Written Answers Nos. 682-697
682. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists and dental nurses working in the dental clinic at University Hospital, Kerry, in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42727/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
683. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant vascular surgeons at Galway University Hospital in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42728/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on capital works at Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon, in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42729/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
685. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time HSE home help carers in County Sligo, in tabular form. [42730/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
686. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant anaesthetists at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42731/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
687. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE nephrology registers at Letterkenny University Hospital in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42732/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
688. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE senior psychologists in neonatology at Limerick Maternity Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42733/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
689. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in otolaryngology at Naas General Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42734/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
690. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time intensive care unit nurses at Sligo University Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42735/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
691. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant haematologists attached to Beaumont Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42736/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason that he has agreed to limit the ability of the HSE to assign patients to GP GMS lists; the date on which this policy commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42737/23]
View answerPatient choice of doctor is a bedrock principle of the GMS Scheme for medical card and GP visit card holders. For the vast majority of individuals concerned their choice of doctor is accommodated and they are registered with their GMS GP of choice. In 2022 (last full year data available) out of a total of about 348,000 individuals who were approved for either a GP Visit Card or Medical Card, 3,927 individuals were unable to secure placement with their doctor of choice, or 1.1% of the total. In addition, 3,701 existing GMS patients were reassigned following a change in their place of residence.
For the small number of individuals unable to locate a GP themselves, the long standing process whereby the HSE may assign an eligible person to a GP’s GMS panel remains in place, in accordance with the GMS contract.
The GP Agreement 2023, which provides for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children under 8 years and to those who earn up to the median household income, does contain arrangements in relation to the assignment of card holders/applicants to GP GMS panels. However, these arrangements do not prevent the assignment of patients and rather are in place to help the equitable distribution of assigned patients across GP’s panels. The Agreement was announced in July 2023 and the terms of the Agreement are applicable to participating GPs.
In addition, as per the Agreement, a joint HSE and Irish Medical Organisation working group is being established to review the operation of the patient assignment protocol with a view to ensuring that it is framed and operating in a fair, patient- and GP-centred manner.
693. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline, in full, the details of the new GMS GP deal agreed over the summer of 2023; and the full extent of changes made to the GMS contract as a result of this deal, in tabular form. [42740/23]
View answerThe GP Agreement 2023 between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO, which was announced July last, is available publicly from the websites of the Department of Health and the HSE. The Agreement provides for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 & 7, via the Under 8s Contract, and the expansion of GP care without charges to all those who earn no more than the median household income. The Agreement also provides for a range of additional supports for general practice.
Unfortunately, tabular format is not suitable to capture in full all the provisions of the Agreement. For participating GPs, the Agreement sets out:
• increased capitation fees, an approximate €35 rate increase for GMS patients aged 6 and 7 and a 10% rate increase for GMS patients aged 8 to 69 inclusive.
• a substantial increase to the existing practice staff subsidy rates and a new grant subsidy for additional practice staff up to €15,000,
• a new support for practice staff during maternity leave,
• a €2 million additional support for GP Out of Hours services,
• increased special items of services fees for contraception services for female GMS patients outside the Free Contraception Service,
• the expansion and rollout of phase 3 of the Chronic Disease Management programme, and
• funding for pilot initiatives in relation to hard to fill GMS GP vacancies and locum cover for rural GPs.
The Agreement also sets out certain operationalisation issues, including arrangements to improve the equitable distribution of assigned patients across GP’s panels and the establishment of a joint HSE/IMO working group to review the operation of the patient assignment protocol.
The full details of these provisions are set out within the Agreement. The capitation rates and the increased practice staff subsidy rates set out under the Agreement are provided below.
|
Capitation Rates applicable to GPs participating under the GP Agreement 2023 |
|
|
Child Patient Aged under 6 years |
€125 |
|
Child Patient Aged between 6 and 7 years (inclusive) |
€100 |
|
Child Patient Aged between 8 and 12 years (inclusive) |
€100 |
|
Male patient aged 13 years or more and less than 16 years |
€70.71 |
|
Male patient aged 16 years or more and less than 45 years |
€90.26 |
|
Male patient aged 45 years or more and less than 65 years |
€180.29 |
|
Male patient aged 65 years or more and less than 70 years |
€189.92 |
|
Patient aged 70 years or more residing in the community |
€403.31 |
|
Patient aged 70 years or more residing in a private nursing home (approved by the HSE) for continuous periods in excess of 5 weeks |
€644.63 |
|
Female patient aged 13 years or more and less than 16 years |
€71.52 |
|
Female patient aged 16 years or more and less than 45 years |
€147.60 |
|
Female patient aged 45 years or more and less than 65 years |
€198.10 |
|
Female patient aged 65 years or more and less than 70 years |
€211.87 |
|
Practice Staff Support Subsidy Rates under the GP Agreement 2023 |
|
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) - 1 years’ experience |
€35,210.25 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) - 2 years’ experience |
€37,284.00 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) - 3 years’ experience |
€39,353.25 |
|
Nursing subsidy (per year) - 4 or more years’ experience |
€43,725.75 |
|
Practice administrator subsidy (per year) - 1 years’ experience |
€22,844.25 |
|
Practice administrator subsidy (per year) - 2 years’ experience |
€24,749.25 |
|
Practice administrator subsidy (per year) - 3 or more years’ experience |
€26,652.00 |
|
Practice manager subsidy (per year) |
€41,643.75 |
694. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will carry out a review of a fair deal application (details supplied). [42742/23]
View answerThe Deputy’s question is an operational matter for the HSE. However, the HSE requires details of the applicant’s date of birth in order for it to progress the question. If the Deputy would like to supply this information, I will arrange to have it forwarded to the HSE for direct reply to yourself.
Alternatively, the family may wish to contact their local Nursing Homes Support Office to discuss any questions they have about their application. Contact details are as follows;
HSE Nursing Homes Support Office, Health Centre, Longford Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91HP76
Phone: 044 939 4995 (Longford and Westmeath)
I can advise the Deputy that a statutory appeal service is provided for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) wherein appeals officers appointed from a panel, approved by the Minister for Health, make decisions as prescribed in Section 32 of the NHSS Act 2009, (as amended). Details on the NHSS can be found at National Appeals Process - HSE.ie.
695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42744/23]
View answerI recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved. The recent establishment of the Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacists in Ireland is evidence of my commitment to that aim.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review. Constructive engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union has taken place in that regard in recent months, and this engagement is continuing.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
696. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health to examine the case of a person (details supplied). [42746/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
697. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to review mental health difficulties and burnout among healthcare staff. [42750/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the staff of the public health service.
