David Cullinane
Ceist:106. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase specialist training places in particular for general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50780/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (106)
Freagraí scríofa
The HSE takes several factors into consideration when making its annual assessment of the number and type of specialist training places required within each specialty including but not limited to, future medical workforce planning projections, the number currently in training and the training capacity within the health system.
Targeted increases across a number of specialist training programmes are planned for July 2022 and the HSE is currently working with all relevant stakeholders to agree the July 2022/23 specialist training intakes, including Surgery, Medicine, Psychiatry and General Practice.
Increases in training posts provide enhanced opportunities for doctors in Ireland and will ultimately support the delivery of shorter waiting times, the reduction of inappropriate hospital admissions, improved patient flow, and earlier discharge of patients to the community.
Specifically in relation to General Practice, the number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. The transfer of GP Training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) this year bought GP training in line with other medical specialities where responsibility for training lies with the respective vocational bodies. This transfer will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead.
Question No. 107 answered with Question No. 92.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (108)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Ceist:108. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will deliver a joint diabetes centre of excellence at Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital as called for by diabetes campaigners in the region. [50616/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Both Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals provide diabetes services for both adult and paediatric patients.
Letterkenny University Hospital has one full time Consultant Endocrinologist and one Consultant Physician with a special interest in Diabetes, supported by Clinical Nurse Specialists for adults and paediatrics. There is one Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in the Paediatric service. There are approximately 1,500 Type I and 6,000 Type II adult patients with diabetes availing of this service. Patients requiring pump initiations travel to Sligo, Galway or Dublin.
Sligo University Hospital has two Consultant Endocrinologists supported by Clinical Nurse Specialists, Advance Nurse Practitioner and Health and Social Care Professionals. The hospital delivers Endocrinology services to the adult population in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and West Cavan. There are 600 adult patients with Type I diabetes in this service. Additionally, it is planned to commence up to 3 patients on insulin pump therapy in Quarter 4 2021, with 70 patients awaiting pump start.
The North West Paediatric Insulin Pump Service is managed across Sligo and Letterkenny Hospitals, with governance provided from Sligo by a Consultant Paediatrician with responsibility for Paediatric Pump Service across the North West. All new Paediatric patient pump starts for North West commence in Sligo University Hospital, where the diabetes team of staff support this service, with follow on care continuing in Letterkenny University Hospital for these patients.
A new Diabetes Day Unit opened in April 2021 in Sligo University Hospital to support both the paediatric pump service and adult diabetes services.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (109, 117)
David Stanton
Ceist:109. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the way in which the additional funding of €105 million earmarked for disability services in Budget 2022 will help to provide greater independence for those in a post-school setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50832/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDavid Stanton
Ceist:117. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the way in which young persons with disabilities, in particular those with intellectual disabilities, can be further supported once they leave second-level education and start attending adult disability services with respect to transport to these services or centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50836/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 117 together.
Deputy Stanton has clarified with my officials that the question is in relation to transport services.
New funding is provided annually by the Department of Health to the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports to young people with disabilities who will require continuing health-funded supports on leaving school or rehabilitative training each year.
In Budget 2022, approximately €14.4m has been allocated by the Department of Health to provide day service supports to the 1,700 young people with disabilities leaving school and training programmes next year.
This dedicated annual funding stream for school leavers has been in place since 2015, however this funding does not cover transport costs and is wholly for the provision of disability services, as transport is not a core health service.
Some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas, including travel training, local transport, and some service providers provide transport, where capacity exists.
I also note that in general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
There have been many improvements in access to a range of transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State, for example the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, and CLÁR funding to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.
I was also pleased to announce this week a once off allocation of €10m to be spent by year-end covering the areas of assistive technology and transport, which will facilitate the upgrading of service provider buses. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (110)
Martin Browne
Ceist:110. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the way parents are being faced with paying for private needs assessment for their children due to lengthy public waiting times; his further views on the way that this is creating an unequal playing field for young people from families with limited means; the efforts being made to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48678/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The additional Sláintecare funding of €7.8 million which was provided to the HSE in August last year has resulted in approximately 6,040 children having had their assessment completed, thus reducing the backlog to 520 cases, or a T92& reduction, at the end of last month.
I acknowledge that there has been an inconsistent approach to how assessments were historically carried out, as well as inequity in terms of time afforded to ‘assessment’ versus ‘support or treatment’ interventions with children and their families.
To further address waiting times, the HSE implemented a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Assessment of Need process from January 2020 to ensure that children with disabilities and their families access appropriate assessment and intervention as quickly as possible and that the approach to Assessment of Need is consistent across all areas.
