Written Answers Nos. 756-769
756. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in revenue and new build capital cost for each type of health service bed, based on recent projects, that is acute inpatient, community transitional care, community nursing unit, CAMHS, palliative care, social inclusion, and rehabilitation beds, in tabular form. [35150/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
757. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the full revenue and capital cost of implementing the National Ambulance Service’s workforce and strategic plan out to 2031 [35151/23]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service Strategic Plan is currently under consideration and any funding to support its implementation will be considered in the context of the annual revenue estimates and capital processes.
758. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of a 10% increase in clinical training places for medical interns, initial specialist training, higher specialist training, GP training, clinical psychology, advanced nurse/midwife practitioners, advanced practice physiotherapy, in tabular form; and the number of places this would result in. [35152/23]
View answerIn 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.
759. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold in increments of €10 to €0, additive, in tabular form. [35153/23]
View answerThe Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances 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 twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for people with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
The below table shows both the minimum cost and the likely cost of reducing the DPS in increments of €10. This data is based on the claiming month April 2023 (c. 125,000 claimants).
|
Proposed DPS threshold |
The minimum annual cost based on those currently claiming. |
The annual cost based on 1,000 additional claimants for each €1 reduction. |
The annual cost based on 1,500 additional claimants for each €1 reduction. |
|
€70 |
€15m |
€16.2m |
€16.8m |
|
€60 |
€30m |
€34.8m |
€37.2m |
|
€50 |
€45m |
€55.8m |
€61.2m |
|
€40 |
€60m |
€79.2m |
€88.8m |
|
€30 |
€75m |
€105m |
€120m |
|
€20 |
€90m |
€133.2m |
€154.8m |
|
€10 |
€105m |
€163.8m |
€193.2m |
|
€0 |
€120m |
€196.8m |
€235.2m |
It is important to note that the minimum costing excludes the cost for individuals who are currently below the current DPS threshold level of €80 per month, and who would become eligible for the DPS were the threshold reduced. It also excludes the impact resulting from an ageing demographic or from the loss of medical charge eligibility.
760. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of abolishing prescription charges, by age cohort and total. [35154/23]
View answerPrescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010, to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme.
The Government is committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable and has introduced several reductions in the cost of healthcare.
On 1 November 2020, prescription charges under the GMS scheme were reduced as follows:
• For those aged over 70, €1 per item with a maximum charge of €10 per month.
• For those aged under 70, €1.50 per item with a maximum charge of €15 per month.
The total prescription charge income for 2022 was €60m.
Based on the year-to-date level of activity on the GMS Scheme, the estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges for those eligible would be €85.56m per annum.
This is broken down as follows:
• The cost of abolishing prescription charges for eligible people aged over 70 is approximately €43.44m per annum.
• The cost of abolishing prescription charges for eligible people aged under 70 is approximately €42.12m per annum.
This costing is subject to the following caveats:
• That demographic changes may impact the number of eligible persons.
• That the removal of prescription charges may result in a change in claimant behaviour.
761. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total revenue generated by car parking charges and the estimated total cost of abolishing car parking fees, including any potential buyouts or other arrangements. [35155/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
762. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the fully burdened cost of employing additional (details supplied) inclusive of employers’ PRSI, in tabular form. [35157/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
763. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of a standardised eye care scheme for under 8s with consistent subsidies across all CHOs, costed by standardising the top end benefits across all CHOs [35158/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
764. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the full revenue and capital cost of implementing the HSE’s climate action plan by measure and year. [35159/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive I have asked the Executive to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
765. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost the waive assessment fees for addiction residential, rehabilitation and detox services. [35160/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
767. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of a consistent standardised needle exchange programme rolled out across all taskforces. [35162/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
768. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount paid in legal costs to each of the top ten legal firms representing plaintiffs in medical negligence cases in 2022 and to date in 2023 ; the number of cases that payments relate to in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35163/23]
View answer769. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount paid in legal costs to each of the top ten legal firms representing plaintiffs in medical negligence cases in the first six months of 2023; the number of cases that payments relate to in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35164/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 769 together.
The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained in the attached report has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria.
Response from SCA:
• The information contained in this report has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Medical negligence claims are identified on NIMS through the Incident / Hazard Category of Clinical Care.
• Plaintiff legal costs relate to the payment made to the plaintiff’s legal team i.e. Solicitors and Counsel and are inclusive of expert fees which are discharged by the plaintiff’s solicitor. These expert fees may relate to actuarial, engineering, medical, witness fees etc.
• PQ 35164/23 and PQ 35163/23 are answered together in this report.
• Amounts include VAT.
Criteria used
• Table 1 and Table 2 show the ten plaintiff legal teams who received the highest legal costs payments in 2022 and for January to June 2023.
• This report is correct as of 30/06/2023.
Definitions:
National Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint.
Claim : A claim refers to notification of intention to seek compensation for personal injury and/or property damage where it is alleged the State was negligent. The application may be in the form of a letter of claim, an InjuriesBoard.ie application, or a written/oral request.
Clinical Claim: A claim which falls under the Incident Hazard category of Clinical Care. This category includes incidents relating to the provision of services of a diagnostic or palliative nature. It also includes incidents relating to the provision of treatment. Incidents present in this category will be related to Labour/Delivery, Diagnosis, Surgical/Medical, Care Management, Clinical Procedure, medication incidents or nutrition/blood related incidents.
Plaintiff Legal Costs : Plaintiff legal costs relate to the payment made to the Plaintiff’s legal team i.e. Solicitors and Counsel and are also inclusive of expert fees which are discharged by the Plaintiff’s solicitor. These expert fees may relate to actuarial, engineering, medical, witness fees etc.
