Written Answers Nos. 210-231
210. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if a panel has been set up to examine the categories of workers to receive the Covid-19 frontline bonus payment; and the way in which submissions can be made to this panel. [9903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites. The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. This will be published as soon as possible.
It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
211. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide funding in the upcoming budget to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10182/22]
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.
212. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will ringfence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE Medicines Management Programme preferred blood glucose strips for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes evaluation to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10183/22]
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.
213. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for the FreeStyle Libre device that were submitted by individual hospitals for persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; the number that were approved; the number that were refused in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; if there are plans to remove the age restriction on the device; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10184/22]
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.
214. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an orthopaedic review given their particular circumstances. [10186/22]
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.
215. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to an assessment of needs will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10188/22]
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.
216. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of issues (details supplied) relating to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. [10190/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDigital COVID Certificates for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are now being issued in Ireland. The certificates are being issued via email to individuals who have received their booster vaccination and paper versions of the certs are available upon request.
Over 2.7 million citizens are due to receive updated booster certificates, and this has resulted in longer wait times for the service centre for calls and live chats. Additional agents were put in place to support the surge capacity and the online self-service portal has been operating effectively.
As of 16th February, the online service for booster certificates is open for Irish passport holders, aged 18 and older, vaccinated in Northern Ireland with vaccines accepted in Ireland, to apply for an Irish Digital COVID Certificate for their booster dose.
Applicants can now upload their QR coded vaccination certificate from Northern Ireland to the online portal as proof of vaccination.
It is important to note that the UK has been awarded an equivalence decision under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. As a result, UK COVID Certificates are now accepted in the EU under the same conditions as the EU Digital COVID Certificates. Likewise, the EU Digital COVID Certificate is accepted in the UK as equivalent to UK COVID Certificates.
217. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of setting up an independent complaints' mechanism for inpatient and outpatient mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10191/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he has considered implementing a review to assess the need for an independent complaints' mechanism for mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10418/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to answer Questions Nos. 217 and 259 together. The Department currently has no plans to introduce an independent complaints mechanism for mental health services nor has a review been carried out to ascertain the cost of establishing such a mechanism.
In line with the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centre) Regulations 2006, each inpatient mental health service, as with general health services, must have a complaints procedure in place, such as the HSE’s ‘Your Service, Your Say’ service. 'Your Service, Your Say' is available to anyone accessing HSE mental health services, be that on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Following the investigation of the complaint by the HSE, an individual may request an internal review to be carried out by the HSE if they are not happy with the outcome. Furthermore, in cases where the complainant is not satisfied with the response to their complaint, they can request an external review from the Office of the Ombudsman, or in the case of child and adolescent services, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. This option is available to anyone who accesses our public health services, be it mental health services or otherwise.
The General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act, published in July 2021, provides for every person accessing treatment in an inpatient mental health facility to be given information about their care and treatment, including an explicit requirement to provide information on the service’s complaints procedure. Furthermore, the powers of the Inspector of Mental Health Services are being expanded to include 24-hour community residential facilities and community mental health services. As under the existing Act, the Inspector will continue to meet with any person accessing mental health services who has requested such a meeting.
The General Scheme also includes a statutory right to engage an advocate under numerous heads, including a definition of advocate under Section 2, information on advocacy to be provided to people in approved inpatient facilities under Section 16, 79 and 91, access to an advocate during a review board under Section 16B, during inquiries carried out by the Inspector under Section 55, or when making decisions about treatment under Sections 56 and 104.
There are a number of advocacy supports for people accessing mental health services offered by the public and voluntary sectors. The HSE currently provides some advocacy supports such as a Peer Advocacy Service in mental health. This service is concentrated on inpatient services and is delivered by an external agency on behalf of the HSE. In addition to adult advocacy services, HSE National Mental Health Services has a pilot scheme in place in two inpatient units to provide an advocacy service through an external provider for young people and their families using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) provides a free, confidential service to people with mental health difficulties, particularly people with complex needs. NAS is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board, which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Comhairle Act 2000 to provide advocacy for persons with disabilities. Citizens Information Centres can be found nationwide and provide free, impartial advice and advocacy, or the Citizens Information Phone Service can be reached by phone.
