Seán Sherlock
Question:1234. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to detail the level of absenteeism due to Covid recorded in each hospital and healthcare setting, in tabular form. [36190/23]
View answerHealth Services Staff
Questions (1234)
Written answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Care of the Elderly
Questions (1235)
John Brady
Question:1235. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount it would cost to establish a commissioner for ageing and older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36192/23]
View answerWritten answers
Acknowledging the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on older persons, the Programme for Government (2020) commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will ‘assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens’, learning the lessons from COVID 19.
In 2022 preliminary research was undertaken within the Department of Health in preparation for the establishment of the commission on care, the scoping and planning for which are being further advanced as a priority in 2023. While the scope of the commission has yet to be approved, it is envisaged that consideration of matters such as whether there is a need to establish a commissioner for aging and older people, and the fiscal viability of this, will fall within the commission’s remit.
Question No. 1236 answered with Question No. 1150.
Hospital Services
Questions (1237)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Question:1237. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will support the addition of dialysis services at Ennis Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36231/23]
View answerWritten answers
UL Hospitals Group has advised my Department that they are seeking to establish a contract for the provision of a haemodialysis service with a suitably qualified renal provider for a Contracted Satellite Haemodialysis Unit service in Ennis. It is envisaged that this unit would be similar to the satellite centre already in place on the Dock Road, Limerick.
The tender process for a Contracted Satellite Haemodialysis Unit service in Ennis is progressing and the Group has met with a number of potential providers. The shortlisted companies will be presenting their proposals during late August and early September. As part of the contract, the successful company will provide the dialysis machines.
Governance of this unit would be provided for by UL Hospitals Group, with a designated Consultant Nephrologist from the Renal Unit at University Hospital Limerick providing the overall clinical governance.
The development of the unit in Ennis would be a positive step, and would allow patients to benefit from better quality of life by availing of treatments closer to home. The development of this unit would also help ease pressure on the Renal Department at University Hospital Limerick and on the satellite unit on the Dock Road, Limerick.
The tender specification document provides for four isolation rooms; a gowning area suitable for patients with blood-borne viral illnesses, including Hepatitis B, in line with national guidelines; and would facilitate 1:1 and 1:2 nursing.
It is envisaged that the satellite facility would provide the following services:
• Consultant-directed medical care for chronic haemodialysis patients;
• Nurse-delivered / supervised haemodialysis delivery and care with regular consultant led reviews;
• Regular dietetic review and support;
• Other clinical supports as required, such as pharmacy services;
• Administrative support.
At present, patients from County Clare are currently seen in the Renal Department at University Hospital Limerick or in the satellite centre located on the Dock Road, Limerick. However, UL Hospitals Group has advised that they are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the delivery of a unit in Ennis.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1238)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36242/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1239)
Pauline Tully
Question:1239. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health to detail the additional resources that are being put in place to increase the number of placements for students on health and social care professional undergraduate programmes from September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36246/23]
View answerWritten answers
Department of Health officials engage with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the HSE and other relevant stakeholders to address any challenges in relation to the provision of clinical placements, and to ensure clinical placement supports are provided to support any future expansion of student places across Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs).
The Department of Health is supporting the HSE in partnership with the other relevant stakeholders to incrementally increase the number of Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) student placements by implementing a multi-year plan, including establishing the required infrastructure at national and regional level, development and implementation of agreed local and regional level governance agreements for practice placements for HSCP students, and providing necessary resources and supports such as professional development opportunities. Additional funding of €7.2m was provided by the Department of Health in 2023 to support the ability to train, recruit and retain Health and Social Care Professionals. This funding will allow for additional clinical placements to support expansion of HSCP training places to address supply shortages in these professions.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1240)
Pauline Tully
Question:1240. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant optometry and ophthalmology roles in primary care services in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36247/23]
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 (1241)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1241. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the dissemination of information to all staff in health and social care services and following the non-disclosure of a serious incident in a care facility, if he will take immediate action to inform and/or remind all health and social care services that a person shall be guilty of an offence if they fail without reasonable excuse to disclose offences set out in Schedule 2 of the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (2012 Act) (List of Schedule 2 offences attached); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36252/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government takes matters and allegations of abuse very seriously. The safety, protection and well-being of vulnerable adults, including older adults, is of paramount importance for all of society, agencies and Government Departments.
