Written Answers Nos. 186-205
187. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of the reconfiguration of the South Southwest Hospital group as proposed in Sláintecare; the likely implications on the work of University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50872/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGo raibh maith agat as an gceist a Theachta.
As the Deputy is undoubtedly aware, work is ongoing to reconfigure our current Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations, as we establish six regional structures in line with Sláintecare.
The Government is fully committed to the implementation of these Regional Health Areas, as outlined in the Programme for Government; in the Department of Health Statement of Strategy; in the most recent HSE Corporate Plan; and in the latest Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan.
My Department has been working intensively to progress the development of a Business Case for their implementation, and this work is at an advanced stage.
Initial stakeholder consultations have taken place with more planned, and different regionalisation model options for regionalisation have been developed.
The models of regionalisation under development differ in terms of scale of autonomy and reporting, for example, and they include intended governance structures and relationships between the Regional Health Areas, the HSE Centre, and the Department.
As all health and social care services, networks, and existing structures will be integrated within these new regional structures, all Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations will be stepped down.
The reconfiguration of the South-Southwest Hospital Group – and the likely implications on the work of University Hospital Waterford – will therefore depend on the finalisation of this work.
Once a preferred model of regionalisation has been selected as part of the current development process, the Business Case for regional health areas will go before Government for decision in the coming months.
188. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons on the waiting list for home care support in each local health office area in CHO5; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50606/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
189. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the key measures for mental health in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra2022 will see an additional €47 million for Mental Health Services, comprising €24 million for new developments, €10 million for mental health initiatives in response to Covid and €13 million for existing level of service.
Separately, another €10 million is being made available in 2021, aimed at supporting the community and voluntary pillar in the mental health sector.
The €24 million is being prioritised for the continued development of mental health services, including out of hours supports, CAMHS and mental health clinical programmes. It provides for the recruitment of 350 whole time equivalent staff. Mental health services for older people will also be developed, in line with the model of care for specialist mental health services for older people that will be piloted next year.
€6 million will be used to continue to enhance the capacity of community mental health teams, with a particular emphasis on CAMHS, while there will be €1.4 million in new funding for crisis resolution services. Another €1.15 million will be allocated to continue the roll out of specialist eating disorder teams in CHOs 1, 3, 5 and 6. Other initiatives include recovery focused supports, including peer supports, employment supports and recovery colleges.
The details of the initiatives to be funded will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.
190. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current progress of the Abbeyleix nursing unit; the new projected timeline for major capital works including an extension; and the estimated cost. [50626/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
191. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of chiropodists in West Cork; and the measure that are been taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50796/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
192. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons on the waiting list for home care support in each local health office area in CHO4; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50609/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
193. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of Irish citizens who reside in Ireland but have been vaccinated in Northern Ireland and who are trying to apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46836/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.
Ireland has launched an online portal to receive applications, which became operational for applicants vaccinated in Northern Ireland from 29th September 2021.
Irish citizens, vaccinated in Northern Ireland with vaccines authorised for use in Ireland, can apply for a Digital COVID Certificate if they hold a valid Irish passport and a QR coded vaccination certificate issued by the health authorities in Northern Ireland.
194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the serious delays caused by the waiting lists within the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49956/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.
In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
195. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of the construction of the new national children’s hospital; and the costs incurred with the construction project to date. [50792/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new children’s hospital (NCH) project, comprises the main hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, and two paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght University Hospital.
A major milestone was reached in July 2019, when the Urgent Care Centre at the Connolly Hospital campus opened, providing a new model of ambulatory care for children.
The second paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centre at Tallaght Hospital reached substantial completion on the 9th September 2021, in line with the contractor’s programme, and has been handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for operational commissioning. It is expected to be open in November 2021.
Despite delays, work on the new children’s hospital building at St James’s is progressing well and the building is taking shape. The hospital will be essentially weathertight by end of the year. The infill concrete slabs over the steelwork frame, closing in the concourse is now complete. The fit out of certain internal areas is continuing, with discernible rooms and clinical areas taking shape.
The NPHDB has the statutory responsibility and resources to plan, design, build, furnish and equip the new children’s hospital and continues to engage with the main contractor and reviews the contractor’s programme of works on a regular basis.
In 2018, the Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This included the capital costs for the main hospital at St James's Hospital campus, the two Outpatient Department and urgent care centres at Connolly and Tallaght campuses, equipment for the three sites, and the construction of the carpark and retail spaces.
Since the commencement of the NCH project construction, just under €815m has been drawn down for works on the project across the three sites.
196. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005 in each local health office area in CHO7; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50708/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
197. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the details of the Budget 2022 package for his Department for health and social services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50610/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. Our determination to improve services and supports for people with disabilities and their families is clear in our Programme for Government, our objective is to put the rights of people with Disabilities at the heart of Government policy.
Budget 2022 builds on €100m funding allocated in 2021 to enhance specialist disability services. The 2022 package totals an additional €115m and includes
- €50m which is being provided to support existing levels of services, or ELS;
- New Development funding of €55m provided in 2022
- An additional €10m, one-off Covid funding.
