David Cullinane
Ceist:1311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to deliver an additional 200 intensive support packages. [42421/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Data
Ceisteanna (1311)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Information and Communications Technology
Ceisteanna (1312)
David Cullinane
Ceist:1312. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the delivery and full operationalisation of the single integrated financial and procurement management system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42422/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the HSE have direct responsibility for delivery of this important programme of work we are referring this PQ to the relevant areas within the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
Question No. 1313 answered with Question No. 1180.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (1314)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1314. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for a five-year hypertension awareness and behaviour change campaign led by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42451/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A request for funding from the organisation referred to by the Deputy has been received. My officials are engaged in ongoing dialogue with the organisation and a recommendation on funding is expected to be made in the near future.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (1315, 1316, 1500)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1315. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure full funding for the recommendations of the new stroke strategy and ensure its publication alongside a comprehensive implementation plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42452/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarol Nolan
Ceist:1316. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide priority funding for research to establish the number of stroke survivors living in Ireland along with a full assessment of their service and support needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42453/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDavid Cullinane
Ceist:1500. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full additional cost of implementing the new stroke programme strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43142/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1315, 1316 and 1500 together.
These Parliamentary Questions relate to the Health Service Executive’s proposed new Stroke Strategy. This proposal will be considered as part of the overall Budget and Estimate processes. Until these processes have been concluded I am not in a position to comment on these matters.
The Government is committed to implementing National Health Strategies including the National Clinical Programme for Stroke as set out in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future 2020.
Question No. 1316 answered with Question No. 1315.
Primary Care Services
Ceisteanna (1317)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1317. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure access to diagnostic testing brain natriuretic peptide blood testing and echocardiography at primary care level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42454/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Some €25m was allocated to the GP Access to Diagnostics Initiative in 2021. This initiative allows GPs to refer patients directly to private providers in order to access diagnostic radiology services of various modalities, in a community-based setting. The potential to further enhance this initiative to provide additional access for GPs to further diagnostics including NTproBNP blood testing and Echocardiogram has been identified, with work ongoing. 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
Ceisteanna (1318, 1320)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1318. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his views on the roll-out of heart failure community integration teams countrywide and on ensuring that their roles are standardised across all CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42455/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarol Nolan
Ceist:1320. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve investment in the heart failure workforce; his views on the delivery of four heart failure clinical nurse specialists per 150,000 population starting with filling currently funded whole-time equivalents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42457/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1318 and 1320 together.
Budget 2019 provided €20 million for the establishment of a new ring-fenced Sláintecare Integration Fund to test and scale how services can best be delivered. The Integration Fund looked for initiatives that support the delivery of integrated care and the shift to community care in new and innovative ways, helping to reduce and prevent hospital visits. This will support us in meeting our ultimate goal of reducing waiting lists and reducing waiting times.
The Fund supported a number of projects testing integrated care pathways for heart failure patients. Details of these projects are set out below.
|
Number |
Project Name |
|
129 A |
Donegal Heart Failure Integrated Care Service |
|
129 B |
Sligo/Leitrim/W. Cavan/Sth. Donegal /Roscommon Heart Failure Integrated Care Service |
|
165 |
Integrated Ambulatory Care Heart Failure Project - Improving quality of life for patients with Heart Failure |
|
237 |
Heart Failure Virtual Consultation Service with Clinical Nurse Specialist Support in the Community |
|
248 |
Community based Integrated Diagnostic and Care Initiative - Reduction in referral and follow-up waiting times for Heart Failure Patients |
|
377 |
Heart Failure Service Integrated Care Project - Reduced Hospital Length of Stay through Integrated Heart Failure Service |
|
416 |
Integrated Heart Failure Management Programme-Improving patient outcomes and health service efficiency by comprehensive and innovative integration of care across the continuum of healthcare settings - Improving patient outcomes through integrated care for heart failure |
|
430 |
Cardiology Advance Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Heart Failure - Half day reduction in length of hospital stay thanks to Advance Nursing Practitioner in Cardiology |
|
469 |
Galway University Hospitals Community Cardiac Diagnostics - Reduced Waiting Times for Cardiac Diagnostic |
These projects were evaluated and were found to have successfully met their targets and objectives. They have been mainstreamed and are now being funded under the Enhanced Community Care programme under NSP 2021 at a cost of €2.5 million.
