Written Answers Nos. 222-241
222. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the level of service provision at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51410/21]
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.
223. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a dental appointment in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51411/21]
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.
224. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to recognise fibromyalgia as a disability; his plans to update the long-term illness scheme to include this condition; his plans to introduce necessary supports and services for persons with fibromyalgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51428/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFibromyalgia is a condition characterized by severe pain, fatigue and stiffness, among many other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can be a difficult condition to diagnose because there is no specific test and the symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions. Treatment often requires interventions from various medical specialists for management of symptoms as they arise. Fibromyalgia is not classified as a disability and there are currently no plans for its reclassification.
The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the Long Term Illness Scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The Scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
225. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 14 July 2021, the reason the HSE is not funding counselling and educational doctoral courses in line with clinical psychology doctoral courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51430/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Psychology Review Implementation Group in 2017 expanded the care group employment available to counselling and educational psychologists. The report’s recommendation led to the establishment of a Project Team to implement this recommendation.
In February 2019, HSE Community Operations convened a Project Team, chaired by Dr Cathal Morgan, comprised of representatives from Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychology; Social Care, Disability, and Mental Health services; Community and Acute services; Operational and National HR; and the Health and Social Care Professions office.
The Project Team was tasked with, inter alia, considering the preparation of a workforce plan for psychological services in the HSE, including an examination of the current framework for training psychologists for the health service, and the type, and skill-mix, required for the future. The work of the Project Team has been informed by a thorough stakeholder consultation process.
Clinical Psychology Trainees, on the doctoral programme, are HSE employees and are in receipt of partial funding (60%) of Higher Education Institution (HEI) fees each year. Traditionally the educational and counselling psychologists’ courses have not been funded by the HSE. The HSE does not employ or contribute to HEI fees for Counselling and Educational Psychologists during their doctoral training.
The Report of the National Psychology Project Team – Establishment of a National Psychology Placement Office and Workforce Planning was completed in January 2021. The Report contains a plan to address a range of matters in relation to psychology through establishment of a placement office and workforce planning. Implementation of the report’s recommendations and the creation of a National Psychology Placement Office are a matter for the HSE in the context of available resources.
226. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including fibromyalgia as a specified condition under the long-term illness scheme; the reason it has not been recognised or included up until now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51443/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the Long Term Illness Scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The Scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
227. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans for the roll out of Covid-19 booster vaccinations for residents of elderly care homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51444/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
The NIAC 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 (LTRCFs) and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule.
I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.
The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months).
The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups. As the logistics of the rollout are a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
228. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans for the roll out of Covid-19 booster vaccinations for frontline healthcare workers of elderly care homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51445/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans for the roll out of Covid-19 booster vaccinations for frontline healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51446/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
On 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
The NIAC 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. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule.
I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.
The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months).
The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups, such as those with co-morbidities (under 60 years of age) and healthcare workers and will make further recommendations if required. I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the NIAC examine whether there is a clinical need for healthcare workers to receive booster vaccines.
230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme will continue on an administrative basis beyond the end of 2021 pending the enactment of legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51461/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The Government intends to place the administrative NI PHS on a statutory basis and an extensive examination of options to inform the drafting of a General Scheme is currently underway. I can confirm that the administrative scheme will remain until such time that a statutory scheme is in place.
Patients also continue to have access to health services under the EU Cross Border Directive Scheme in all other remaining EU/EEA countries.
231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for speech and language therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51470/21]
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.
232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for physiotherapy by CHO and age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51471/21]
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.
233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for homecare packages; the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay accessing home care; and the waiting lists for home care packages by CHO and LHO, in tabular form. [51472/21]
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.
234. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for assessment for home care packages by CHO, age, category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51473/21]
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.
235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for occupational therapy by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51474/21]
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.
236. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons on waiting lists for an assessment of need by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51475/21]
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.
237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for ophthalmology by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51476/21]
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.
238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for audiology by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51477/21]
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.
239. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for community psychology services by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51478/21]
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.
240. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for counselling services by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51479/21]
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.
241. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for CAMHS by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [51480/21]
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.
