Catherine Murphy
Question:770. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount paid out in damages by the SCA in CervicalCheck programme personal injury actions in 2021 and 2022 and to date in 2023. [35165/23]
View answerCancer Services
Questions (770)
Written answers
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 Agency had received notification of 385 claims against National Screening Services (CervicalCheck) at 16 June 2023 (including 79 psychological injury claims from members of the families of the women concerned). In relation to the 385 claims received 183 are active and not yet concluded, 202 have concluded. Claims can be concluded by a number of means; including case settled, court award, indemnity received (from co-defendant or third party), claim discontinued or statute barred, and claim intimated but not pursued.
As of end-June 2023 damages amounting to €0.71m had been paid by the SCA in respect of CervicalCheck claims.
It should be noted that most of the claims have been settled by the laboratories involved in the individual claims and, accordingly, the Agency would not, in most instances, have details of settlement payments made by those laboratories.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (771)
Claire Kerrane
Question:771. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if staff at a home (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35168/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Dental Services
Questions (772)
Pauline Tully
Question:772. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting times for appointments in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35190/23]
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.
Dental Services
Questions (773)
Pauline Tully
Question:773. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting times for appointments in each county; how many are waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35191/23]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (774)
Pauline Tully
Question:774. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting on the CAMHS waiting list in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting time in each county; the number waiting more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35192/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (775)
Pauline Tully
Question:775. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people that are waiting homecare support in counties Cavan and County Monaghan; the total number of hours allocated in each of the past 12 months in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average number of hours granted to each successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35193/23]
View answerWritten answers
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (776, 777)
Pauline Tully
Question:776. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting colonoscopy in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of these that have been waiting up to 30 days; 30 – 60 days; 60 – 90 days and more than 90 days broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35194/23]
View answerPauline Tully
Question:777. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting endoscopy in the counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of these that have been waiting up to 30 days; 30 – 60 days; 60 – 90 days and more than 90 days, broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35195/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 776 and 777 together.
It 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.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the tabular information, provided to my Department by the NTPF, sets out the number of patients awaiting colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures in counties Cavan and Monaghan in the time-bands requested.
Endoscopy by area of residence for Cavan and Monaghan
|
Up to 30 days |
8 |
8 |
|
61 to 90 |
5 |
5 |
|
90+ days |
19 |
19 |
|
Small Volume Time Band |
4 |
4 |
|
Grand Total |
36 |
36 |
Colonoscopy area of residence Cavan and Monaghan
|
Up to 30 days |
11 |
11 |
|
31 to 60 |
11 |
11 |
|
61 to 90 |
11 |
11 |
|
90+ days |
27 |
27 |
|
Grand Total |
60 |
60 |
Question No. 777 answered with Question No. 776.
Hospital Staff
Questions (778)
Pauline Tully
Question:778. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health to break down the number of vacancies at Cavan General Hospital; the grade of each vacancy; the length of time of the vacancy, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35196/23]
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.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (779)
Pauline Tully
Question:779. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting an occupational therapy appointment here; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting 3- 6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months; broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35200/23]
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.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (780)
Pauline Tully
Question:780. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting an occupational therapy appointment in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting 3-6 months; the number that have been waiting 6-12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months; broken down in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35203/23]
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.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (781)
Pauline Tully
Question:781. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health to outline in tabular form the total number of people on the waiting list for ophthalmology in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the average waiting time for appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35206/23]
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.
Health Services
Questions (782)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:782. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what progress he has made in regard to a package of health supports for survivors of mesh surgeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35235/23]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for the Department of Health has been to ensure that all women experiencing mesh related complications receive high quality, multi-disciplinary and patient-centred care. Women’s health remains a key priority for the Government and the Department of Health continue to focus on prioritising the care needs of women affected by mesh related complications.
In terms of mesh-related service developments and supports, through additional funding first provided in 2020, the HSE established a National Mesh Complications Service. Further details on this service and supports are available from the HSE and I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy on this matter directly.
Medicinal Products
Questions (783)
Colm Burke
Question:783. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action is being taking to ensure that pharmacies and hospitals have access to sufficient supplies of insulin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35242/23]
View answerWritten answers
At any given time, shortages of medicines can occur in any country. Increases in demand for medications and medicines shortages have been observed in the UK, throughout the EU and across the world in recent months.
In relation to insulin-containing medicines, there are currently 150 insulin-containing medicines authorised in Ireland. One product, Fiasp 100 units/ml solution for injection in a vial from Novo Nordisk, is the only one notified as in short supply currently to the HPRA.
Novo Nordisk, the company responsible for Fiasp 100 units/ml Solution for Injection in a vial, notified the HPRA of a shortage of the product due to manufacturing reasons, with resupply expected at the end of July. The company has provided a letter to healthcare professionals concerning this (attached), and the HPRA continues to engage with the company regarding the shortage.
Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicine shortage framework in place, operated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on behalf of the Department of Health. The multi-stakeholder framework includes representation from the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals, the HSE, the Department of Health and patients.
In European law, pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers must ensure an appropriate and continuous supply of the medicines they market. When a potential shortage issue is identified, pharmaceutical companies should notify the HPRA as soon as possible. If the shortage cannot be prevented, then, where possible, the HPRA will work with other framework stakeholders to reduce the potential impact on patients. The Department of Health maintains regular contact with the HPRA regarding medicines shortages.
In Ireland, whilst individual brands or strengths of a medication may be temporarily unavailable, for the vast majority of medicines supplied in Ireland, there are alternatives, such as different strengths, brands or similar classes, to ensure continuity of care.
Unfortunately, there are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues.
The HPRA publishes a list of medicines currently in short supply on its website (Medicines Shortages (hpra.ie) with the reason for the shortage and expected dates for the return of supply. The information is available to assist healthcare professionals in managing medicine shortages when they arise and reduce their impact on patients. The information relating to shortages on the HPRA website is dynamic and changes depending on the current information to hand.
Any patient concerned of a medicine shortage are advised to discuss their treatment and alternative options with their doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional.
Hospital Charges
Questions (784)
Colm Burke
Question:784. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm that consideration would be given to removing emergency department charges in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35246/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
There are no plans at present to amend the provisions in relation to the application of these charges.