Issues of an operational nature under the remit of the HSE also arise in this PQ and I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1319)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1319. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that heart failure virtual clinics will be rolled out as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42456/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1320 answered with Question No. 1318.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1321)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1321. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his views on measures that will enable consultant cardiologist-led heart failure services for inpatients and outpatients in all areas as well as a dedicated cardiac physiologist as part of heart failure units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42458/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1322)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1322. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to long-term financing and resourcing for the maintenance and upkeep of an AED register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42459/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
AEDs (defibrillators) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) have commissioned an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy for Ireland.
The HSE provide training on the use of AEDs through the National Ambulance Service to Community First Responder (CFR) groups.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1323)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1323. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will expand cardiac rehabilitation services to be widely accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42460/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1324)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1324. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure adequate national capacity to deliver cardiac rehabilitation to all patients for whom it is recommended, ensuring staffing and resources are protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42461/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Charges
Ceisteanna (1325)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1325. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will remove inpatient charges for public hospital care at a cost of €30.6 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42462/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Patient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the annual National Service Plan.These charges typically include:- Out-patient charges;- Emergency Department charges;- In-patient charges; and- Long-term stay charges. Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. There are cohorts of people who are exempt from these charges, including, but not limited to persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from diseases prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Act, and persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases.The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to the statutory in-patient charge, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory public in-patient charge, subject to a number of limited exemptions. There are no immediate plans to review the list of exemptions to this statutory in-patient charge. However, in line with commitments made in the Department of Health Statement of Strategy and the Slaintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023, a review of the eligibility and charges system is planned. The main objective of Sláintecare is to provide the right care, at the right place, at the right time. Eligibility and some charges have been highlighted as an obstacle to a patient’s access to swift high-quality healthcare. The Sláintecare program is committed to addressing any eligibility anomalies through investigating the current eligibility structure. Sláintecare’s aim is to shift the system to care for those who are in greatest need first.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (1326)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1326. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce prescription charge for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42463/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Prescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010, to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme.
Budget 2020 provided for a €0.50c reduction in prescription charges for all medical card holders. The charge was reduced by €0.50c to €1 per item for the over 70s and by €0.50c to €1.50 for persons under 70. The maximum monthly charge was also reduced to €10 and €15 respectively.
These reductions took effect from 1 November 2020.
I intend to consider any proposals for further reductions in the prescription charge in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and with regard to the funding available.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1327)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1327. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce the drugs payment scheme threshold to €100 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), is aimed at individuals and families who do not have a medical card and normally would have to pay the full cost of their medication. It also applies to those who have a GP visit card. Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland may apply to join this non means tested scheme.
On 1st of November 2020, the monthly threshold was reduced for all holders of the card from a maximum of €124 a month to its current limit of €114 per household.
I intend to consider any proposals for further reductions to the Drug Payment Scheme in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and with regard to the funding available.
Departmental Regulations
Ceisteanna (1328)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1328. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will make the HSPC guidelines in relation to visits to residential care facilities statutory regulations under the powers invested in him under Health Act 2007, with those not meeting the regulations having to provide an explanation and resolve the issue within a timely manner, with the possibility of facing financial penalties for facilitates that repeatedly fail regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42465/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) published updated guidance on visiting in long-term residential care: COVID-19: Normalising Visiting in Long Term Residential Care Facilities (LTRCFs). This guidance came into effect on 19 July. The public health advice is to restore visiting to near normal in terms of frequency of visits in those settings with a high level of vaccination of residents as quickly as possible, while also recognising the need to remain cautious as we continue to deal with the evolving risks associated with COVID-19.
The new guidance provides that:
- Providers should put in place the necessary measures to progress to more normalised visiting and visiting frequency as quickly as possible in line with public health guidance with no more than two visitors at any one time.
