Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:51. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the plans to provide suitable primary care units in west and north Connemara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/24]
View answerPrimary Care Services
Questions (51)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Departments
Questions (52)
Duncan Smith
Question:52. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to detail his plan to solve the ongoing accident and emergency crisis in UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19401/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Emergency Department of UHL continues to manage high volumes of patients. To 21 April 2024, UHL ED has seen 12% more presentations versus the same period last year.
There is continued investment in UHL to provide the nurses, doctors and staff with the resources they need. The extension of Safe Staffing to EDs, general and specialised medical and surgical settings is fully funded and are exempt from any moratorium on recruitment. Safe staffing has been in place in the ED since September 2023, following the recruitment of an additional 21.5 whole-time staff nurses. Recruitment has commenced to extend Safe staffing to all inpatient wards at the hospital and will be complete by end of 2024. The budget for UHL has been growing, and this year is €382 million, a 44% increase in five years.
Bed capacity is increasing, while acknowledging more is needed. Work commenced on a new 96-bed ward block at UHL last year, which is expected to be open next year. This first block will add an additional 71 new acute beds to UHL. The remaining 25 new beds will replace existing beds from nightingale wards that require replacement and refurbishment in line with regulatory requirements. Preparatory works have also commenced for a second 96-bed block. All steps are to be taken to accelerate this. All 96 beds will be additional beds for the hospital.
Minister Donnelly visited UHL in April and met with senior management, doctors and nurses. He announced a package of actions to alleviate the pressures at UHL, and to support staff in implementing reforms to work practices to better suit patients.
The package includes:
• a procurement process for the operation of the new 50 bed Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh as a step down and rehabilitation facility for UHL for one year until the first 96 bed block is opened;
• a further 20 permanent step-down transition & rehab beds will be procured in Clare;
• 16 additional fast build beds are to be commissioned onsite with this capacity to be available in advance of next winter’s surge;
• the opening hours of the region’s three Acute Medical Assessment Units at Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s are to be extended to 24/7 on a phased basis;
• UHL is now providing GP and Advanced Nurse Practitioner-on-the-door services for the ED in an effort to alleviate overcrowding and allow the ED staff to concentrate on treating urgent and emergency patients in a timelier manner.
• senior decision makers will be rostered on site, both in the ED and throughout the hospital, after hours and at weekends. There will be a progression to immediate rostering over six and where contractually possible seven days.
• a targeted campaign to increase the number of consultants on the Public-Only Consultant Contract in UHL. A deployment review of those on the new contract;
• an All-of-Hospital approach to treating ED patients, including presence of non-ED consultants to support ED colleagues in the Emergency Department when necessary
• a strong patient flow team in place 7 days per week.
On 30 April Minister Donnelly and the Chief Executive of the HSE, Bernard Gloster announced a support team to address the current pressures on health services in the Mid West region. The team will begin work immediately and over a four-week period to help devise a number of actions designed in particular to ease overcrowding and pressures in the ED at UHL.
Health Strategies
Questions (53)
David Cullinane
Question:53. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has developed a framework for multi-annual funding of national strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/24]
View answerWritten answers
Unlike the position for capital expenditure where multi annual commitments are made within the National Development Plan, the Estimates process for current expenditure currently allocates funding on an annual (single year) basis. No formal mechanism currently exists to provide current funding on a multi-annual basis to Departments, or onward to the HSE or other service providers for national strategies.
Primary Care Services
Questions (54)
Thomas Gould
Question:54. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether he will instruct SouthDoc to reopen Blackpool to full service. [19711/24]
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.
Emergency Departments
Questions (55)
Bernard Durkan
Question:55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the operation of national accident and emergency departments in all hospitals throughout the country with a view to eliminating, insofar as is possible, avertable accidents; if action can be taken to ensure that patients on trollies can have reduced waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (56)
Gino Kenny
Question:56. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) recently said the latest NTPF figures indicate that waiting lists may take a decade or more to get under control unless the opening of long-promised additional hospital capacity is fast-tracked and consultant posts are filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19869/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Government and I recognise that acute hospital scheduled care waiting lists are far too long, and that many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care. As part of efforts to address this, the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) multi-annual approach, was initiated in September 2021. The WLAP approach encompasses a combination of short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
This WLAP approach is having a positive impact on hospital waiting lists, with each of the WLAPs to-date having achieved a reduction in the overall waiting list numbers (5.4% reduction from September to December 2021, and 4.1% and 2.7% annual reductions for WLAP 2022 and 2023 respectively). Significant progress was also achieved last year in relation to those waiting longest on hospital lists, as well as further reducing the number of people waiting longer that the Sláintecare wait time targets. Since the pandemic peak, and by the end of December 2023, there was a 27% reduction in the number of people waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets, which equates to nearly 170,000 people.
