Written Answers Nos. 632-651
632. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients on cancer therapeutic clinical trials in each of the years 2012 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30577/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
633. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to having his Department conduct a review of the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); if he will request his Department to re-examine an application; his views on whether the long-term illness scheme which is governed by the Health Act 1970, is long overdue a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30579/23]
View answer734. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to add a diagnosed condition (details supplied) to the long-term illness scheme, or to the medical card or drugs payment schemes for medication to treat the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31215/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 734 together.
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.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) administer the LTI Scheme on behalf of the State. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, my Department is examining the scope of the Scheme. It is also important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This 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%.
634. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive the balance of the pandemic special recognition payment from the HSE as they have only received 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30594/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
635. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to address concerns that medical card patients are being charged for blood tests; to clarify what precisely the policy is on this matter; if medical card patients have any options to seek reimbursement of the costs incurred for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30598/23]
View answerUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management Programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
The issue has been raised previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances. It is intended to raise this issue again at an appropriate time.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management Programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients. The HSE does not have any role in relation to such fees.
636. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that funding will be put in place to enable the new dental hospital to be built in Curaheen, Cork, given planning permission was granted for this project over three years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30600/23]
View answerThe funding and delivery of capital projects is subject to the successful completion of the various approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the Public Spending Code (PSC), which was updated in 2019. The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood.
These are defined processes which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects, can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer. The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC are detailed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/
The Cork Dental School and Hospital has two distinct remits: the Dental School for undergraduate and postgraduate education of future dental professionals and the hospital or service element which provides dental care both privately as well as under a HSE service level agreement.
The Dental School is under the direct remit of the Higher Education Authority via University College Cork as the employment and governing body and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science leads on and funds education-related activities.
Regarding the hospital function, the HSE is responsible for the planning and delivery of health services and management of healthcare infrastructure. Each year the HSE must develop a National Service Plan and Capital Plan upon receipt of notification from Department of Health of annual allocations set in the budget and priorities set out in the Letter of Determination. These plans must then be submitted for review and approval by the Minister for Health. Health capital investment decisions are informed by Programme for Government priorities, sectoral policies, strategies and reform initiatives as set out in Sláintecare.
Therefore, the Cork Dental School and Hospital must engage with the Higher Education Authority/Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the HSE, in the context of the requirements of the Public Spending Code, to explore the possible contribution of public funding to a new dental hospital building at Curaheen.
637. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a new geographically limited HSE GMS contract for public vasectomy services from August 2023 (details supplied); his views on same; the steps he is taking to ensure that patients in the counties and regions affected have access to vasectomies via the public system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30621/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
638. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding fees and pay restoration for pharmacists prior to the 30 June 2023 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30628/23]
View answer679. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason he has not engaged with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to pay for services, as required by the Public Service Pay and Pension Act 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30853/23]
View answer688. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will engage and meet with a union (details supplied) to discuss the fees pharmacies receive from the State for all the State drug schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30889/23]
View answer723. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with organisations to discuss the rising costs affecting community pharmacies (details supplied). [31111/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 638, 679, 688 and 723 together.
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.
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 regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
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 have held a meeting with the Irish Pharmacy Union in that regard.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. 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.
639. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when the Slainte Care project on the development of a national diabetes register will be developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30637/23]
View answerDiabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition. Management of the condition is required across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery, through general practice, community specialist care and hospital inpatient specialist care.
In September 2019 Sláintecare Integration funding was allocated to the HSE to design and procure a National Diabetes Registry demonstrator product and develop a full specification plan for this registry. This project was postponed in March 2020, as it was dependent on the input and expertise of key HSE staff who were redeployed onto urgent COVID-19 work.
The development of a national diabetes registry remains a priority. Budget 2023 provided funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, this included HSE funding to commence the full development of a National Diabetes Register. Work on phase 1 of this multi-year project is currently underway.
The development of a National Diabetes Registry will have a long-term benefit on patient care by facilitating benchmarking of individual care against guideline recommendations and QI feedback to practitioners, and on the provision of appropriate health services by providing reliable information to healthcare planners and policymakers.
640. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to be scheduled for a procedure in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30638/23]
View answerUnder 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.
641. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the option of appointing a project delivery team to oversee the delivery of major projects including the new emergency department, maternity unit, paediatric unit, regional cancer centre, bedroom block and laboratories on the existing site at University Hospital Galway to ensure delivery is achieved in the shortest time possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30641/23]
View answerDesign teams have already been appointed to deliver the new Emergency Department (ED), Women and Children’s block, replacement laboratories and cancer centre proposals at University Hospital Galway (UHG). At any one time there are multiple capital investment projects underway on the UHG campus involving different design teams and different works contractors. It is normal practice for there to be different design teams in place to deliver different projects on a single site. This is especially true for the three projects referenced above given the scale and complexity of these proposals.
Overall co-ordination for all works / projects on the campus is achieved through close working relationships locally between HSE Capital & Estates, Saolta Hospital Group and management at Galway University Hospitals.
Strategies to mitigate any potential disruption to services while delivering capital works projects on a live, and extremely busy, hospital site are developed in advance of construction works and during the project lifecycle as part of an overall risk assessment.
642. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of adults on waiting lists for occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy and dietitians in CHO2, in tabular form, with a breakdown of the number waiting in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. [30729/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
643. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if healthcare professionals employed by the HSE to provide therapies such as speech and language and occupational therapy can provide such services in non-HSE-owned buildings where a space is available in a building in a town already providing similar services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30730/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
644. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current rates of car-parking at University Hospital Kerry; if he will clarify whether there have been any increases or decreases in charges since 2018; the amount that has been generated in total by car-parking charges at the facility in the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of where the revenue from car-parking at the facility went to and what it was spent on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the damage that was caused by the recent flooding event at University Hospital Kerry; the monetary cost of the damage; if the event could have been prevented; which locations in the facility were directly impacted by flood waters/leaks; the disruption to patients, both immediate and delayed that was caused; if management has a plan to deal with any future similar events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
646. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health how communications were managed regarding the recent flooding event at University Hospital Kerry; if queries from public representatives on behalf of the people of Kerry were responded to accurately; if management was available to answer such queries; if not, the reason; if anything has been learnt from the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30740/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
647. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Kerry each day in May 2023, in tabular form; if an explanation can be provided for the figures on each of these days; if these figures are the worst ever monthly total at UHK; if he has had direct contact with management concerning this; if so, if he will provide details of any such communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30741/23]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I have not had any direct contact with University Hospital Kerry's management concerning the trolley figures in May 2023. However, my Department produces daily and weekly updates on the ED situation nationally and at sites across the country to inform my office of ED activity and performance.
In relation to the particular query raised regarding trolley figures at University Hospital Kerry in May 2023, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of all current staffing levels at University Hospital Kerry, with a comparative breakdown for each year since 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30742/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
649. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of current endoscopy waiting lists at University Hospital Kerry, showing the number of patients waiting less than 12, 12 to 24, 24 to 36 and 36 weeks or more, in tabular form; how each of these categories compare with the corresponding time in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30743/23]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. On the 7th March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the next stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists, and builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, which was followed by the first full year Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both having reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
The 2023 Plan sets out the priorities to continue to address waiting lists this year. The 30 actions in the Plan, which are governed by the Waiting List Task Force, focus on delivering capacity, reforming scheduled care and enabling scheduled care reform.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to implement longer term reforms and provide additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. This will reduce hospital waiting lists by 10% in 2023 as well as continuing to significantly reduce waiting times in line with Sláintecare recommendations. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With this ambitious 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving our vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) collates and publishes Inpatient/Daycase waiting list data monthly on the NTPF website: www.ntpf.ie/home/inpatient.htm
The NTPF provides a breakdown of the Inpatient/Daycase waiting list figures by adult and child, nationally, by hospital, and by specialty, in standardised time bands of 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18+months. Current and past waiting list data from 2014 is available on the NTPF website, with open data source information also available for public analysis.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached information, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the number of patients waiting less than 12, 12 to 24, 24 to 36, and 36 weeks or more as at the end of May 2023, for Inpatient/Day Case Endoscopy at University Hospital Kerry in comparison with the corresponding time period in 2022.
Endoscopy waiting list figures at University Hospital Kerry as at end of May 2023 and end of May 2022
|
Time Bands (Weeks) |
Less than 12 weeks |
12 to 14 weeks |
24 to 36 weeks |
Greater than 36 weeks |
Grand Total |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
|||||
|
2022 |
|||||
|
May |
313 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
413 |
|
2023 |
|||||
|
May |
325 |
145 |
0 |
0 |
470 |
650. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the total number of presentations at University Hospital Kerry emergency department in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30744/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the requested information.
651. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current number of staff vacancies across all departments and details of each vacancy at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30745/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
