Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023

Written Answers Nos. 1307-1323

Health Service Executive

Questions (1307)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

1307. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current members of the implementation working group set up to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in a report (details supplied) into governance arrangement to support HSE drug reimbursement; the dates of each of the meetings of the working group; the target month for the working group to report to Government; the consultation process; and the work that has been carried out to date by the group. [28449/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In February, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. I fully support the recommendations contained in the Mazars report around improving the process, increasing transparency, providing easier access, and supporting value for money.

An implementation group has been established between my Department and the HSE to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in the Report. The membership of the Group includes representatives of the Drugs Group, the HSE, the NCPE, and the Department of Health.

The Group met on the 3rd and 26th of May. Further meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Targeted stakeholder consultation commenced on the 31st of May and will conclude on the 20th of June. The insights gained from stakeholders will be considered by the Group as it continues its work on progressing the various recommendations of the Review.

The Group will submit a report in the Autumn.

Question No. 1308 answered with Question No. 1212.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1309)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1309. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the Covid bonus will be paid to section 39 healthcare workers given the significant delay; whether KOSI has engaged with companies (details supplied) to ensure payment is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28458/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1310)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1310. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not got their pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28460/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Departmental Investigations

Questions (1311, 1312)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1311. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the report into the tragic death of a person (details supplied) and the subsequent recommendations will be published in full; if not, if he will detail the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28461/23]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1312. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health in respect of the tragic death of a person (details supplied), subsequent to the completion of the report into the tragic circumstances of their death, if, at any stage, this clear neglect of a vulnerable adult was referred to the gardaí by any the services involved; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28462/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1311 and 1312 together.

While I cannot comment on individual cases I am aware of the tragic death of the person referred to and I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family for their sad loss.

I requested the HSE to lead on a clinical incident review under their Incident Management Framework, reviewing the care provided to the resident in the nursing home. The systems analysis review was requested in order to establish the facts of what happened with a view to identifying any learning that will inform improvement in relation to the quality and safety of service provision.

As the nursing home is question is private, the review was carried out on an ‘administrative’ basis as the HSE, in the normal course of events, has no jurisdiction over the actions or activities of private nursing homes.

I am grateful to the HSE for carrying out the review, and the final report was shared with the family and the professional advocacy service supporting the family involved.

The final report made 24 recommendations, the majority of which were for the nursing home involved. My officials are engaging with the relevant parties on the progression and implementation of the recommendations. HIQA have carried out regular inspections of the nursing home in question, and these reports are published on their website. I understand good progress has been made in improving the quality and safety of the service.

On the wider issue, significant changes and improvements have been made in recent years arising from learnings during the pandemic. The Nursing Home Expert Panel’s recommendations have implemented many significant improvements such as the expansion of the Patient Advocacy Service to residents in private nursing homes. The Nursing Homes Regulations were amended to provide clarity in relation to residents’ right of access to independent advocacy services, and the regulations were also amended to enhance and standardise requirements in relation to complaints processes in nursing homes. Legislation is also being prepared to amend the 2007 Health Act to provide the Chief Inspector of Social Services in HIQA with further enforcement powers.

Question No. 1312 answered with Question No. 1311.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1313)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1313. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for an operation at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28468/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Question No. 1314 answered with Question No. 1212.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (1315)

Alan Dillon

Question:

1315. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health considering that community pharmacies were linked to the public sector agreements through FEMPI legislation when pay cuts were implemented, but are currently not aligned with the public sector for pay restoration, the measures in place to ensure that community pharmacist pay is restored in congruity with public sector pay arrangements; if he will address the reimbursement for escalating administrative tasks related to the complex operation of community drug schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation, payments to pharmacy contractors were restructured in 2009, 2011 and 2013, under:

• S.I. No. 246/2009 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2009.

• S.I. No. 300/2011 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2011.

• S.I. No. 279/2013 - Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2013.

Among other things, dispensing fees moved from a mixture of professional fees and retail mark-ups to an increased standard fee which was reduced on a sliding scale based on the number of items dispensed in a month, as follows:

• €5.00 for the first 1,667 items each month,

• €4.50 for the next 833 items, and,

• €3.50 for any remaining items.

The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure that were made under section 9 of the FEMPI Act 2009 expired at the end of 2019. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, these regulations had to be replaced by 1 January 2020 in order to maintain a statutory basis for contractor payments and to prescribe the fees payable from that date.

