Written Answers Nos. 196-216
196. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the reason that the community intervention team nurses across Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow and Wicklow have not received their pandemic special recognition payments to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42899/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
197. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of resuscitation bays in each hospital part of the South/SouthWest Hospital Group, in tabular form. [42914/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
198. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmology procedures, by type, that were carried out at University Hospital Limerick in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42915/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
199. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to provide recognition for those professionals operating as athletic therapists in Ireland, who have been campaigning for the recognition for the past 15 years; to outline the process for such matters; and the reason for the inordinate delay in completing consideration of this particular group. [42924/23]
View answerA number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. The issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex. Regulation must be applied when warranted by risks. Regulation should not be perceived of as a reflection or recognition of professional status.
In light of the various issues to be considered, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board (HRB) was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website
(www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).
Officials in the Department of Health are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en
There are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
My officials will be preparing a report on progress made in developing a framework to guide future decision-making on the regulation of health and social care professions, which will be laid before each House of the Oireachtas within six months of commencement of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) Act 2023.
I hope this information is of assistance.
200. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of general schemes referred by his Department to an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date; the date each was referred; the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42952/23]
View answerThe Department did not centrally record referrals to an Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny over the period requested. However, we have ascertained that the following eight general schemes have been referred by my Department for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date.
The information sought by the Deputy is included in the table below:
|
Title of General Scheme |
Date of Referral to Oireachtas Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny |
Date of Publication of General Scheme |
|
Children’s Health Bill |
31 August 2017 |
29 August 2017 |
|
General Scheme of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill |
16 Oct 2019 |
2 May 2019 |
|
General Scheme for the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 |
30 October 2019 |
22 October 2019 |
|
Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 |
22 April 2021 |
27 April 2021 |
|
Draft Heads of Bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 |
21 July2021 |
13 July 2021 |
|
Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services Safe Access Zones) Bill |
19 September 2022 |
5 August 2022 |
|
Health (Amendment) Bill 2022 |
26 October 2022 |
19 October 2022 |
|
Health Information Bill |
24 April 2023 |
4 May 2023 |
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on a primary medical certificate for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42967/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
202. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when all remaining agency staff will receive their pandemic payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42968/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
203. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for an update on the payment of the Covid-19 recognition payment to CIT nurses employed by SouthDoc. [42969/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42972/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
205. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his plans to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid; if he intends to extend or replace this scheme before it is due to end on 31 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42979/23]
View answerFor a certain cohort of employees suffering from long-Covid, a Special Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection, specific to the public health service was introduced on 1 July 2022. This Special Scheme was due to conclude on 30th June this year. In recognition of this ongoing matter, sanction to extend the Special Scheme for a period of 12 months was sought from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDPR) in April 2023. The sanction provided by DPENDPR was for a period of just four months. This extension was sanctioned by DPENDPR on a once-off basis and is restricted only to those employees who are currently availing of the Special Scheme. The Special Scheme will now conclude on 31st October 2023 in light of this.I wish to continue to support the health care workers currently on the Special Scheme, and I have recently written to Minister Donohue again seeking his sanction to further extend the Special Scheme. Any employees on the Special Scheme who remain unwell beyond its concluding date, may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme thereafter.
206. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a young person can be referred to a different CHO area for CAMHS-ID services if their CHO does not have a team in place; if so, to outline the procedure for this to operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42987/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to to the Deputy as soon as possible.
207. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons and orthopaedic registrars at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42994/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
208. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ophthalmologist and ophthalmologist registrars working in the Mater Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [42991/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
209. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for people to be seen and treated at the pain clinic in Galway; the number of people waiting for an appointment, by length of time or number of years on the waiting list, in tabular form; the number of people on the waiting list for pain relief in Galway who have an appointment date; the number still waiting for an appointment date; the reasons for a delay of four to five years in people receiving pain relief treatment in Galway; and what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting times. [43013/23]
View answerIt 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 7 March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the latest stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists.
The 2023 plan builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, and the Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both of which 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 and reforming scheduled care.
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.
