Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:557. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when he plans to publish waiting list ramp down targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3030/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (557)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are working on initiating a comprehensive reform programme that will deliver 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 will include representatives from the HSE and NTPF. The process and plan will be informed by the lessons and achievements of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and Taskforce. It will also build upon the recent successful delivery of the Acute Waiting List Action Plan and associated oversight forum, chaired by the Secretary General and with membership from my Department, the HSE and the NTPF, that has been in place since October 2021. A 2022 Waiting List Action Plan is currently being developed under the auspices of this oversight forum; it will include ramp down targets. This will form the first stage of the Multi Annual Waiting List Plan.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (558)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:558. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the date of the last and next meeting of the Sláintecare implementation programme board; the record of attendance for each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3031/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Responsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare projects is now devolved to a senior leadership team within my Department. To ensure that implementation is fully embedded across the Department and that the drive for universal healthcare is embedded across both the Department of Health and the HSE, a new Programme Board has been established. Reporting to me, the Board is co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and will also comprise senior members of the Department’s Management Board and the HSE’s Executive Management Teams.
The first meeting of the Programme Board took place on 15 December 2021. The Board is expected to meet on a bi-monthly basis with the next meeting provisionally planned for 16 February. The attendance list for the meeting on 15 December is set out below.
|
Department of Health |
HSE |
|
Robert Watt |
Paul Reid |
|
Tracey Conroy |
Dean Sullivan |
|
Muiris O’Connor |
Yvonne Goff |
|
David R Smith |
Pat Healy |
|
Caroline Pigott |
Yvonne O’Neill |
|
Muriel Farrell |
Liam Woods |
|
Bob Patterson |
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (559)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:559. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in creating the HSE grade of orthodontic therapist; the steps he has taken to expedite the creation of such a grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is giving active consideration to the recent proposals to create a HSE grade of orthodontic therapist as part of the wider agenda for the dental workforce envisaged under the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte. There is an ongoing dialogue between my Department and the HSE on this matter.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (560)
Pa Daly
Ceist:560. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the issuance of Covid-19 passes including booster updates via paper copy sent by post as the default for those over the age of 65; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Following the rollout of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland, and the successful COVID Booster Vaccination Programme, updated Digital COVID Certificates are now issuing to those who have received an additional vaccine dose.
Individuals who have been boosted and have no email associated with their data have received a text from the HSE inviting them to apply to have their new Digital COVID Certificate sent by email or issued via post.
The operational aspects of the provision of Digital COVID Certificates are subject to ongoing review in relation to effectiveness and efficiency.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (561)
Pa Daly
Ceist:561. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will approve additional resources for HSE Covid-19 helplines during the period of high demand; if he will implement a waiting system that advises the user of their place in the queue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3036/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have requested that the HSE reply directly to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (562)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:562. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of staff hired for each area of early intervention by CHO and LHO in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [3039/22]
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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (563)
Joan Collins
Ceist:563. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is on the patient list of a doctor; and if the person will be notified of when they will be seen. [3043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Legislative Reviews
Ceisteanna (564)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:564. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when an independent chair will be selected for the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the way that the person will be selected; the input the Houses of the Oireachtas will have in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3051/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
The review of the operation of the Act has now commenced. As part of the first phase of the review, I announced a public consultation (www.gov.ie/topreview) on the operation of the Act.
As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
I have previously stated that an independent Chair will be appointed to lead the review later this month. In relation to the Deputy’s questions on the process involved, I can confirm that a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience for the position, were contacted and invited to apply for the role of independent Chair. I will make that appointment once a suitable candidate has been identified, as is the usual practice.
Upon completion of the review, a full report with any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me as Minister for consideration.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (565)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:565. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of items the HSE has provided to nursing homes in CHO 1 under grant aid from 2010 to date. [3054/22]
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.
Grant Payments
Ceisteanna (566)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:566. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the way and the location in which organisations can apply for grants under the Women’s Health Fund announced in budget 2022. [3061/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In acknowledgement of the Government commitments to promote women’s health, Budget 2021 included a new dedicated €5m Women’s Health Fund to implement a programme of priority actions arising from the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce. Budget 2022 builds on this, providing continued investment with an additional €5m for the Women’s Health Fund.
To date the Fund has supported several initiatives including a dedicated specialist menopause clinic, two community-based ‘see and treat’ gynaecology clinics, as well as the expansions of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital and the Pelvic Floor Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital. Additional resources have also been funded for paediatric gynaecology services, specialist perinatal mental health services and eating disorder support teams among others.
Priority programmes for Women’s Health are reviewed and updated biennially as part of an action planning process. The Women’s Health Fund 2022 will support implementation of the actions as set out in the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022/2023, which will be published in the coming weeks. The additional investment for 2022 means that this action plan is fully funded for 2022.
