Michael Healy-Rae
Question:695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30957/23]
View answerTuesday, 27 June 2023
Questions (695)
Written answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical products and services under the Community Funded Schemes to eligible persons (as set out in the Health Act 1970) free of charge following assessment by a relevant health professional.
The HSE oversees the provision and supply of incontinence wear products for eligible persons across Ireland. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment and a determination of the most appropriate products that will meet the individual’s needs. The provision of clinically appropriate incontinence wear products to eligible persons is operated by each Community Healthcare Organisation under a national tender arrangement.
The HSE advise that this is a person–centred delivery system, which allows the individual or their carer to vary both the time of delivery, and the amount of product delivered according to their specific needs. It is also possible to alter the location for a particular delivery should the need arise.
The HSE also utilise the service provided by public health nurses and continence nurse advisors, to assess individual patient needs in order to ensure that the supply of incontinence wear products is appropriate.
As part of the National Service Improvement Programme for the Community Funded Schemes, the HSE have completed and implemented national guidelines in respect of incontinence wear products. Governance arrangements have been strengthened through the implementation of an integrated electronic management system to support the ordering, supply, and distribution of incontinence wear products across all healthcare settings, including the home delivery service.
Care for Nursing Home residents including those in private facilities can be covered under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal. The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
• Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person
• Bed and board
• Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living
• Laundry service
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS and for this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS. Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing.
In circumstances where a person does not hold full eligibility, such as a medical card or a Long-Term Illness scheme card, reimbursement support for incontinence wear products is provided under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). While there are no set limits on the quantity, the DPS claim must be supported by a valid prescription for such products.
The DPS provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances (including incontinence wear) exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS threshold was reduced on 1 March 2022 to €80 per month. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for those who are not eligible for a medical card but incur ongoing expenditure on medicines.