A Preliminary Team Assessment, usually undertaken by a Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) will identify initial interventions and any further assessments that may be required. While not required by the Act, diagnostic assessments will continue to be provided, as appropriate, and these will be captured in the child’s Service Statement as part of the Assessment of Need process.
These improvements, particularly the new Preliminary Team Assessment, will facilitate children with disabilities to access assessment much quicker. This is borne out by the latest data I have from the HSE which indicates that over 90% of children who have had a Preliminary Team Assessment are referred for intervention. All of these improvements are intended to alleviate the current situation where children in some parts of the country may have to wait a number of years before they can access an assessment.
In Budget 2022, we are providing additional funding for the recruitment of therapists and admin support to these Children’s Disability Network Teams. This multi-million-euro investment will hopefully reduce the length of time children are waiting to access these vital services. My focus over the next 12 months is to increase access to timely early intervention services.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (111)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:111. Deputy Dara Calleary 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 CHO2; the corresponding figures for each area at the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50550/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In August 2020 additional Sláintecare funding of €7.8m was provided to the HSE to address the issue of overdue Assessments of Need (AON).
This funding was provided on a once off and strictly time bound basis to eliminate all AONs overdue on 30th June 2020. While the number of overdue Assessment of Need stood at 6,558 in June 2020, through a combination of different measures, by the end of September 2021 approximately 6,040 children have had their assessment completed, thus reducing the backlog to 520 cases. An overall reduction of 92% to date.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that 6 CHOs, including CHO2, which had 100 overdue Assessments of Need at the end of June 2020 have now cleared their backlog. The breakdown of the 100 overdue Assessments per county in CHO2 at that time was 58 in Galway, 39 in Mayo and 3 in Roscommon.
The number of overdue Assessments at the end of last month, September, in CHO2 was reduced to 10, with 5 overdue Assessments in both Galway and Mayo respectively and none in Roscommon. I am informed by the HSE that Children’s Disability Network Teams in Galway and Roscommon have commenced services and due to a gap in network manager posts Mayo is expected to reconfigure in December. A recruitment process is underway.
In Budget 2022, we are providing additional funding for the recruitment of therapists and admin support to our Children’s Disability Network Teams. This multi-million-euro investment will hopefully reduce the length of time children are waiting to access these vital services
My focus over the next 12 months is to increase access to timely early intervention services.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (112)
Joan Collins
Ceist:112. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when the review of waiting lists will be concluded. [50811/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 committed to developing a Multi-Annual Waiting Lists Reduction Plan. My Department, the HSE and the NTPF is working on that 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.
Furthermore, I published an Acute Waiting List Action Plan on the 7th of October. This plan, to run to December 2021, was drawn up in consultation between my Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Treatment Purchase Fund and will address the increase in acute hospital waiting lists arising from the impact of Covid-19 and the cyberattack.
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (113)
John Brady
Ceist:113. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the status in relation to the expansion of the newborn screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50842/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme is a priority for me.
In 2020, I approved the addition of a condition known as ADA-SCID to this programme. The HSE are currently progressing implementation of this expansion, which will bring the total number of conditions screened to nine.
Decisions on changes to population-based screening programmes are made on the advice and recommendation of the National Screening Advisory Committee.
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. This ensures that policy decisions are informed by the best available evidence and advice and that we can be confident that our national programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards.
The expansion of the Newborn Bloodspot Programme is a priority on the work programme of the Committee.
The Committee commissioned HIQA to review the processes in use internationally to inform the expansion of newborn bloodspot programmes. The report of this review was considered by the Committee in May of this year and subsequently published by HIQA.
The Committee has concluded that there are several potential conditions that could be selected for consideration and evidence assessment by HIQA. This work is being progressed by the Committee in consultation with my Department and the HSE, and with the involvement of clinical experts, patient advocates and other key stakeholders.
In addition, I am pleased that the National Screening Advisory Committee is currently finalising plans for its first ‘annual call’ for submissions from the public on changes to our population-based screening programmes.
This process will be launched in the coming weeks and will give a further opportunity for the public, as well as the HSE and health professionals, to make suggestions on new screening programmes, or changes to existing ones such as the Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (114)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:114. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health his views on the way that the €31 million women’s health package will be dispersed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50840/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. As such, I am gratified to see the €31 million euro allocated to women’s health in Budget 2022.
This additional funding supplements both the ongoing work of my Department in key areas for women and a specific dedicated allocation for innovative approaches to women’s health services nationwide, through the Women’s Health Taskforce ‘Women’s Health Fund’.