The Fund is held and managed by the Department. This enables the Department to target additional investment in new initiatives aligned with the Women’s Health Action Plan as a means of seed-funding innovations or accelerating implementation. For this reason, in its first year the Fund did not include a public ‘call for applications’ process although this may be considered as part of the 2022 process for the administration of part of the Fund.
Legislative Reviews
Ceisteanna (567, 568, 569, 570)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:567. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will update the terms of reference for the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 to clarify that recommendations regarding the legal and policy framework that are within the scope of the review, in cases in which the evidence gathered suggests that operational challenges in access and experience of care are arising due to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3064/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRóisín Shortall
Ceist:568. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will update the terms of reference for the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 to reflect that an expert advisory group will be appointed to support the independent chair in assessing the evidence from the three strands of the review; if persons have been identified to serve on the advisory group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3065/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRóisín Shortall
Ceist:569. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale he received regarding the need to publicly tender for the role of independent chair of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; if he engaged with other Departments to clarify if this approach coheres with those used previously, particularly the manner in which the chair of the Expert Group on the Provision of Support, including Accommodation, to Persons in the International Protection Process was selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3066/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRóisín Shortall
Ceist:570. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the appointment of an independent chair of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, following media reports that the process will be completed by the end of January 2022; if he plans to publicly tender for this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3067/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 567, 568, 569 and 570 together.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
As I have stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
The review of the operation of the Act has now commenced. As part of the first phase of the review, I announced a public consultation (www.gov.ie/topreview) on the operation of the Act.
As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it is my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the legal advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.
The tender process is currently in train. Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to apply for the role of independent Chair. It is my intention that the appointment will be made as soon as possible.
Discussions regarding a group to support the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be held with the independent Chair once an appointment has been made, so that he/she may have an input into its composition. I expect that the Chair appointed will also have an input into the terms of reference for the review, and any necessary clarifications.
Question No. 568 answered with Question No. 567.
Question No. 569 answered with Question No. 567.
Question No. 570 answered with Question No. 567.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (571)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:571. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the percentage of general practitioner hours that are spent working in cosmetic clinics nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3068/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
GPs are private contractors, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of medical services such as contracts under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme for the provision of medical services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Private services offered by GPs are a matter of contract between patient and clinician; as GPs are not employees of the health service, information is not collected regarding such services.
Question No. 572 answered with Question No. 521.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (573)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:573. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the details of the Women’s Health Fund 2022; the criteria and application process for this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In acknowledgement of the Government commitments to promote women’s health, Budget 2021 included a new dedicated €5m Women’s Health Fund to implement a programme of priority actions arising from the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce. Budget 2022 builds on this, providing continued investment with an additional €5m for the Women’s Health Fund.
To date the Fund has supported several initiatives including a dedicated specialist menopause clinic, two community-based ‘see and treat’ gynaecology clinics, as well as the expansions of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital and the Pelvic Floor Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital. Additional resources have also been funded for paediatric gynaecology services, specialist perinatal mental health services and eating disorder support teams among others.
Priority programmes for Women’s Health are reviewed and updated biennially as part of an action planning process. The Women’s Health Fund 2022 will support implementation of the actions as set out in the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022/2023, which will be published in the coming weeks. The additional investment for 2022 means that this action plan is fully funded for 2022.
The Fund is held and managed by the Department. This enables the Department to target additional investment in new initiatives aligned with the Women’s Health Action Plan as a means of seed-funding innovations or accelerating implementation. For this reason, in its first year the Fund did not include a public ‘call for applications’ process although this may be considered as part of the 2022 process for the administration of part of the Fund.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (574)
Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:574. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if applications have opened for the Women’s Health Fund announced in budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3081/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In acknowledgement of the Government commitments to promote women’s health, Budget 2021 included a new dedicated €5m Women’s Health Fund to implement a programme of priority actions arising from the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce. Budget 2022 builds on this, providing continued investment with an additional €5m for the Women’s Health Fund.
To date the Fund has supported several initiatives including a dedicated specialist menopause clinic, two community-based ‘see and treat’ gynaecology clinics, as well as the expansions of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital and the Pelvic Floor Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital. Additional resources have also been funded for paediatric gynaecology services, specialist perinatal mental health services and eating disorder support teams among others.
Priority programmes for Women’s Health are reviewed and updated biennially as part of an action planning process. The Women’s Health Fund 2022 will support implementation of the actions as set out in the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022/2023, which will be published in the coming weeks. The additional investment for 2022 means that this action plan is fully funded for 2022.
The Fund is held and managed by the Department. This enables the Department to target additional investment in new initiatives aligned with the Women’s Health Action Plan as a means of seed-funding innovations or accelerating implementation. For this reason, in its first year the Fund did not include a public ‘call for applications’ process although this may be considered as part of the 2022 process for the administration of part of the Fund.