Written Answers Nos. 751-771
751. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been no correspondence or update from medical management, despite several communications, as to the reason Tipperary University Hospital does not have access to PCRS in order to prescribe entresto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50524/21]
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.
752. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients in Tipperary University Hospital cannot be offered entresto to improve heart failure outcomes currently; the action being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50525/21]
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.
753. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the treatments and costs covered by a general practitioner visit card; his views on a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50527/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for the provision of those services. Medical and GP visit card holders are not subject to a charge for services provided under the contract, and these patients are not charged prescription fees.
As private practitioners, the fees charged by GPs for services to private patients, including fees regarding prescriptions, are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients.
754. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a new day care centre for Monasterevin, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50536/21]
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.
755. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) to have blood tests carried out every six weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50538/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPhlebotomy services are provided through phlebotomy departments/clinics in hospitals across the country, however the services provided by the individual clinics may vary. Patients looking to obtain information on phlebotomy services provided by their local hospital can contact the hospital concerned or the HSE Live service for information.
Not all GP practices provide phlebotomy services (blood tests). Patients that hold a medical card or GP visit card who wish to change their GP, may make a request for transfer to the HSE. People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with.
756. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant paediatric nephrologist at CHI Temple Street. [50567/21]
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.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant paediatric nephrologist at CHI Temple Street has been provided to my Department by the NTPF is outlined in the attached document.
757. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the locations of feeding clinics across the State supporting persons with disabilities who have difficulties swallowing and are prone to choking due to their disabilities. [50568/21]
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.
758. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of hours the migraine clinic is available at Beaumont Hospital from the current three hours per week to seven hours per week. [50569/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
759. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for patients awaiting an appointment at the falls clinic in Tallaght University Hospital; and the number of patients on the waiting list. [50570/21]
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.
760. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for eye examinations in County Kildare. [50571/21]
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.
761. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of recruiting 15 additional full-time eye clinic liaison officers. [50572/21]
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.
762. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of recruiting 12 additional adult eating disorder teams. [50573/21]
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.
763. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the hospitals which have a TRASNA telemedicine stroke machine installed; if each machine is operational; and the uses in each case for the machine. [50574/21]
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.
764. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the expenditure of the remaining €3.94 million in 2021 for specialist eating disorder services; the progress that has been made on the recruitment of the necessary specialist posts and the creation of additional multidisciplinary teams in order to progress the eating disorder model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50579/21]
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.
765. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the status of the expenditure of €3 million as part of the National Service Plan 2021 and implementation of the proposal to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young persons with serious disabilities in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50580/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
766. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on the criteria and the uptake over the past three years of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50585/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBy way of background, two schemes, the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant, were put in place in 1979 and 1968 respectively, for operation by the Health Service Executive (HSE) at a time when there was limited availability of accessible public transport. The Government decided to close these administrative schemes in 2013, on foot of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts.
In 2013, the Government also decided to continue payment of the monthly Mobility Allowance on an interim basis, to those who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time that the Scheme closed. Of the 4,700 individuals in receipt of the Mobility Allowance (€9 million per annum) when the Scheme closed in 2013, there are 3,532 people in receipt of the interim payments at March, 2021. Both the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant Schemes have remained closed to new applications.
At the whole of Government level, the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 sets the overall framework for the equal participation of people with disabilities in society. Monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy is being overseen by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group which comprises key Government Departments, the National Disability Authority and the Disability Stakeholders Group.
Under the Strategy, the Department of Transport, has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport and is committed to the continued development of accessible public transport in recognition of the importance of such services to the lives of people with disabilities.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals for the provision of transport supports for people with disabilities. Recent developments which will impact on the policy options include the following:
- The ongoing progress by the Department of Transport in providing accessible public transport nationally;
- The Cost of Disability Study currently underway which was commissioned by the Department of Social Protection as part of Budget 2019. The research, when complete, will inform policy direction in relation to the provision of adequate supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities, including transport costs;
- The Working Group established under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy by the then Department of Justice and Equality, to lead a review of all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities; and
- The review of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme by the Department of Finance.
Other transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State include the Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection; the Revenue Commissioners Disabled Drivers and Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme; and measures funded under the Department of Rural and Community Development CLÁR Programme, including "Mobility Care Transport", to provide grants to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.
Question No. 767 answered with Question No. 715.
768. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when chiropody services will be made available in Athenry, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50637/21]
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.
769. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when the necessary statutory instrument will be put in place under the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 which will enable the Medical Council to address the outstanding issues relating to the inclusion of medical consultants many of whom are consultants for more than ten years to be included on the specialist register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50640/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 is a large and complex Act which was several years in development and was enacted in late 2020.
This Act amends the five health professional regulatory Acts but makes the largest number of amendments to the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, with 65 of its 188 sections addressing amendments to that Act. While the two primary areas of reform are registration and fitness to practice, there are significant cross linkages to other sections of the 2007 Act and significant work is required to ensure that these complex and important provisions can be safely commenced. Officials from my Department are continuing to progress this work and are engaging with the regulators to ensure that the necessary operational requirements are in place. I regret that I am unable, at this point, to indicate the timeframe for commencement of the sections required to give effect to the policy raised by the Deputy.
770. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will list each waiting list which exists for services provided by the HSE which is not reported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [50641/21]
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.
771. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas in restaurants and pubs serving food; if so, the conditions under which he is considering such a ban; and the date he expects to do same. [50643/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2018 the Government agreed to support a Seanad Private Members’ Motion to legislate for a ban on smoking in areas where food is consumed and that the measure would be addressed after the completion of the current legislative priority. Work on the current legislative priority, the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill, is ongoing. The Bill has been referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Committee on Health is scheduled to take place on 3 November 2021.
