Paul Donnelly
Question:1125. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres in use in each of the maternity hospitals within Dublin, in tabular form. [35780/23]
View answerHospital Facilities
Questions (1125)
Written 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 Staff
Questions (1126)
Paul Donnelly
Question:1126. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the necessary funding for the recruitment of additional whole-term equivalent consultant neurologists for the long-Covid clinic at St. James's Hospital. [35781/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy is advised that the Minister has trebled the allocation of funding dedicated to Long COVID service development from 2.2 million in 2022 to 6.6 million in 2023. This funding is to support the implementation of the HSE interim Model of Care for Long COVID, building on existing service provision, in addition to establishing new services across GP, community services and acute hospitals, to ensure a national service is in place for all who need it.
There is a tertiary Neurocognitive Clinic in St James's Hospital, led by a Consultant Neurologist with background in Neurocognitive Disorders, accepting referrals from Long COVID clinics around the country.
Health Service Executive
Questions (1127)
John Lahart
Question:1127. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if an evaluation can be expedited under the HSE job evaluation scheme in respect of an employee (details supplied) who applied for an upgrade to their current substantive position which is a grade six section officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (1128)
Pauline Tully
Question:1128. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of applications that were made for ceiling hoists in CHO1 in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35804/23]
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. 1129 answered with Question No. 1096.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1130)
Carol Nolan
Question:1130. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health how many new contracts for whole-time equivalents in maternity hospitals have included a responsibility to perform terminations of pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35811/23]
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 (1131)
Carol Nolan
Question:1131. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to set out the total amounts of expenditure earmarked and spent on abortion provision (including preparation for abortion provision) for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, where issues like "recurring funding" are explained and clarity ensured as to the precise amounts of moneys spent each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35812/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service provision, we have referred it to the HSE for answer.
Abortion Services
Questions (1132)
Carol Nolan
Question:1132. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of all the categories and amounts spent in each category in the provision of abortion (including preparation for abortion provision) in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, to include amounts spent on abortion provision in GP settings, hospital settings, family planning settings, on training of healthcare workers with regard to abortion, on training of healthcare students with regard to abortion, on values clarifications courses with regard to abortion, on capital expenditure to do with abortion and any other relevant categories relevant to abortion provision, complete with an individual breakdown for each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35813/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy's question relates to service provision, we have referred it to the HSE for answer.
Equality Issues
Questions (1133)
Michael Moynihan
Question:1133. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the action his Department has taken to honour the Programme for Government pledge to ensure that Government Departments and public bodies take positive steps, including the use of correct pronouns and, where possible, making improvements on official forms, to assist non-binary people. [35831/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Review Group for the Gender Recognition Act included in its report, at recommendation 2C, that Government Departments and other public bodies should take any positive steps to improve the position of people who are non-binary. An example of where this commitment is detailed is in the Civil Service Renewal Strategy 2030, which acknowledges that Ireland has a growing and increasingly diverse population and sets out our goal of ensuring that our policy and service responses are focused on equality, inclusivity and accessibility.
In line within the aims of this strategy, my Department’s internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group works on improving awareness and support of EDI matters among colleagues through various events, training, and communications. Specific information sessions with Pride at Work by Dublin LGBTQ+ Pride and BelongTo were held in 2022 and 2023 to raise awareness on the use of pronouns and LGBTQ+ terminology as well as learn more about the LGBTQ+ community. My Department has also shown its support to the LGBTQ+ community by participating in the Dublin Pride Parade with colleagues from across the Civil Service and Public sector in 2022 and in 2023. In addition, the EDI Working Group has also promoted events and initiatives taking place across the wider Civil Service throughout Pride Month in June, including LGBTQ+ webinars hosted through OneLearning.