There is cross-sectoral adult safeguarding legislation applicable to all sectors, including health and social care, such as staff and volunteer vetting requirements, equal status, anti-discrimination and assisted decision-making legislation and the obligation, cited in the Deputy's question, to report certain offences against vulnerable adults to An Garda Síochána.
A framework of structures and processes is in place in the health sector to protect against abuse and ensure prompt action. In addition, a new national policy on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, is under development and will apply to all relevant public, voluntary and private settings and agencies.
Awareness of signs of potential abuse by staff, families and communities is important in preventing and protecting from abuse and I encourage anyone who has a concern about the safeguarding of a vulnerable adult to make contact with the local safeguarding and protection team for that area. If a crime is suspected, An Garda Síochána should also be informed.
The recommendations arising from the Emily reviews and the work of an independent expert who has been appointed to further consider the specific circumstances of the Emily case in the first instance, and the wider HSE safeguarding framework more generally, will guide improvements in this area.
As this an operational matter the Deputy’s question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Data Protection
Questions (1242)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1242. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to further confirm to health and social care services that there is no prohibition under either the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or the Data Protection Act 2018 (2018 Act) from sharing information where processing (sharing) is necessary to prevent injury or other damage including damage to the property of a person or otherwise to protect the vital interests of a person (Section 55(b)(iv) of the 2018 Act); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36253/23]
View answerWritten answers
Data protection law covers most situations in which personal data of an individual is processed, other than in a purely personal context. The fundamental rules and principles of data protection law must be taken into account in the context of all instances where individuals’ personal data are shared in a public sector context. Data controllers are responsible for complying with data protection obligations when processing personal data.
Section 55 of the Data Protection Act 2018 relates to the processing of personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences. Personal data relating to an individual’s criminal convictions, or alleged criminal offences, is afforded special protection in data protection law. There are situations where it may be necessary for information about a person’s criminal convictions to be shared between organisations, one such situation is where it is necessary for the information to be shared to protect other people, and to deal with a specific identified risk.
Section 55(1)(b)(iv) of the Data Protection Act 2018 allows the processing of such personal data, where “necessary to prevent injury or other damage to the data subject or another person or loss in respect of, or damage to, property or otherwise to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another person”. In such a circumstance, any personal data sharing would need to be looked at on a case by case basis, and only the information needed to address the risk to other people could be shared in a confidential manner.
The HSE as a Data Controller must adhere to the principles of data protection which are set out in the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018. As such I have referred the matter to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1243)
Brendan Griffin
Question:1243. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the current staffing breakdown at West Kerry Community Hospital; how this compares with the numbers at the start of 2023; if extra beds will be opened at the hospital; what specific efforts are being made to recruit new nurses at the hospital; the breakdown of details of advertisements that have been made in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36259/23]
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
Questions (1244)
Duncan Smith
Question:1244. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health what efforts were made to contact individuals and families who were victims of medical negligence to make them aware of the Public Consultation on Health Claims Costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36275/23]
View answerWritten answers
For context, Government at its meeting on the 31st January 2023, approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims and consider mechanisms to reduce costs and approved the Terms of Reference and membership of the Group.
The Group is chaired independently by an expert healthcare professional, Dr Rhona Mahony and is comprised of membership from across key Government Departments and Agencies (Departments of Health, Justice, An Taoiseach, Finance, Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, Office of the Attorney General, the State Claims Agency and the Health Service Executive).