There are a number of key initiatives driving progress for women’s health which have been supported through Budget 2022.
This includes:
€8.66 million additional funding in the National Maternity Strategy, further increasing targeted investment and focus in our maternity services for the second year in a row, to ensure standard, consistent models of care for the delivery of a national maternity service, with specific focus on ensuring strengthened clinical governance and leadership within services, targeting improvement in the health and wellbeing of women accessing maternity services and enhancing midwifery care for women across the three pathways of care (supported, assisted & specialised).
An additional funding of €5million to the Women’s Health Fund. This will support delivery the women’s health action plan, anticipated to be brought to government later this year, which will outline measures needed to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health in outcomes in Ireland
Aligning with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future, we will see €8.98 million allocated to enable the introduction of a scheme for the provision of the most effective method of contraception, free of charge and having regard to personal circumstances, for women aged 17-25.
A significant portion of the investment will be allocated to the continued investment in major areas of women’s health, such as gynaecological services. In 2022, we will see the establishment of a further 6 ambulatory gynaecology “see and treat” clinics, increasing the total to 20 clinics nationally, at a cost of €3.31 million; extended endometriosis services in Tallaght and Cork at a cost of €1.39 million; and further developments will be made in menopause care by establishing three new specialist menopause clinics, based in Galway, Cork and Limerick, at a cost of €0.58 million.
A further €0.25 million will be allocated to Sexual Assault Treatment Units.
The remainder of the women’s health allocation will invest in existing and new initiatives, including €1.34 million towards the commencement of a structured and resourced service in the Dublin and Cork regions for perinatal genetics services and €0.54m towards the establishment of an obstetric event support team expert team to support services and sites that report pre-defined severe maternity incidents.
Budget 2022 also commits €0.7 million as a first-time investment in tackling period poverty.
A further €16m in other measures to support women's health is embedded within other new measures for 2022 within the Health Vote in areas such as cancer, mental health and social inclusion budgets, bringing the overall investment in women's health to €47m in additional funding provided for 2022.
This additional investment demonstrates our continued commitment to women’s health.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (115)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which he expects to advance the Sláintecare project in the next 12 months; his plans for dealing with the various hospital waiting lists in the same period and at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50776/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 was approved by the Government in May 2021. The six-month progress report, published last month, indicated that of the 112 deliverables, 109 were on track or progressing with minor challenges. I would expect that progress would continue at pace in 2022, supported by the allocation in Budget 2022 of €21 billion, the biggest ever investment in Ireland’s Health and Social Care Services to deliver Sláintecare.
The Strategy & Action Plan committed to developing a Multi-Annual Waiting Lists Reduction Plan. My Department, the HSE and the NTPF is working on that 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.
Furthermore, I published an Acute Waiting List Action Plan on the 7th of October. This plan, to run to December 2021, was drawn up in consultation between my Department, the Health Service Executive and the National Treatment Purchase Fund and will address the increase in acute hospital waiting lists arising from the impact of Covid-19 and the cyberattack.
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.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (116)
John Lahart
Ceist:116. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will detail for each voluntary and public hospital the number of beds in each as of 31 March 2021 or latest available; and the number in each on 30 June 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health 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 to fund 1,146 additional acute beds over and above the number of beds available on 1 January 2020 on a permanent basis by the end of 2021. The number of beds available on a given day will vary depending on the number of beds blocked or closed due to infection prevention and control or staffing issues. The HSE reports that 790 of these beds have been delivered.
There were 11,285 inpatient beds and 2,279 day beds available nationally in March 2021 as compared to 11,048 inpatient and 2,259 day beds available in June 2020. As the Deputy has asked for a detailed breakdown of beds in each hospital, I trust that he will accept the full details in written format.
The figures provided are sourced from the Open Beds Report which provides an outline of the average numbers of open inpatient beds and day beds/places in the acute hospital system on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, due to the cyber attack, the most recent report dates from March 2021.
Day beds/places provide areas for day cases: patients admitted for a medical procedure or surgery in the morning and released before the evening. Average available day beds/places are beds/places which are currently occupied or ready for occupation.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) Acute Business Information Unit (Acute BIU) provide the bed data for this report, and the figures show the average number of beds or places open in each hospital for the month or year specified. Data for 2020 and 2021 is provisional and remain subject to validation by Acute BIU.
The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) is included in the figures for 2021 and reported under National and Regional Services.