Medical Cards
Questions (1134)
Matt Carthy
Question:1134. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to ensure that there will be an automatic entitlement to a full medical card for those who receive a cancer diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35844/23]
View answerWritten answers
Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
The HSE also has a compassionate system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e., where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or when a patient is receiving end of life treatment. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. In addition, since March 2021, persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card on an administrative basis. This measure delivered the Programme for Government commitment to extend eligibility for medical cards to persons with a terminal illness and work is continuing to develop a legislative framework to underpin this administrative scheme. Medical cards awarded on end of life grounds are never re-assessed by the HSE thereby providing reassurance and comfort to patients and their families.
Separately, I can advise the Deputy that, since 2015, medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer. Further information can be found on the HSE’s website at www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/other-types-of-medical-card/emergency-medical-cards/.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
Cancer Services
Questions (1135)
Matt Carthy
Question:1135. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his proposals to abolish inpatient charges for cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35845/23]
View answerWritten answers
As part of Budget 2023, I announced my commitment to abolish all public inpatient hospital charges this year. The Health (Amendment) Act 2023, signed into law by the President on 4 April 2023, removes the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day for people accessing care as a public patient in public hospitals. This measure came into effect from 17 April 2023.
The removal of these charges is an important step towards reducing the healthcare costs of patients and families. This measure builds on the abolition of public in-patient charges for children, which I introduced in September last year, and is another significant step in ensuring that people have access to affordable healthcare services when needed.
Cancer Services
Questions (1136)
Matt Carthy
Question:1136. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health is he will ensure that all patients undergoing cancer treatment will be exempt from car parking fees at their place of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35847/23]
View answerWritten answers
Hospitals that charge parking fees are very cognisant of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses. Consequently, many hospitals have introduced a maximum daily fixed parking charge and reduced rate parking for long-term patients and visitors for whom the payment of the full rate would cause hardship.
The Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, makes a commitment to introduce a maximum daily car parking charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services.
Cancer Services
Questions (1137)
Matt Carthy
Question:1137. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide for a reimbursement of road toll charges for those travelling to undergo cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35848/23]
View answerWritten answers
There are two services funded by the National Cancer Control Programme and administered by the Irish Cancer Society which offer financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment.
The service relevant to the Deputy's question is the Travel2Care Scheme, which is a limited transportation assistance fund. This is available to patients travelling to designated cancer centres, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and will cover part of the associated costs, including toll charges, for said travel.
Information on the scheme can be obtained from the Irish Cancer Society, via cancer.ie, emailing travel@irishcancer.ie, or by calling 01 231 6643 / 01 231 0522 to request information. Patients are asked to provide any receipts for toll charges when applying for assistance through the Travel2Care Scheme.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1138)
Ged Nash
Question:1138. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if an individual (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35850/23]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1139)
Ged Nash
Question:1139. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the pandemic special recognition payment; if so, when they will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35851/23]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1140)
Alan Kelly
Question:1140. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will list the various staff responsible for fire prevention in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; if he will supply the respective full job descriptions of the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35854/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1141)
Alan Kelly
Question:1141. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will list the various staff responsible for fire prevention in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, St. James's Hospital, Dublin and St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; if he will supply the respective full job descriptions of the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35855/23]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Mental Health Services
Questions (1142)
Holly Cairns
Question:1142. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the areas of Cork and Kerry currently served by primary care psychology services; the locations of these services; and the population areas served by each, in tabular form. [35873/23]
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 (1143)
Holly Cairns
Question:1143. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the areas of Cork and Kerry which do not have primary care psychology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35874/23]
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 (1144)
Holly Cairns
Question:1144. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current wait times for each individual children and adolescent primary care psychology service in Cork and Kerry; the number of individuals on each waiting list, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35875/23]
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 (1145)
Holly Cairns
Question:1145. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current wait times for each individual adult primary care psychology service in Cork and Kerry; the number of individuals on each waiting list, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35876/23]
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 (1146)
Holly Cairns
Question:1146. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists employed by each primary care psychology service in Cork and Kerry, by grade, in tabular form. [35877/23]
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.