The €363 million is targeted at reducing 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, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the 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, the most recent waiting list figures published by the NTPF show that there were 895 patients on the Pain Relief Outpatient waiting list at Galway University Hospital. Adult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly and is available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.
The NTPF has advised my Department, that they have approved a number of insourcing initiatives for funding at Galway University Hospital so far in 2023, including for patients on the Pain Relief Outpatient and Inpatient/Daycase waiting lists.
With regard to the number of people on the Pain Relief Outpatient waiting list who have an appointment date, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
210. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the pain relief waiting list in Galway University Hospital who have had their treatment outsourced to private hospitals or clinics in the Republic and to hospitals or clinics in the North of Ireland or elsewhere outside the jurisdiction in each of the past five years and to date in 2023; how many are expected to be referred within the next six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43014/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for people on the waiting lists for gastroenterology to be seen and treated at Galway University Hospital; the number of people waiting for an appointment, by length of time on the waiting list, in tabular form; the number of people on the waiting lists to be seen who have an appointment date; the number still waiting for an appointment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43015/23]
View answerIt 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 7 March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the latest stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists.
The 2023 plan builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, and the Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both of which 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 and reforming scheduled care.
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.
The €363 million is targeted at reducing 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, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the 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, the most recent waiting list figures published by the NTPF show that there were 1,809 patients on the Gastro-Enterology Outpatient waiting list at Galway University Hospital. Adult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly and is available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.
The NTPF has advised my Department, that they have approved a number of initiatives for funding at Galway University Hospital so far in 2023, including for patients on the Gastro-Enterology outpatient waiting list.
With regard to the number of people on the Gastro-Enterology Outpatient waiting list who have an appointment date, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
212. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43023/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1560 of 11 September 2023, if further investigation can be given to this matter as the person (details supplied) informs this Deputy that this procedure did not go ahead as the surgical procedure was cancelled and they are still awaiting surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43032/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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.
214. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason Covid-19 booster vaccines are being restricted to older and vulnerable people when US health officials are recommending that everyone over the age of six months receive the latest annual Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43033/23]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccination Programme's scope is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Autumn/Winter rollout will see a further booster rolled out to the following cohorts;
•those aged 50 years and older•those aged 5-49 years with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination•those aged 5-49 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death•health and care workersThe NIAC has also advised that pregnant adolescents and adults should receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine once in pregnancy if it is more than six months since their previous COVID-19 vaccine or infection.The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.
215. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment with the HSE audiology services for hearing aids, which he is without since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43034/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards for the publication of his amendments to the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022; when he expects this Bill to reach Committee Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43036/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 was introduced to, and passed Second Stage in, the Dáil in March 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Third Stage. The focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction.
The Bill as published provided for domestic altruistic surrogacy but does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. However, on foot of Government approval of a proposal from Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and myself, the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy was formally established in February 2022.
Following the publication of the Committee’s Final Report in July 2022, through a structured and collaborative engagement process, the three relevant Departments (Departments of Health, Justice, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth) reviewed the Report’s recommendations along with other relevant matters. This project culminated with the approval by Cabinet in mid-December 2022 of a policy approach in respect of both the regulation of international surrogacy and the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international) as well as outline draft legislative proposals.
The formal drafting process of these new surrogacy provisions by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC), in conjunction with the three relevant Departments, as appropriate, is at an advanced stage. This is notwithstanding the fact that drafting by the OPC on the AHR Bill was paused due to a diversion of OPC personnel to work on highly-prioritised, non-Department of Health legislation.
The new provisions will then need to be approved by Government following the completion of the formal drafting process. It is intended that the finalised approved legislative provisions will then in effect be added to the AHR Bill at Committee Stage, in tandem with the bringing of substantial proposed amendments to the 11 Parts and 134 pages of the published Bill.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I am not in a position at this juncture to give a definitive timeline as to when these new Parts and other proposed amendments will be brought to Committee Stage and the subsequent passage of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill though the Houses of the Oireachtas; however, I wish to reiterate my commitment to ensuring both that the goal of providing for a route to formal recognition by the State of past surrogacy arrangements or surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions is achieved and that a robust regulatory framework for AHR more broadly is put in place, as quickly as possible.