In fulfilling its terms of reference as approved by Government, the Group may consult with a range of relevant parties. It is considered that securing the views of patients, the legal profession and others will be of enormous value to the deliberations of the Group, and accordingly, the Group is engaged in a schedule of work and consultations with relevant parties.
As it would not be possible for the Group to consult with every individual or representative group who might have an interest in the matter, a notice was placed in the Irish Times and the Irish Independent on 6th June 2023, inviting submissions from interested parties. The invitation to make a submission was also published on the consultation section of the Government website.
Health Services
Questions (1245)
Duncan Smith
Question:1245. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health what the communication and outreach strategy was for the Public Consultation on the Health Claims Costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36276/23]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
Primary Medical Certificates
Questions (1246)
Duncan Smith
Question:1246. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary medical certificate; if new applications are being accepted; the status of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36277/23]
View answerWritten answers
Responsibility for the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, operated by the Revenue Commissioners, falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance. To qualify for the scheme, an applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1994, and satisfy a range of conditions. There is currently no pause on applications to the scheme.
The extent of the involvement of health personnel in the scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant satisfies the medical criteria set out in the Department of Finance regulations. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant local Health Service Executive (HSE) administrative Community Health Organisation, on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners. These HSE personnel have no role in setting or amending the criteria.
A successful applicant is provided with a Primary Medical Certificate. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the HSE's Senior Medical Officer's decision to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, which is under the auspices of the Minister for Finance.
The Minister for Health's role under the legislation is to nominate to the Minister for Finance members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeals (DDMBA).
Regarding the current status of the board, the previous members of the DDMBA resigned effective from 30th November 2021. Several Expression of Interest (EOI) campaigns were held throughout 2022 and more recently in 2023.
The Minister for Finance holds responsibility for establishing the Board, and to this end, the Department of Finance advise they are currently in the process of re-establishing the Board.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1247)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1247. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36280/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Substance Misuse
Questions (1248)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1248. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide the breakdown between alcohol and drugs treatment beds in each alcohol and drug treatment centre provided by NGOs, for-profit providers and directly by the State, in tabular form. [36282/23]
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.
Disease Management
Questions (1249)
Michael Lowry
Question:1249. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1116 of 13 June 2023, if he can confirm when the HSE plans to meet the representative patient advocacy group for people diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36285/23]
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 (1250)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, as part of the external review of the HSE Safeguarding Policy, it is the intention to look in particular at the expansion of a safeguarding service being provided by the safeguarding and protection teams outside of hours 9-5, Monday to Friday; if it is the intention to provide a dedicated information and support service to the public in relation to adult safeguarding issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36293/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (1251)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1251. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the response time for a direct service to a caller to HSE Live outside the hours of 9-5, Monday to Friday; the response time figures for the past three months; if a log is kept of the different types of concerns raised; if a log is kept as to whom the concerns have been forwarded for action; if the data collated by HSE live is included in the Annual Report of the National Safeguarding Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36294/23]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1252)
Alan Kelly
Question:1252. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for vascular surgery in Tipperary; and the average waiting times, in tabular form. [36328/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 attached information, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the numbers waiting for vascular surgery by area of residence Tipperary and the average waiting time.
The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate true average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
|
IPDC waiting list figures for vascular surgery by time bands, area of residence Tipperary as at 29/06/2023 |
|
Time band (Months) |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
Small Volume Time Bands |
Grand Total |
|
IPDC Vascular surgery Tipperary |
37 |
9 |
5 |
51 |
Hospital Staff
Questions (1253)
Alan Kelly
Question:1253. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant and registrar posts, by speciality, that are currently vacant at Cork University Hospital; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [36329/23]
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
Hospital Staff
Questions (1254)
Alan Kelly
Question:1254. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant and registrar posts, by speciality, that are currently vacant at Galway University Hospital; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [36330/23]
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.
Hospital Staff
Questions (1255)
Alan Kelly
Question:1255. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title, working in the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Limerick; the number of vacancies, by job title; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [36331/23]
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.