Pearse Doherty
Question:161. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a response to communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28765/23]
View answerDepartmental Communications
Questions (161)
Written answers
The matter raised by the Deputy is more appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
Hospital Staff
Questions (162)
Seán Canney
Question:162. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to provide the additional secretarial services required to support the two neurology consultants in Galway University Hospital, as presently there are delays in letters being sent to GPs and other MDT in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28768/23]
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (163)
Seán Canney
Question:163. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to relocate the neurology department at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28769/23]
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.
Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 141.
Health Services
Questions (165)
Patricia Ryan
Question:165. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists and physiotherapy services available to MS sufferers, and those with other neurological conditions in CHO7 for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and the cost of funding same. [28790/23]
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.
Nursing Homes
Questions (166)
Patricia Ryan
Question:166. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the revoking of the ban on nursing homes transferring their business and converting to providing accommodation for people under temporary protection, he has considered the consequences of that revocation on the number of available places in nursing homes for people who really need them, given that families are already struggling to find suitable nursing home places for their loved ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28791/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government takes the closure of nursing homes very seriously. Ensuring that the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is of the utmost importance. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close or cease participating in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, that residents and their families must be consulted with, and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and residents can move in a safe, planned way.
There is a legal requirement that providers must give at least six months’ notice to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) if they intend to close. This provides residents, families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively.
It became apparent in late August last year that a small number of active nursing homes had chosen, or were seriously considering, to convert into accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Other active nursing homes were known to be in official negotiations or to be considering this approach.
Given the challenges currently being faced in the nursing home sector and noticing a small trend emerging, Minister Donnelly and I agreed with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, to change the procurement guidelines around accommodation for persons under temporary protection in order to remove from consideration active nursing homes that were still registered operators with HIQA on or after the date of 1 September 2022.
The intention behind this position has been to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date remained unaffected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers.
Following review of the policy at the end of April, the decision has been made to adopt a more flexible approach and to allow the conversion of nursing homes into accommodation centres for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protections after 18 months following deregistration from the Health Information and Quality Agency Chief Inspector’s register.
This allows for an appropriate closure process for residents and staff of nursing homes, while preventing facilities from being empty indefinitely where they might provide a source of accommodation for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
The Government continues to prioritise the best interests of nursing home residents to ensure that their welfare, care and well-being is ensured whilst simultaneously ensuring that nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
Medicinal Products
Questions (167)
Patricia Ryan
Question:167. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that Solpadine and its generic equivalents can only be dispensed in capsule form, usually in 60 capsule packs, and not in soluble form to medical card holders to whom it has been prescribed, which is causing problems among those for whom swallowing capsules/tablets would be difficult, if not impossible, and that pharmacists, having informed the medical card holder of this issue, are saying to the person that they can sell the soluble version to them over the counter at a cost of approximately €14 per pack of 24 (details supplied); if he can arrange for the soluble version to be available on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28792/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the Community Drug Schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
The HSE advise that Solpadeine capsules in packs of 32 and Solpadeine Soluble tablets in packs of 60 are currently on the reimbursement list.
Medical card holders should be able to access both of these products subject to the payment of the statutory prescription charge. To access other Solpadeine products that are in stock but not on the reimbursement list, they would have to pay.
Disability Services
Questions (168)
Colm Burke
Question:168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a wheelchair will be provided to a child (details supplied) given an occupational therapist has approved same to the HSE resource allocation group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28794/23]
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.
Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 141.
Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 141.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (171)
Holly Cairns
Question:171. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on banning or restricting the sale of disposable vapes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28805/23]
View answerWritten answers
The current legislative priority in this area is the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill. The Bill will introduce a suite of measures which when combined aim to reduce the appeal and availability of electronic cigarettes, particularly to young people. Measures contained in the Bill include:
A prohibition on the sale of nicotine inhaling products to those aged under 18.
The creation of a licencing system for the retail sale of nicotine inhaling products. Retailers will need to apply for a licence, renew it annually, and pay a fee.
A prohibition on the sale of nicotine inhaling products from self-service vending machines, temporary or moveable premises, and events aimed at children.
A prohibition on the advertising of nicotine inhaling products near schools, in cinemas, or on public transport.
The introduction of new penalties for retailers who commit offences related to nicotine inhaling products.
It is anticipated that the Bill will be enacted this year.
I note that my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Minister Ossian Smyth, launched a public consultation on disposable vapes on the first of June this year which includes a number of policy options to deal with the environmental aspects of these products.