Question No. 117 answered with Question No. 109.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (118)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:118. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons on the waiting list for homecare support in each local health office area in CHO 6; the corresponding figures in each area for the end of June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50543/21]
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.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (119)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:119. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to those under 65 years of age and living in a nursing home residential setting who do not qualify for the third vaccination despite all fellow residents over 65 years of age and all nursing home staff members regardless of age who are equally exposed to the same risks of catching Covid-19 being eligible to receive the booster dose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50778/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following further advice from the NIAC. The Committee has recommended a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) for residents aged 65 years and older living in Long Term Residential Care Facilities and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community.
I have previously accepted the NIAC recommendations regarding the extension of the primary vaccination course with an mRNA dose for immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years and older irrespective of whether the initial doses were an mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccine.
I have accepted this advice and the HSE has been made the necessary arrangements to operationalise the recommendations. The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups. The HSE has been advised to be prepared to operationalise any future recommendations as they arise.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (120)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:120. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when he plans to have the 446 ICU beds in place that he announced in December 2020. [50806/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Capacity Review, which was noted by Government in 2018, recommended that an additional 190 critical care beds should be in place by 2031, bringing the total to 430. Accordingly, the Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which was noted by Government in December 2020, aims to increase capacity from the 2020 baseline of 255 critical care beds, to 446 over time, to fully address the Capacity Review’s recommendations in regard to critical care.
Very significant funding of €52m was provided by Government in Budget 2021 to commence implementation of Phase 1 of the Plan. This provides for the permanent retention of 40 additional critical care beds which were funded temporarily in 2020 as part of the Covid response, and for the opening of a further 26 beds in new build capacity. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing baseline capacity to 297 although the number of beds open on any given day fluctuates as a result of a variety of factors.
An additional €10.5m is being provided in 2022. This will bring the number of permanent critical care beds from 255 in 2020 to 340 by the end of 2022/early 2023. This represents a 33% increase, or an additional 85 beds funded since 2020.
Phase Two of the Plan will see a further 117 beds added through the development of new build capacity at five prioritised sites, subject to necessary approval processes.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (121)
Joe Flaherty
Ceist:121. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the key measures for services for persons with disabilities in the Health budget for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50711/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Government 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.
Substance Misuse
Ceisteanna (122)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:122. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the details of the funding including possible future funding that his Department will provide to regional drug taskforces and the HSE in County Louth to support family and addiction services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50846/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In 2021, the North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NERDAFT) received funding of €937,813 to provide drug and alcohol services.
Following the publication of the Department of Justice scoping report on community safety and wellbeing in Drogheda in March 2021, I announced additional funding of €150,000 to support family support services and to improve access to community-based drug and alcohol services across the north east region.
This consists of €70,000 to support family support services, which was provided for in Budget 2021. This funding has been released to the HSE and will shortly be allocated to support local services.
Separately, there is an allocation of €80,000 to improve access and provision of community-based drug and alcohol services. This part of an overall allocation of €1 million in Budget 2021 to support community-based drug and alcohol services. The Department of Health will shortly be announcing details of this funding programme. The funding will be allocated by community healthcare organisations in conjunction with drug and alcohol task forces based on a population needs assessment.
Additional funding for drug and alcohol services is provided in Budget 2022. A factsheet on the new funding provided for in Budget 2022 which can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/001fc-budget-2022-factsheet/ . Further details on this funding will be set out in the HSE national service plan 2022.
I am committed to improving the availability of family support services and community-based drug and alcohol services in Drogheda and the North East region of Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. I encourage service providers to engage with the task force and the HSE in determining how best to allocate these additional resources to enhance services for the people affected by drug use issues in the region.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (123)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:123. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of the four CHO sites selected to test a reformed model of service delivery for homecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50845/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The pilot site testing of the reformed model of service delivery for home support is scheduled to commence in November 2021 in CHO 8 (Longford / West Meath). Recruitment issues associated with backfilling of posts has impacted on release of interRAI Care Coordinators in CHO 2 (Galway), 4 (South Lee) and 7 (Dublin West). This has necessitated phased introduction of pilot sites however it is expected that all will be fully operational by January 2022. A comprehensive and robust operational model for the roll-out of the interRAI has been developed which will facilitate effective, efficient, fair and transparent care needs assessment and planning and appropriate service delivery. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to inform legislative and funding decisions in relation to the statutory home support scheme.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (124)
John Brady
Ceist:124. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for surgery for scoliosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50841/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I 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.
With regard to the particular query raised in relation to the average waiting time for surgery for scoliosis patients I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (125)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:125. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of existing mental health supports for children in County Wicklow; the number of children under 18 years of age who are waiting three months or longer to see a psychologist following a referral from a general practitioner; the steps he is taking to reduce the wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50772/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.