Written Answers Nos. 1256-1276
1256. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason an application by a person (details supplied) for an over 70s medical card has been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36336/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1257. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to support a funded workforce plan to immediately grow the nursing and midwifery staff by 2,000 whole-time equivalent staff annually for the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36340/23]
View answerMy Department is currently developing a Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy and Action Plan and Planning Projection Model. The Model will provide demand and supply projections of numbers required in medicine, nursing and HSCPs spanning short- (3-5 years), medium- (5-10 years) and long-term (18-20 year) time horizons. Work on the demand and supply projections and gap analysis is due to be completed in September 2023. The expected result and ultimate objective of this work is the development of scenario-based projections of health and social care workforce supply and demand which informs a strategy, action plan and set of recommendations for ongoing strategic health and social care workforce planning.
Specifically relating to the nursing workforce, the Deputy will be aware that the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix is an evidence-based approach to determine safe staffing and skill mix that has been policy since 2018 and is fully supported by Government and being implemented by the HSE. It is determined by patient need and demonstrates impact through the measurement of a range of outcomes.
Since 2018, two safe staffing policy documents have been published. Phase 1 focused on Adult General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings. Phase 2 focused on Adult Emergency Care Settings.
The Framework methodology uses new/additional posts along with conversion of agency to permanent posts to achieve the required workforce stability. Nursing posts are a combination of Registered Nurses (RN) and Health Care Assistants (HCA), and this combination refers to the skill mix.
The Government had already invested €31 million since 2020 to support implementation of the Framework. The HSE have reported, as of May 2023, that investment to date has provided about 2,000 nursing posts (RN and HCA) which comprise both new and agency conversion posts to improve workforce stability. I recently allocated funding of €25 million to continue to implement the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in all acute hospitals nationally based on the HSE’s implementation plan. Recruitment is ongoing to fill all posts across all acute hospitals, including for emergency departments.
The HSE is in the process of finalising any outstanding implementation requirements through the 2024 Estimates process.
In relation to future nursing workforce demand, the Framework policy provides direction for the ongoing review and monitoring of nurse staffing and skill mix by senior hospital management teams and/or hospital groups at regular intervals within acute care settings.
My Department are currently progressing ongoing development of the Framework in community care settings including Long Term Residential care settings.
In addition, Ireland’s first National Maternity Strategy Creating a Better Future Together 2026-2026 (Department of Health, 2016), recognised the need to build capacity in the midwifery workforce, not only in terms of numbers, but also in relation to capability to deliver the new model of service across the home, the community and the hospital settings. In that context the Strategy specifically highlights the utility of workforce planning systems, such as BirthRate Plus.
Recommendation 6 from the Report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery (Department of Health, 2022) supports the workforce planning approach in the National Maternity Strategy by recommending that the HSE continue to advance the implementation of the BirthRate Plus approach as a model to determine the clinical midwifery staffing levels across all appropriate maternity units.
The Framework for Midwifery Workforce Planning is currently being advanced through the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) in the HSE; licensing for use of the Model is being finalised and baseline data collection is currently in progress.
1258. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to establish a health service division within the HAS to ensure adequate protections for nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers in response to the increase in workplace assaults, burnout and occupational infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36341/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1259. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the no-fault compensation scheme will be extended to cover nurses and midwives across all sectors of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36342/23]
View answerI understand that the Deputy has provided a revision to the question as follows: To ask the Minister for Health if considerations around the possible introduction of a no-fault compensation scheme for medical injuries will include cover for nurses and midwives across all sectors of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There are two Scheme's in place for staff of the HSE who experience an assault or an injury in the workplace. The full details in respect of the provisions of the Serious Physical Assault Scheme, and the Injury at Work Scheme, are as outlined in the HSE's Terms and Conditions of Employment staff guide document, which is available to view publicly here: assets.hse.ie/media/documents/Guidelines_on_terms_and_conditions_of_employment.pdf
No further Schemes are intended in this regard.
1260. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he is engaged in discussions with Cabinet colleagues to address the accommodation shortage for key sectoral workers such as nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36343/23]
View answerThe Government is focused on, is continuing to build new houses, affordable houses, social houses, owner-occupied houses, as priority. The solution for housing for key sectoral workers is the same solution for housing for everybody else, we need more housing.
1261. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if there are any further plans by representatives of the National Ambulance Service to travel to Israel; if future proposals in this regard will be re-evaluated considering the ongoing breaches of international law by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/23]
View answerThe National Ambulance Service consulted with my Department and The Department of Foreign Affairs in advance of its recent visit to Israel. Ireland’s bilateral relations with Israel encompass cooperation and exchanges across a wide range of sectors and the visit of the National Ambulance Service to their counterparts was important in this context. All such official cooperation strictly respects the delineation between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
With regard to the further detail requested by the Deputy, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly as soon as possible.
1262. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress in developing national gender clinics and multidisciplinary teams here for those under the age of 18 years; if a consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent psychiatry has been recruited to develop the service; if recruitment of a consultant psychiatrist is necessary to develop this service; the reasons this is necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36375/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government.
The Department of Health welcomed the Cass report and has considered its findings. The HSE commissioned a further report on the implications from the Cass report for Ireland. The Department understands that based on the recommendations of this report, the HSE has identified the need to develop an updated and integrated model of care for transgender services in Ireland, informed by the best evidence-based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria.
Throughout this process, the HSE will address the waiting times faced by those who wish to access care for gender dysphoria. A key part of this work will see the HSE consulting with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of the new model of care. Including those who provide and use these services, and advocacy groups.
The HSE is also working to identify an alternative pathway for children/young people experiencing protracted waiting times. Discussions are underway with the paediatric endocrinology service at CHI and also with a psychology service to work on an interim solution until a full dedicated multidisciplinary service is established for Ireland.
1263. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment for a consultation for an oral medicine assessment at the Dublin Dental University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards issued in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [36381/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1265. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason tetanus injections are not covered by the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36382/23]
View answerTetanus vaccine is given to children, under the childhood immunisation programme, as part of the 6 in 1 vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
The 6 in 1 vaccine also protects against Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Hib (haemophilus influenzae b) Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Polio.
Under the schools based programme, a booster vaccine dose is given at 4-5 years of age as part of the 4 in 1 vaccine which protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio and Tetanus.
Another booster dose is given in 1st year of second level school (the Tdap vaccine) which protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Tetanus.
All vaccines administered as part of the childhood immunisation and schools based immunisation programmes are given free of charge.
1266. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on audiology waiting lists, by age and region, as of July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36387/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1267. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on speech and language therapy waiting lists, by age and region, as of July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36388/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1268. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to address concerns raised in correspondence from section 39 workers (details supplied); the next steps available to such employees to improve their working conditions and pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36408/23]
View answerIt is important that I acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and their staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. Follow up engagements took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May 2023 & on the 28 of June 2023. Further engagement is due to take place at the WRC in the coming weeks. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
1269. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36422/23]
View answer1270. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36423/23]
View answer1271. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36424/23]
View answer1272. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36425/23]
View answer1273. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36426/23]
View answer1274. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36427/23]
View answer1275. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of patients, segmented by gender and age, that attended the out-of-hours GP services in an area (details supplied) in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and the general times attended in that service, in tabular form. [36428/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1269 to 1275, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1276. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to provide a copy of the service level agreement between the HSE and SouthDoc GP on Call. [36429/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
