Written Answers Nos. 1587-1606
1587. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 564 of 15 November 2022, the way a person can be reimbursed for a therapy if no alternative product exists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1625/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1589. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health to outline the appropriate pathway to secure a diagnosis of autism and ADHD in adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1628/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1590. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a child (details supplied) on the dental waiting list; if an appointment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1629/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1592. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will be offered an appointment in Belfast again for hip surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1632/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1593. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the alternate pathways being provided to therapies for a person (details supplied) and others like them, having been told that there is no speech and language therapy being provided at Ballyboden primary care centre due to a lack of therapists; if he agrees that receiving a letter stating services are no longer being provided after waiting more than two years is unacceptable; the date by which services will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1639/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1594. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health to request the HSE to address a serious matter (details supplied) in relation to diagnostic failures and the treatment implications for a person; the steps being taken to address these failures and to ensure that the woman concerned is receiving appropriate, effective and timely treatment; the steps being taken to ensure that any woman at risk of breast cancer receives a correct diagnosis in a timely and efficient manner regardless of their age, and to ensure that appropriate treatment is provided in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1646/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1595. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the financial toll that long-Covid has on healthcare workers with the disease, given that the long-Covid payment scheme is due to end in June; and if he will extend the payments beyond this deadline and commit to supporting healthcare workers affected long-term. [1664/25]
View answerIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, most recently at the end of June last year when it was extended for a further 12 months on the existing terms, for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June this year.Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide additional supports if granted.
1596. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre for Mayfield, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1669/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1597. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a primary care centre for Glanmire, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1670/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1598. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the new elective hospital for Cork; the progress that has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1671/25]
View answerI have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new elective hospital for Cork to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.
1599. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the psychology waiting list numbers and wait times in months for children and adolescents in Cork North Lee, in each of the years 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; the efforts being made to reduce these times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1674/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1600. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Crumlin Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1689/25]
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.
1602. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will re-consider the re-opening Of St. Brigid’s palliative care unit in Carrick on Suir, County Tipperary; the current position on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1703/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1603. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours for older people provided in each LHO area in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1735/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1604. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the north Kerry CAMHS review; the timeline for delivery; the progress to date; the reasons for the delay; if consideration has been given to expand eligibility criteria for the redress scheme to include those who have already received an apology from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1748/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1605. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on hospital waiting lists in Kerry; to provide a breakdown, per hospital of the number on the waiting list; to provide a breakdown of the average length of time spent on waiting list in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1749/25]
View answer1680. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the current outpatient waiting lists in University Hospital Kerry, by specialty, in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1996/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1605 and 1680 together.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.
A multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans has been adopted to address this issue. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
This approach has achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.
Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding outpatient waiting lists in University Hospital Kerry, by specialty, in each of the years 2019 to date, is set out in the attached document. In respect of average waiting times, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) have advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
1606. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on adult dental waiting lists in Kerry; to provide a breakdown of the number on the waiting list; to provide a breakdown of the average length of time spent on waiting list in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1750/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