- Routine visiting will no longer need to be scheduled in advance.
- There is no requirement to have a list of nominated visitors.
- The duration of the visit should not be limited.
- Fewer restrictions will apply to residents going on outings or visits outside of the nursing home.
Nursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. In a broad sense, visits to nursing homes are governed by legislation under the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013; regulation 11 provides that the nursing home should facilitate visiting and not restrict visiting except in circumstances such as the resident requesting same, or potential risk posed from visiting – this aligns with the risk assessments referred to in the visiting guidance. The regulations also require that the nursing home has suitable facilities in place and available for residents to receive visits. It is the legal responsibility of each provider to assess the risks and mitigation measures associated with their service and how best to manage visits having regards to the specific circumstances that arise in relation to their service. The HPSC has developed public health guidance, mentioned above, to assist and support providers in this regard.
Notwithstanding the current positive epidemiological outlook and the cautious reopening of society, risks continue to remain and emergent risks such as variants of concern present ongoing challenges and the need for vigilance. Visiting arrangements should continue to take account of general public health advice and the necessary infection prevention and control measures, to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 and protect those living in our communities. This is particularly important in the context of the increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant. This new variant poses a significant risk, in particular to those who are not yet fully protected though vaccination.
Visitors are reminded of their responsibilities with regard to self-checks for COVID-19 in advance of visits, infection and prevention control and social interaction with all individuals, while in the nursing home.
Communications have been issued by Minister Butler emphasising the need for service providers to follow the guidance and the issue of visits continues to be monitored by HIQA as requested by Minister Butler.
The guidance will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges.
Departmental Meetings
Ceisteanna (1329)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1329. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a group (details supplied). [42466/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
During the last year, both Minister Donnelly and I, and officials from my Department, have met with a number of groups that advocate for the interests of older people and residents of nursing homes and long-term residential care facilities. I met with representatives from the group referred to by the Deputy on 12 July this year, with members of bereaved families in attendance, and have subsequently corresponded with the Group.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (1330)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1330. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislation to implement best practice nursing home universal design that is dementia-friendly and suitable for family connection and quality of life during pandemics (details supplied). [42467/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is important to note that nursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 as amended require that the provider shall:
- in so far as is reasonably practical, arrange to meet the needs of each resident when these have been appropriately assessed in accordance with Regulation 5.
- provide appropriate medical and health care, including a high standard of evidence- based nursing care in accordance with professional guidelines.
- make arrangements for each resident to receive visitors, having regard to any risks that may present for the resident or other residents.
- ensure that the premises of a designated centre are appropriate to the number and needs of the residents of that centre and in accordance with the statement of purpose prepared under Regulation 3.
Public health guidance has been developed in order to assist and support providers in respect of visiting long-term residential care facilities. The latest guidance which came into effect on 19 July will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges. I would also like to advise the Deputy that over the Winter 2020 period, and over Christmas 2020, the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme was expanded on a once-off basis to allow a claim of up to €2,500 per eligible nursing home. This enabled these homes to create additional safe visiting spaces and enhance current visiting spaces.
The Deputy will be aware that the Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. This Expert Panel report has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19 to date. Many of the short- and medium-term recommendations have already been implemented.
Work to progress the recommendations of the Nursing Home Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Continued learning and understanding of progression of the disease in Ireland is an integral part of those recommendations.
Scoping work is ongoing, via a multi-stakeholder process, to consider policy development for design of long-term residential care centres for older people, in line with the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report. HIQA regulates the minimum standards for physical infrastructure, and a wider review of the regulatory framework is planned. It will be important to consider all possible policy tools in this area, including design guidance, and the particular needs associated with different medical conditions. I have also met with Minister Burke in the Department of Housing, and with the HSE, to discuss these issues, and this engagement is ongoing. Prominent amongst the issues discussed was the HSE’s role as a prescribed body for planning applications for nursing homes, which is to be examined to ensure that any future new developments align with broader reforms in older persons care services, in addition to demographic needs.