Michael Healy-Rae
Question:510. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if any assistance can be given to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3792/24]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (510)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer Parliamentary Questions due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (511)
Robert Troy
Question:511. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the PSRP. [3812/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer Parliamentary Questions due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (512)
Joan Collins
Question:512. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason for the withdrawal of funding for vital diabetic services by the HSE; and the reason such services have been withdrawn (details supplied). [3834/24]
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 Promotion
Questions (513)
Duncan Smith
Question:513. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposals to provide one day of annual leave to workers for health screenings such as mammograms, cholesterol screening and colonoscopies; if his Department would consider such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3848/24]
View answerWritten answers
Improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland is central to the work of Government and the vision for Healthy Ireland in the Department of Health. The goal is to create a society where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and wellbeing to their full potential and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level.
My department's commitment to workplace wellbeing is documented in the Healthy Workplace Framework which was launched in 2021. It provides strategic direction and flexible guidance that can be adapted to any workplace to help create and sustain health and wellbeing among the workforce. To support the implementation of the framework, the Healthy Workplace website was developed last year and provides wellbeing content for all workplaces as well as interactive tools to support them to deliver and evaluate interventions in their organisations.
As Minister for Health and Wellbeing, I am fully supportive of our population health screening programmes and they are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early detection and treatment for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Many workplaces already facilitate staff to attend screening programmes with some offering comprehensive screening for their staff within their organisations. However, as you will appreciate, Ireland’s workplaces, and the people who work in them, are diverse with differing competing demands and it would not be feasible to mandate workplaces to offer an additional day over and above the statutory annual leave entitlements at this time.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (514)
Pearse Doherty
Question:514. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a date for surgery at Our Lady's Children's Hospital CHI Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3852/24]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (515)
Niamh Smyth
Question:515. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their next appointment to see a consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3853/24]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October 2023. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services
Questions (516)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:516. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently review a case (details supplied) where a person has been denied HSE assistance despite their significant requirements and diagnosis of FND; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3854/24]
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.
Dental Services
Questions (517)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:517. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of children assessed at category 5 and awaiting orthodontic treatment in CHO7, by those waiting over 1, over 2, over 3 and over 4 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3856/24]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Dental Services
Questions (518)
Róisín Shortall
Question:518. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists for dental services, both public and private; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3859/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am committed to fundamentally reforming dental services through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, as well as addressing immediate difficulties patients are experiencing in accessing oral healthcare services.
The Policy highlights the need for strategic workforce planning, to ensure a sufficient number of appropriately trained oral healthcare professionals, to include dentists, dental hygienists, dental nurses and other auxiliary grades. I support the creation of additional capacity in higher education, including in oral healthcare. The Higher Education Authority is undertaking a process to identify a set of options to achieve this important step towards health workforce sustainability for Ireland.
Additional investment in oral healthcare services last year enabled the HSE to deal with backlogs in the HSE Public Dental Service which provides services to children. The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which provides services to adult medical card holders, also experienced an increase in activity in 2023. An additional 154,864 treatments were provided with over 26,700 extra unique patients treated when compared with 2022. This follows the expansion of the Scheme in 2022 to include additional prevention treatments and a 40-60% increase in fees paid to dentists across most treatment items.
Orthodontic patients are also benefitting from additional investment. Under a private procurement initiative 2,154 patients were transferred into private care in 2023. For orthodontic patients who require surgical input, the HSE is developing a model of care for oral and maxillofacial surgery through the National Clinical Programme for Surgery. In 2023 surgery was procured for 41 patients waiting over 4 years for jaw surgery, which requires a lengthy hospital stay.
Officials in my Department will continue to work with the HSE to continue to reduce waiting lists and ensure the implementation of necessary reforms.
Dental Services
Questions (519)
Róisín Shortall
Question:519. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to prevent dentists from withdrawing from the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3860/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Services available annually and on demand include an examination including preventative elements, two fillings, emergency extractions, and a scale and polish. More complex care, such as additional fillings, dentures, and a broader range of treatments for patients with additional needs and high-risk patients are available subject to the approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon.
Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees paid to dentists across most treatment items. In 2023, 154,864 additional treatments were provided under the DTSS, with over 26,700 extra unique patients treated when compared with 2022.
The Government is committed to fundamentally reforming dental services, including the DTSS, through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. My Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure the establishment of focused structures to drive implementation of the Policy. The HSE has appointed a Strategic Reform Lead to drive Policy implementation across the organisation and to move forward in 2024 with developing new services for both adults and children in line with the Policy. This will include work on planning new services for medical card holders.
While it will take a number of years to bring reform to complete fruition, there will be an early emphasis in implementation on addressing the current issues, including the reform of the provision of services for medical card holders.
Hospital Staff
Questions (520)
Catherine Murphy
Question:520. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric neurologists with a special interest in neuromuscular medicine at CHI Temple Street in 2023. [3886/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Service Executive
Questions (521)
Catherine Murphy
Question:521. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the 2024 HSE service plan will be published. [3887/24]
View answerWritten answers
The revised National Service Plan 2024 was submitted for my approval by the HSE Chairperson on 26th January, 2024 and is currently under consideration. Following approval, it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days and the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (522)
Duncan Smith
Question:522. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that disabled parking at St. Vincent's Hospital has a four hour time limit for the length of time a person can occupy a disabled parking space; if he will liaise with St. Vincent’s to remove this time limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3889/24]
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.