Written Answers Nos. 680-699
680. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health to outline the relationship between Connolly Hospital's new laboratory and the RCSI; to report on what public funds were used for the development of this laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10192/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
681. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to assign a date for a procedure for a person (details supplied) as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10198/24]
View answerUnder 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.
682. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will detail for each individual public/voluntary hospital the number employed in wholetime equivalent terms in each category (details supplied) in each hospital in February 2023, in tabular form. [10204/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
683. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in carrying out a review in the case of a medical card for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10213/24]
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 Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the long waiting lists for dialectical behaviour therapy in Ireland as it is reported there is a minimum of 18 months wait for people who live with mental health issues. [10225/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
685. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if an appointment with a physio can be expedited for a person (details supplied) as they must have their orthopaedic shoes replaced regularly due to a disability in their leg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
686. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he has been given an explanation by the HSE as to who within the HSE or at what level of management issued a directive in relation to the cuts to mastectomy supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10240/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case. The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is the collective name for the provision of these products and services.
The Community Funded Scheme service improvement programme recently published two new national procedures for the provision of an allowance for cancer treatment in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products. These new procedures were approved by the National Head of Operations for Primary Care within the HSE. The HSE advise that the intention of the new procedures was to standardize provision across the country.
I instructed the HSE to ensure that no patient, either currently availing of the scheme or accessing it in the future, should be at any financial loss as a result of the proposed changes.
The HSE has since communicated to each CHO advising them to revert to the pre-existing level of contributions to patients in respect of hair loss and post mastectomy products until such time as the new procedures can be reviewed in terms of the proposed allowances to be provided. CHOs were also instructed to contact any member of the public who received an email/communication advising them of the new procedure to inform them it has been withdrawn. This communication also reiterated that no person should be disadvantaged in any way in the intervening period.
I want to reiterate that progressing Women's Health is a priority within the Programme for Government, and a top priority for me as Minister for Health. I am proud to have overseen unprecedented levels of funding in women's health services over the last few years. I want to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place so that every woman has the same level of access to appropriate healthcare no matter where they live in Ireland.
687. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when urgent injections will be carried out in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10247/24]
View answerUnder 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.
688. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the timeframe within which a general practitioner GMS post will be filled in Swanlinbar, County Cavan. [10259/24]
View answerAs 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, 6 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.
689. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of naloxone prescriptions that were issued in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [10260/24]
View answerAs this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. 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.
690. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of resuscitation suites currently in each hospital part of RCSI group, in tabular form. [10261/24]
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 Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric gastroenterologist and paediatric gastroenterologist registrars working in CHI Temple Street in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [10263/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to expand access to Naxolone, which is used to prevent drug overdoses, in line with the UK and Northern Ireland, whereby it is available without prescription via drug treatment services such as an NHS body, a local authority or a public health agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10276/24]
View answerWhile Naloxone is a prescription required drug various measures have been put in place to ensure that as many people as are required have access to naloxone administration courses.
Currently the supply and administration of medicinal products in emergencies is done by persons engaged or employed by organisatons listed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority. The person supplying and administering the medicinal product must have been issued with a certificate stating that he or she has satisfactorily completed a course of training, approved by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC), the HSE or another body nominated by the Minister for that purpose, in the use of the specific medicinal product, relating to the administration of the medicinal product.
A legislative amendment was made in 2023, by Statutory Instrument 238/2023 Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2023 in order to give the HSE the same authority as PHECC to approve training courses and produce clinical practice guidelines.
Under the current Medicinal Products (Prescription Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (SI 540/2003) it is permitted that naloxone may be used without prescription under certain conditions by individuals who belong to listed organisations registered with the HPRA and who have undergone a training course approved by either the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) subject to PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines or the HSE subject to HSE Clinical Practice Guidelines.
693. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health how much of the €5 million investment from Budget 2023 to target backlogs in dental services for children and adult medical card holders has been spent in the way that it was intended; if the remainder of this money is still ringfenced to target dental waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10284/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
694. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists contracted to the DTSS for the years 2012 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10285/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
695. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the spend on the DTSS for the years 2012 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10286/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
696. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated for the DTSS for each year from 2012 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10287/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
697. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card patients seen by dentists on the DTSS for each year from 2012 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10288/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
698. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists contracted to the DTSS per CHO area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10289/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
699. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when his officials will next meet an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10290/24]
View answer784. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when his officials will next meet an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10782/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 784 together.
On foot of a meeting between myself and the Irish Dental Association (IDA) in November 2020, officials in my Department engaged with the IDA to discuss and agree a package of measures introduced from 1 May 2022, to expand the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders and increase the fees paid to contractors for most treatment items by 40-60%. These measures have improved access to care, with 154,864 additional treatments provided and over 26,700 extra patients treated in 2023 when compared with 2022.
It is a top priority for myself and for the Government to improve patient access to oral healthcare services, through implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile Agus Sláinte. There have been several engagements between my Department and the IDA on implementation of the Policy, including meetings with the Chief Dental Officer and other officials in the Department on 29th July 2022 and 2nd December 2022, and a meeting with myself on 24th April 2023.
My officials met with the IDA again on 24th January 2024, and discussed the range of strategic priorities comprehended by the Policy, including the modernisation of services, the reform of the relevant legislation and strategic workforce planning. Regarding service reform, the priorities for 2024, as captured in the HSE's National Service Plan, include:
- Development of a comprehensive phased policy implementation plan for the range of actions identified in the policy, including stakeholder engagement and resource identification;
- Progression of oral health and care packages for children aged from birth to seven years of age; and
- The design of clinical elements for reformed preventative care for adult medical cardholders as referenced in the policy.