A further one-off allocation of €10m is to be spent by year-end 2021 covering the areas of assistive technology and transport. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
Key initiatives for 2022 include -
- additional posts for children’s therapeutic services to further reduce waiting times for early intervention
- additional Personal Assistance and Home Support hours
- funding for residential services to persons with a disability in response to their priority needs and further residential supports on a planned basis
- funding for additional respite houses to build the capacity of our respite services so that we can better respond to the changing needs of service users and their families
- providing a renewed focus on addressing the inappropriate placement of young people with disabilities in Nursing Homes; and
- ensuring that the approximately 1,700 young people with disabilities who leave school and training programmes in 2021 will be assessed for supports and services in line with the New Directions Day services policy.
The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how these key priorities can be progressed in 2022 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.
198. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the main measures for older persons services in the Health budget for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50710/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €2.33 billion has been allocated to older persons services in Budget 2022. Areas of priority are dementia support and service provision, home support, the implementation of the recommendations of the Covid-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel and the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Act 2021, which enhances accessibility and affordability of the Scheme for more farm and business-owning families.
€30 million will be provided for new developments, with €7.3 million of this funding for the further improvement of dementia services in the areas of memory assessment, memory technology resource rooms, the implementation of the dementia registry and audit within acute hospitals and the national intellectual disability memory service. €17.6 million will be allocated for the implementation of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report, with a focus on Community Support Teams, safe staffing and safeguarding of residents.
The €150 million funding secured in 2021 for 5 million additional hours of home support has been maintained for 2022. However, the proportion of hours ringfenced for people with dementia will more than double, from 5% in 2021 to 11% in 2022. Developments will also be progressed in the areas of falls and fractures liaison services and intensive home support packages.
199. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the expected costs, work and timeline for renovation or refurbishment of the Owenacurra Mental Health Centre in Midleton, County Cork. [50594/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
200. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the appointment of a permanent doctor to the general practitioner practice in Swanlinbar, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50461/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
201. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons on the waiting list for homecare support in each local health office area in CHO3; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50553/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting an assessment of need under the Disability Act 2005 in each local health Office area in CHO1; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50611/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
204. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the projected number of additional beds to be provided under the winter planning within the Covid-19 pandemic October 2020–April 2021 plan; the additional beds provided to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49953/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country. The Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 and the Winter Plan 2020/21 to fund 1,146 additional acute beds (excluding critical care), on a permanent basis by the end of 2021.
As of the end of September 2021, the HSE has reported that 790 of these beds had opened. A further 148 beds are due to open between now and year-end 2021, and an additional 184 acute beds are scheduled to come on stream in 2022. The HSE has advised that 30 beds contained in the initial plan will not open due to a variety of issues ranging from lack of physical space to lack of clinical capacity and staffing challenges. These additional beds represent a significant step towards achieving the recommendations in the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review which found that an additional 2,590 acute beds would be required by 2031 under a reform scenario, to support the projected increase in demand for services in the years ahead.
205. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to tackle the growing waiting lists for children with scoliosis waiting to receive surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50691/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for hospital appointments and treatment, and I remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.
My priority as Minister for Health, and that of this Government, is to improve waiting times for all patients accessing hospital treatment, and reducing the paediatric waiting list for orthopaedic procedures remains a priority within that.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and including representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. It will take the learnings from the achievements of the Vaccine Taskforce to inform the plan.
An additional €250 million is being provided in Budget 2022 to improve access to care across the health system.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
The cyber-attack in May 2021 in particular, caused significant disruption to the orthopaedic service and all services across the Children’s Health Ireland Hospital Group. Children's Health Ireland advise that without access to a patient’s full history and previous diagnostic investigations, it was not considered safe to proceed without all electronic support systems in place. This impacted patients with complex needs in particular, and restricted the patient cohort that could safely proceed with surgery during this time.
Most systems are now back up and running across CHI sites, but back-loading of information is ongoing, and this continues to have an impact on waiting lists and the number of surgeries completed.
Despite the impact of the pandemic and the cyberattack Children’s Health Ireland advise that as of the end of September 2021, 266 spinal surgeries had been carried out which is an increase of 41 compared to the same period last year.
CHI remain committed to increasing activity levels and examining innovative methods to improve access to all specialities. For example, additional theatre sessions are being held in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, for non-complex, age-appropriate orthopaedic patients.
CHI also continues to develop the Advanced Clinical Triage clinic model in City West. Active Clinical Triage is a system which has been adapted for use within the paediatric orthopaedic unit at CHI Crumlin and its purpose is to reduce the overall orthopaedics out-patient waiting list, starting with the longest waiting clinically appropriate referrals.
A new Orthopaedic Consultant with a special interest in neuromuscular conditions started in Temple Street in September which should also enable the use of additional theatre capacity and support additional capacity as part of the Cappagh Kids programme.
Officials in the Department of Health remain in regular contact with CHI regarding scoliosis services. CHI have advised that all patients with a diagnosis of scoliosis require a pre-operative work-up prior to spinal surgery, including multiple diagnostic investigations and review by a multi-disciplinary team. The plan of care which is implemented for each patient is tailored to best meet the patient's clinical requirements. It is the responsibility of the treating Consultant to clinically prioritise patients for surgery on the waiting list.