The current pharmacy fee structure was put in place by the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019 – S.I. 639 of 2019 – which came into effect from 1 January 2020.

Since then, the overall spend on fees paid to community pharmacists under the community drug schemes has continued to rise year-on-year. The State paid a total of €409.51m in fees to community pharmacists in 2022. This was €95.7m more than in 2019, or an increase of 30.5%. This indicates the substantial investment made by the Government to keep pace with the increased activity across the community drug schemes and to ensure that community pharmacies are remunerated for their participation in the schemes.

Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the current pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials will communicate with the Irish Pharmacy Union in that regard very shortly.

Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1316)

Michael Ring

Question:

1316. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for a gynaecological procedure in view of the fact that they have been waiting since November 2021 for this procedure and the fact that this person is in constant pain with a greatly diminished qualify of life as a direct result of this procedure, not being carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Pharmacy Services

Questions (1317)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1317. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress made to date in respect of the programme for Government commitment to commence talks with pharmacists on a new contract and enhancement of their role in the delivery of healthcare in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28491/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform. Their participation in the national COVID-19 vaccination programme and in the free contraception scheme, launched in September 2022, are examples of the importance of their role in the functioning of our healthcare service.

Medicines are the most common healthcare intervention within the health system and the use and complexity of medicines are increasing. Pharmacists are the healthcare professionals optimally placed by virtue of their training to deliver on the critical role within the health system to ensure the safe and rational use of medicines by patients.

In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved.

The Department is open to exploring any evidence based appropriately governed services, delivered by appropriately trained professionals which will support the delivery of the right care, in the right place at the right time.

I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. I acknowledge that collaboration has proven effective in the recent past and I am confident it can continue to do so in the future.

Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.

Meals-on-Wheels Services

Questions (1318)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1318. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 621 of 9 May 2023, if he will increase the level of guaranteed ring-fenced annual funding for a meals-on-wheels service to an amount requested (details supplied) to ensure the long-term survival of a vital community service meeting the nutritional needs of a local elderly population in County Meath as outlined to the HSE in previous correspondence [28494/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Service Executive

Questions (1319)

David Stanton

Question:

1319. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the body or bodies representing professional counsellors and psychotherapists that are recognised by his Department and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28495/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Health does not have a role in recognising bodies representing professional counsellors and psychotherapists. The Department’s role relates to providing policy guidance to CORU in relation to professional regulation matters.

As the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland's multi-profession health regulator. Its role is to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals.

Regulations to designate counsellors and psychotherapists under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 were made by the previous Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, in 2018. The members of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) were appointed in February 2019 and they held their inaugural meeting in May 2019.

The CPRB is currently considering which titles will be protected by regulation, the minimum standards of proficiency for entry to the profession, the minimum qualifications that will be required of existing practitioners, and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates.

Once statutory regulation is introduced to the counselling and psychotherapy professions, practitioners wishing to work using these titles in the Republic of Ireland will have register with CORU on the appropriate register. The CPRB will set the standard of education and training for entry to the register and approve and monitor education and training programmes in counselling and psychotherapy.

The work of the CPRB is ongoing and significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers. As such, it is not possible to give a timeframe at present on when the register of counsellors and psychotherapists will open.

The Department is aware that the HSE sets its own eligibility criteria for posts within the HSE, which in the absence of statutory regulation can sometimes include reference to qualifications accredited by a professional body or membership of a professional body. At present, eligibility criteria for posts within the HSE and HSE-funded services are approved by the HSE’s National Director of HR in consultation with stakeholders and with regard to recruitment challenges, skill-mix, and continuing professional development.

Once the register of counsellors and psychotherapists opens eligibility criteria for HSE posts will require CORU registration.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1320)

John McGuinness

Question:

1320. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the reason the social insurance record of a person (details supplied) shows 52 class D contributions for each year from 1988 to 2018, when in fact they only worked 26 weeks per year during that period. [28510/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1321)

Robert Troy

Question:

1321. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for physiotherapy at Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [28511/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Health Services

Questions (1322)

Michael Lowry

Question:

1322. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made to reduce medical treatment wait times, improve healthcare infrastructure, and ensure equitable healthcare provision across County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28544/23]

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.

Question No. 1323 answered with Question No. 1212.