Monday, 11 Sep 2023

Written Answers Nos. 1673-1693

Emergency Departments

Questions (1673)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1673. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients attending each of the emergency departments in 2022 and the first seven months of 2023, in tabular form. [37983/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (1674)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1674. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in emergency medicine at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37984/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (1675)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1675. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant dermatologists attached to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37985/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Hospital Procedures

Questions (1676)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1676. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of throat surgeries performed at Galway University Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37986/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Care Services

Questions (1677)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1677. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds provided in public residential centres and also contracted by the HSE in private nursing homes designated for respite care in each of the years 2017 to 2022. [37988/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Care Services

Questions (1678)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1678. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of respite care centres in the State in each of the years 2017 to 2022. [37989/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Charges

Questions (1679)

Mick Barry

Question:

1679. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure no public hospital engages debt collectors to collect outstanding fees from patients; if he will outline the policy in relation to collecting outstanding debts from seriously ill patients; the hospitals that employ debt collecting companies; the names of those companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37994/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

Patient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the HSE’s annual National Service Plan.

Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.

The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.

Dental Services

Questions (1680)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1680. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the Dentists Act 1985 to allow dental hygienists to work independently rather than under the prescription of a dentist by eliminating the mandatory referral from a dentist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38002/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Currently, in accordance with the Dentists Act 1985, a dental hygienist can work to the treatment plan outlined by a dentist, who first examines the patient.  Dental hygienists provide preventive focused oral health care to children and adults, of all ages. Within their current scope of practice hygienists can play a key role in helping to alleviate waiting lists.  

The National Oral Health Policy, requires a consideration of direct access to dental auxiliaries, including dental hygienists, when appropriate.  In addition, examining expansion of the scope of practice of auxiliaries to improve access to care is also supported. Direct access to hygienists with a broader scope of access could significantly improve access to preventive oral healthcare across both public and private settings.

The Department is committed to reviewing the Dentists Act 1985.  Additional resources have been allocated to commence this work which will include reviewing direct access and scope of practice for dental auxiliaries. This work is being integrated into a wider framework of implementation of the national policy which in tandem must also progress strategic workforce planning to support the substantial reform objectives of the policy. In the context of the review of the regulatory framework the Department is currently undertaking preparatory scoping and planning work to support the review.

Emergency Departments

Questions (1681)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1681. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of resuscitation bays in the accident and emergency departments at Beaumont, the Mater and St. James's hospitals, in tabular form. [38020/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (1682)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1682. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE radiographers working in the urgent care centre at CHI Blanchardstown in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [38021/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (1683)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1683. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the development of the community model for eye care, which covers cataract assessment, paediatric and macular disease. [38022/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.  

Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.

The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.

I am committed to increasing the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS. This is a priority for my Department, and work with stakeholders is ongoing to implement this change in 2023.

In addition to this, the HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, published in June 2017, highlighted the limitations of the current model of service delivery and set out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting. The Report estimated that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.

The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology has developed a model of care which details how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community will be undertaken. Included in current priorities is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists.

A project team with a wide-ranging membership was established in late 2019 / early 2020 to progress this initiative. The work of the team was paused due to the requirement to focus resources on the COVID 19 pandemic. However, the project team has been reconvened and is progressing matters in relation to this initiative.

While preparations in respect of Budget 2024 are ongoing, any health measures introduced will be in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and the funding available to progress healthcare priorities.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1684)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1684. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of recruitment campaigns that the HSE took part in either in person or virtually to attract Irish trained nurses, physiotherapists and doctors based in Australia to return home and work in the public health services in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of job offers offered per recruitment campaign; and the number of job offers that were accepted per recruitment campaign, in tabular form. [38023/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information.

Dental Services

Questions (1685)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1685. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the current wait time for an orthodontic procedure at the Dublin Dental Hospital. [38024/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (1686)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

1686. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of an additional WTE consultant neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital. [38025/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Hospital Services

Questions (1687)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1687. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have attended genetic counselling services in St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38042/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1688)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1688. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have attended genetic counselling services in Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38043/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1689)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1689. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have undergone genetic testing in St. James's Hospital for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38044/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1690)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1690. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have undergone genetic testing in Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin for each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38045/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1691)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1691. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current approach for notifying those with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation when they are due an annual MRI scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38046/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1692)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1692. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health what designated hospital resources are assigned for surveillance testing for those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38047/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1693)

Niall Collins

Question:

1693. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he can advise (details supplied) regarding the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38052/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.