In 2024, €437 million has been allocated to help address waiting lists this year, which includes €360 million specifically for the WLAP. The 2024 WLAP – published in March - builds on the work done in previous plans and is targeting long waiters, a 10% reduction in the number of patients breaching the Sláintecare Time Targets (as of year-end 2023) and an overall waiting list reduction of almost 6% this year. Delivering the targets in this year’s WLAP will be underpinned by further increased activity in our hospitals.
As part of our commitment to improving hospital waiting lists, we are implementing a national strategy of elective ambulatory care, with the establishment of new dedicated Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The development of elective hospitals will change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged across the country, ensuring greater capacity in the future and helping to address waiting lists. The total additional capacity to be provided by the overall Elective Hospitals Programme (in terms of procedures, treatments and diagnostics) is estimated to be 977,700 annually. In the interim, the HSE is also addressing waiting lists in the shorter term by expediting the development of ‘Surgical Hubs’ at locations across the country. The Hubs in Dublin are due to become operational this year (2024) with those in Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford becoming operational in 2025. Once operationalised, each Hub will deliver over 25,000 day cases, minor operations and outpatient consultations annually.
We are also expanding capacity in our hospitals. For example, since 2020, this Government has opened 1,182 new acute inpatient beds. In addition, a further 91 acute beds are planned to open in 2024, with another circa 250 acute beds either under construction or have funding commitments to progress to construction over the next number of years. In addition to these circa 1,500 acute beds already funded or with committed funding, it is my ambition to progress rapidly to open a further 1,500 beds to meet the health needs of our growing and aging population.
The revised National Development Plan (NDP) capital allocations agreed by Government in March 2024 included an additional capital allocation of €245 million towards healthcare infrastructure. This increased allocation now brings our NDP Health capital investment to €1.46 billion for 2025 and €1.56 billion for 2026 and now allows the launch of Phase 1 of the next 1,500 Acute Bed programme. The Department of Health and the HSE are now progressing with plans for approximately 300 of these beds in Phase 1 of this new programme.
In addition to increasing capacity, one of my priorities was to increase the number of consultants working within the health service. I’m happy to report that since 2020 the number of consultants has increased by nearly a third, or an extra 1,000 consultants. There are now over 4,300 consultants working in the HSE. Several hundred more will be hired this year. I have set a goal of getting to 6,000 consultants by 2030 which we are on target for.
The introduction of the Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) is also significant in terms of its impact on our health service. As of the 24th of April, 2,195 consultants have signed the POCC. This is made up of 462 new entrants signing the contract since it was introduced in March 2023 and 1,733 consultants who have switched from their existing contracts.
As more consultants are recruited or switch to the new contract, private activity in the public system will cease. With the increase in consultants on POCC, this increases the time that consultants are present on site enabling more decision- making, which as we know reduces admissions, reduces length of stay and reduces delayed discharge. The new contract also results in more patients being seen, with more outpatient clinics and theatre lists, including in the evenings and at weekends.
Health Strategies
Questions (57)
Gino Kenny
Question:57. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) has warned that his Department risks repeating the same regressive mistakes of the austerity years if it plans to move away from health service investment in order to prioritise savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19871/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 39.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (59)
Paul Murphy
Question:59. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the abortion review recommendations on legislative reforms will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19876/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Independent Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 made a range of recommendations most of which are operational in nature.
The final Report of the Review made a number of recommendations in relation to increasing access to services.
The Government asked the HSE to establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations. An action plan for the implementation of the recommendations has been developed. Ten work-streams have been identified, they are as follows:
Early Pregnancy Ultrasound
Section 12-Early Pregnancy TOP
Surgical TOP and MVA
Audit & Data Collection
Education & Training
Foetal Medicine Protocols
National Prenatal Screening Programme
Maternal Health - Section 9
HSE Workplace Policies
Leadership Models
Significant progress has already been made in this regard, for instance six additional hospitals started providing termination services in 2023, an increase of 55%.
