Written Answers Nos. 521-538
521. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made an allocation for the operational budget of the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force for 2022; and if this allocation for the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force is included in the HSE budget for 2022. [2877/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if his Department has made an allocation for the operational budget of the North Inner-City Drug and Alcohol Task Force for 2022 as with the other 23 task forces nationally; and if this allocation for the task force, set at €224,000 for 2021, is included in the HSE budget for 2022. [3079/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 521 and 572 together.
The Department of Health provides €2.2m for the provision of community-based drug and alcohol services in the north inner city, in association with the North Inner City Drug and Alcohol Task Force.
The task force has informed funded services that it is no longer in a position to function. This follows the resignation of the outgoing chairperson and the impasse that has arisen regarding the appointment of a new independent chairperson.
The Department has asked the channels of funding, the HSE and the City of Dublin Youth Services Board, to provide reassurance to frontline services that the allocation of €2.2m will continue in 2022.
The HSE has met with the directors of the limited company previously associated with the task force, to determine if they wish to continue to receive funding for the provision of drug and alcohol services in 2022. Any funding will be subject to the standard governance procedures for section 39 organisations.
I look forward to a positive outcome from these discussions.
522. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant endocrinologists for adults who are based in Letterkenny University Hospital. [2883/22]
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.
523. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for review appointments for diabetes patents at Letterkenny University Hospital. [2884/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra524. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if care for adult diabetes patients at Letterkenny University Hospital has evolved to include insulin pump starts; the number of adult diabetes patients with pumps that are attending the hospital; and the frequency with which they get review appointments. [2885/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 524 together.
As the issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
525. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the status of the paediatric diabetes shared centre of excellence between Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital. [2886/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth 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.
A new Diabetes Day Unit opened in April 2021 in Sligo University Hospital to support both the paediatric pump service and adult diabetes services.
The North West Paediatric Insulin Pump Service is managed across Sligo and Letterkenny Hospitals, with governance provided from Sligo by a Consultant Pediatrician 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.
For year end 2021:
Total number of children on CSII = 57
Total number of children attending service = 87
% of children receiving CSII (insulin pump Therapy) = 65%
There are 18 patients awaiting Insulin Pump Therapy from Letterkenny University Hospital and 6 Patients from Sligo University Hospital on the waiting List.
526. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who are currently on the diabetes pro-wellness team at Letterkenny University Hospital; the person who is the lead staff member; and the number of staff who have been relocated to Covid-19 care in recent times. [2887/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the issues raised are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
527. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason that a face-to-face appointment for a person (details supplied) with a doctor has been moved to video call on a different date. [2914/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
528. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for a hospital appointment in County Carlow by age category; the procedure that they are waiting for or assessment and time waiting in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2927/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, 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 the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
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 is outlined in the attached document.
529. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of homecare support hours being provided in County Carlow in 2022; the way this compares to 2020 and 2021; the number of persons currently waiting for homecare in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2928/22]
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.
530. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the current waiting time for the National Gender Service which stands at over two years from the initial referral; his views on the adequacy of this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2929/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.
At present the acute hospital system is prioritising unscheduled Covid-19 care and urgent time-sensitive work. The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
In addition, the Department of Health, 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 the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.
The PQ has been referred to the HSE for a specific response on the waiting list for the National Gender Service as a service delivery issue.
531. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor 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; if his attention has been drawn to lengthy waiting lists countrywide; if there are plans to support those waiting to access a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2930/22]
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.
532. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a review of the current eligibility framework for the long-term illness scheme including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2933/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder commitments made in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy, initial work has commenced within the Department to set out a plan to work on the future review of the eligibility and entitlement framework.
This work will include a review of the Long-Term Illness scheme. As the situation involving the Covid-19 pandemic continues to improve, this work will gather pace.
533. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate by the State will be ended given the high rates of transmission of Covid-19 among persons who are vaccinated and the falling numbers of cases and hospitalisation. [2935/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is proof that you have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or received a negative COVID-19 test result or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. The document is a record of a medical event and not a precondition for travel.
Since 6th January overseas travellers to Ireland holding accepted vaccination or recovery certificates, including but not limited to an EU Digital COVID Certificates, may arrive to Ireland without any additional pre-departure test results.
Under the current travel rules, passengers without accepted proof of vaccination, or accepted proof of recovery from COVID-19 must show evidence of a negative / not-detected PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Ireland.
Travel restrictions are kept under close consideration due to the evolving epidemiological circumstances.
534. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2947/22]
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.
535. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to access to the recovery certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2954/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra586. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provisions that will be made to facilitate Covid recovery certificates for persons who have positive antigen results for Covid-19 but have failed to acquire a PCR test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3127/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 586 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardized across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.The EU Regulation specifies that a certificate of recovery confirms that, following a positive result of a NAAT test carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel, the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antigen tests are not currently regulated for in relation to the issuing certificates of recovery. Certificates of Recovery can be issued upon request through the online portal following a positive COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or ‘NAAT’) taken more than 11 days ago in Ireland. The certificate will remain valid for 180 days after the day of the positive test result.
Negative RT-PCR tests and antigen tests featured in the common list established on the basis of Council Recommendation 2021/C 24/01 carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel are eligible for the issuing of a Test Certificate under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. For more information on how to access a test certificate individuals can visit www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/
536. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
537. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason the St. Raphael's Covid-19 test centre in Youghal, County Cork has been removed from the HSE website; if the HSE plans to cease its testing operation in Youghal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2961/22]
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.
538. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of general practitioners in the Newbridge area of County Kildare; his plans to encourage general practitioners to set up in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra540. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of general practitioners in Monasterevin, County Kildare; his plans to encourage general practitioners to set up in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2965/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra541. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of general practitioners in Kildare town, County Kildare; his plans to encourage general practitioners to set up in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2966/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra542. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of general practitioners in Athy, County Kildare; his plans to encourage general practitioners to set up in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2967/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 538, 540, 541 and 542 together.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those working in disadvantaged urban areas. Improved family friendly arrangements are also provided under the GP Agreement, with an increase in the locum rate for maternity
and paternity cover, and an increase in the paternity leave allowance from 3 days to 2 weeks. This is in recognition of the need to ensure that general practice is compatible with doctors’ family commitments.
In addition, the number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with plans for further increases in future years.
Overall, these measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Currently there are more than 2,500 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme and as of 1 December 2021, 26 panels, or approximately 1%, are vacant. In relation to the availability of GP services in Newbridge, Athy, Monasterevin, and Kildare town, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
