedicated webpage (Gov.ie/menopause) as a one-stop shop to provide trusted information for anyone affected by menopause in Ireland.
Other initiatives include the development of six specialist menopause clinics to treat complex symptoms of menopause.
Five of the six planned clinics are currently open and operational at hospital sites around Ireland.
In relation to costs, the onus is on a company to apply to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to have a medicine made reimbursable under the public schemes.
Many HRT medications are currently reimbursable by the HSE under the community drug schemes.
These are available to medical card holders, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge.
They are also available under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), which ensures that no individual 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.
While there are no current plans to make the provision of HRT medications free of charge, the removal of VAT from non-oral forms of HRT since 1 January 2023 has also improved access to HRT for women across the country.
Question No. 16 answered orally.
Hospital Services
Questions (17)
Matt Carthy
Question:17. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when the opening hours of the minor injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital will be extended to include weekends and public holidays. [26741/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Minor Injuries Unit at Monaghan Hospital plays a vital role in providing valuable services to the local community, treating both adults and children over the age of 5 years.
Up until November of last year the opening hours of the MIU at Monaghan Hospital were Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. As part of improving urgent care access for patients, I asked the HSE to standardise opening hours across the country. I'm delighted to report that from November 2022 the opening hours were changed to Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm. This was as a result of funding provided under the 2022 Winter Plan, which allocated a total of €5 million for Emergency Services support, including the extension of MIU opening hours. I know this has already been of great benefit to people in the Monaghan area.
I'm pleased to inform the Deputy that a further extension of these opening hours to include weekends and public holidays will be in place by July 2023. This will mean that the MIU at Monaghan Hospital will open from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week.
I commend the HSE on the work they have done to make MIUs more available as an alternative to accessing care through ED, particularly at Monaghan Hospital which has an important role in the local area.
Hospital Staff
Questions (18)
Pearse Doherty
Question:18. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the recent resignation of two consultant endocrinologists from Letterkenny General Hospital; the plans that are being put in place to address this lack of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26678/23]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to developing diabetes services in Letterkenny and throughout the country.
I am aware of the upcoming staffing changes in Letterkenny University Hospital. I want to recognise that Consultant recruitment can be a challenge. I recently visited LUH and discussed this issue with local management.
LUH has approval for two hospital-based consultant endocrinologists. One of these posts is currently vacant, the other is in place until August. LUH is actively recruiting to fill the Endocrinologist vacancies. In the interim, it is exploring all options to maximise the level of cover provided and ensure continuity of care for diabetic patients.
An additional Consultant Endocrinologist has recently been appointed under the ECC programme in Donegal. This is a shared post between LUH and Donegal CHO that will provide greater integrated services for Diabetes patients in Donegal. A Consultant general physician, with a special interest in Diabetes, has been working with LUH for a number of years and remains in place. The Diabetes service at LUH includes three Clinical Nurse Specialists, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) for the paediatric service, a recently appointed ANP for Diabetes in pregnancy and a podiatrist, and an additional podiatrist is currently also being recruited.
HSE National HR have recently been engaging with LUH to assist in the recruitment of a number of consultant posts. I have instructed the HSE to engage with LUH in a similar manner to assist in the recruitment of the 2 vacant Consultant Endocrinology posts.
Budget 2023 provides funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improved patient care, including the development of a National Diabetes Register and the commencement of a National Paediatric Audit of Type 1 diabetes.
Funding has been provided through recent HSE NSPs to expand the permanent health workforce, and significant recruitment has been undertaken to support hospital-based diabetes services.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (19)
James O'Connor
Question:19. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a new building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26375/23]
View answerWritten answers
I am very happy to report to the Deputy of the recent progress regarding the development of the Primary Care Centre (PCC) in Youghal.
Originally, consideration was given to development of a PCC alongside the re-development of several facilities, including a Community Nursing Unit, on the site of St Raphael’s Hospital.
However, following the completion of a feasibility study, it has been decided to pursue the development of a PCC separately via the Operational Lease Model. Importantly, while this is a change to the delivery method - from delivery as part of the HSE capital plan to delivery via the developer-led lease model – it means that this project is now moving forward.
Expressions of Interest, were returned to the HSE at the end of April last, and are being reviewed. The HSE advised that this review is scheduled to be completed in the coming days and, last Tuesday, my officials confirmed with the HSE that this is running to schedule.
A wide range of Primary Care services will be delivered from the centre. This will allow existing services to relocate from outdated and dispersed facilities into the one location - increasing ease of access for patients and helping to deliver our vision of integrated care in the community.
On Monday, I announced the publication of the HSE’s Capital Plan 2023, which alongside the continued expansion of developer-led PCCs, demonstrates the government’s commitment to investing in Ireland’s healthcare infrastructure. The development of a modern, fit-for-purpose, Primary Care infrastructure is an important part of that commitment.
There are now 19 PCCs operational throughout Cork and it is welcome news that progress is being made on the Primary Care Centre for the people of Youghal.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (20)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the emergency department development in Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26715/23]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the opportunity to update the House on the progress being made on the extension of the Emergency Department (ED) at Mayo University Hospital.
I am delighted to confirm the HSE Building & Equipment Capital Plan 2023 has been published. The Capital funding for 2023 is €1,027m, which includes an increase of 11% on the core allocation in 2022.
Provision has been made in the Capital Plan 2023 to progress an extension at ground floor level to the existing emergency department (ED) at Mayo University Hospital.
It is proposed that this will provide seven new assessment and treatment spaces in the ED.
A new first floor medical assessment unit will also be constructed, providing an additional ten assessment spaces for unscheduled care and ancillary services.
A design team has been appointed from the HSE Design Team Framework to progress this project.
The Stage 1 report has been completed and was submitted for review as there is a substantial associated cost increase in the project. The review has been completed and a follow-up meeting is being arranged by the HSE in the coming weeks to discuss the cost increase. Design work is continuing on the project in the interim.
As the project is at design and planning stage, more detailed information on the timeline will become clearer as the design process progresses, however it is expected for construction to commence in 2024.