Increased service provision is largely down to the huge increase in funding for women’s healthcare under this government, as well as the dedicated work of our healthcare leads.
Termination services in early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) are currently provided in 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals, with the remaining two expected to come onboard in 2024.
There has also been a small but sustained increase in community providers, approximately an additional 20 in the last 12 months alone.
Furthermore, the revised model of care introduced in response to the Covid pandemic has been approved as the enduring model of care. Under this blended approach, it is possible for one of the two consultations required for termination in early pregnancy to take place remotely. This will alleviate the time and expense involved in travelling to the doctor’s surgery twice.
The cumulative effect of these measures, now in place, will substantially reduce barriers and increase access to services for those who need it.
Safe Access Zones legislation is at an advanced stage in its progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas, with Report Stage in the Seanad scheduled for 1st May.
The proposals recommending legislative changes were referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration. Further consideration of this issue will take place at the Cabinet Committee on Health.
Eating Disorders
Questions (60)
Martin Browne
Question:60. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline the approach that parents of children with ARFID can take to secure the services needed to address the condition; how parents of children with ARFID are advised to secure the services needed in the absence of the condition not being included in the NICE guidelines for Eating Disorders (2017 or 2020 update); if he plans to identify and develop specific pathways for the treatment of children with ARFID in the context of the HSE’s assertion that management of children with ARFID in Ireland requires a collaborative working between professionals and would involve working between the acute hospital sector and HSE community healthcare divisions such as primary care, disability and mental health; how that management process can work efficiently in light of a lack of dietitians across primary care, outpatient paediatrics and community mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19809/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (61)
Holly Cairns
Question:61. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on access to neurology services in Bantry Hospital. [19761/24]
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.
Mental Health Services
Questions (62)
Pauline Tully
Question:62. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to decrease waiting times for children and adolescents to access CAMHS in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19868/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (63)
Alan Farrell
Question:63. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the rollout of the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19789/24]
View answerWritten answers
I launched the Women's Health Action Plan 2024-2025, Phase 2: An Evolution in Women's Health on the 18 April 2024. The Action Plan focuses on improving health outcomes for women and girls in Ireland and builds on the progress made under the first Women's Health Action Plan 2022-2023.
Delivery and implementation of the new Action Plan in on-going and is being supported through the existing structures within my Department and the HSE, in conjunction and in partnership with the Women's Health Taskforce.
Cancer Services
Questions (64)
David Stanton
Question:64. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding made available to the National Cancer Control Programme for a national strategy to accelerate genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19459/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Eating Disorders
Questions (65)
Martin Browne
Question:65. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the difficulties of families of children with ARFID including a person (details supplied) to access a dietician and other relevant staff in areas where community teams lack such staff; the impact this and overall staff shortages has on the management of children with eating and feeding disorders; the difficulties that the families of such children experience in securing the services of a paediatric consultant to work with CDNTs when a child has immediate needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19810/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (66)
David Cullinane
Question:66. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rates amongst health and social care professions across primary, community, and acute sectors, including relevant Section 38 and 39 organisations; the number of vacancies by profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19779/24]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the deputy on this matter.
Health Services
Questions (67)
Claire Kerrane
Question:67. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the additional medical supports he has sought for communities where Ukrainians and international protection persons have arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18967/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Question No. 68 answered with Question No. 35.
Hospital Services
Questions (69)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:69. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health for an update on the paediatric diabetes services in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny. [19783/24]
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 Services
Questions (70)
James O'Connor
Question:70. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the delivery of the community nursing unit at Saint Raphael’s Youghal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19880/24]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Departmental Policies
Questions (71)
Richard Bruton
Question:71. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the merit of a broader mandate for the commission to cover positive ageing in the round instead of the narrow mandate of caring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19861/24]
View answerWritten answers
In fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government has established an independent Commission on Care for Older People. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department.
The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. Collectively the members of the Commission provide expertise across the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, health economics, health policy and management, primary care, health ethics, health technologies, and ageing and disability, as well as representation of the community and voluntary sector and of older people.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a Cross-Departmental Group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports. Engagement and collaboration with stakeholders will be a central component of the work of the Commission.
The inaugural meeting of the Commission was held on 21st March 2024 and the second meeting was convened on 26th April 2024.