Sage Advocacy also provides some advocacy support to people with mental health difficulties, particularly older people, in their role in supporting and enabling vulnerable adults and older people to make their voices heard in their healthcare decisions. The Irish Advocacy Network provides peer advocacy supports to people with mental health difficulties which can be accessed on a self-referral basis.
218. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) is on the waiting list for early intervention in Kilkenny; and the current wait time for same. [10192/22]
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.
219. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will request Beaumont Hospital to expedite an appointment sooner that February 2023 for an urgent referral for a person (details supplies); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10193/22]
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.
220. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the proposal to extend general practitioner visit cards to children over six years of age will be enacted; the date the extension applied from; and the provisions for same that are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10194/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children up to and including the age of 5 are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under in three phases: to children aged 6 and 7; to children aged 8 and 9; and to children aged 10,11 and 12. Budget 2022 provides for the initial stage of this phased expansion, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7. My officials and the HSE are already engaged in preparatory work, and I expect to be in a position to bring forward proposals to the IMO, representing GPs, later this quarter, after which engagement can commence with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
221. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reason persons that lodge a complaint in relation to a clinical judgement with the community healthcare west mental health services are not provided with any avenue of internal appeal; if this is in line with HSE policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10203/22]
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.
222. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the Women’s Health Action Plan; when he expects the plan to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.
Underscoring the government’s commitment to Women’s Health has been the establishment of a Women’s Health Taskforce in September 2019 to improve both health outcomes and experiences of healthcare for women and girls. The members of the Taskforce meet regularly, with its fifteenth meeting held in November 2021.
An important part of the Taskforce’s work is to listen to the voices of women and engage with stakeholders both at an individual and organisation level at home and abroad who can share evidence expertise and experiences and ideas to help us achieve this goal. The Taskforce has listened to, engaged, and worked with more than 2,000 women and hundreds of stakeholders and organisations representing women and girls across the country.
We have made a specific commitment to supporting the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, including the development of a Women’s Health Action Plan, to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health outcomes in Ireland.
This Women’s Health Action Plan for 2022-2023 is currently being finalised and is expected to be brought before Government in the coming weeks. This plan has been informed by the available evidence and engagement with women across the country, key stakeholders, clinicians, and advocates for women’s health through the Women’s Health Taskforce.
The Action Plan sets forward a wide range of positive initiatives to support women’s health and provides a framework for further prioritisation as issues and needs arise.
This plan captures the women’s health activity already committed to and underway and sets out our significant ambition to build further on this in the near term over eighteen months.
223. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to include treatments for hyperemesis in the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/22]
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.
224. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the initiatives he is taking to strengthen mental health services in 2022, especially CAMHS; the funding being provided for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10224/22]
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.
225. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the current audit of the child and adolescent mental health services with respect to inappropriate prescribing to include public adult mental health services in order to assess its practices and look to examine the areas in which improvements can be made; if he will provide an opportunity for adult individuals who have availed of the services to contribute to this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10229/22]
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.
226. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a working group under the auspices of the National Dementia Office and the HSE integrated care programme to determine the service requirements of persons with Huntington’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10230/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE funds a range of community services and supports to enable each individual with a disability, including persons with Huntington's disease, to achieve his or her full potential and maximise independence, including living as independently as possible.
Services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. Voluntary agencies provide the majority of services in partnership with and on behalf of the Health Service Executive.
There is a large number of rarer types of dementias for example Huntington’s disease, identified in people under the age of 65. There is a challenge from the point of view of accurate diagnosis (Fadil et al., 2009). The Clinical Care Programme is working on the development of a pathway for Huntington’s disease.
This is focused on the clinical design aspect of a pathway of care for Huntington’s disease and not on a National Working Group for Huntington’s disease. In addition, the National Dementia Office commissioned a review of pathways of diagnosis and postdiagnostic support for people with young onset dementia which was published in 2020. This has informed the development of a Dementia Model of Care (draft), which outlines pathways of care for all people living with dementia, including those who have a co-morbidity.
This draft model outlines care pathways within the Irish health and social care system for people living with dementia; from identification of symptoms/signs, through to assessment, diagnosis, and disclosure, care planning and post-diagnostic support. The model sets out a range of targets and practice recommendations to advance the treatment, care and support for those living with dementia in Ireland. Within the draft dementia model of care where dementia is part of an established neurodegenerative or neurological conditions such as Huntington’s disease, coordination of care usually rests with neurology service.
The draft model went out for public consultation in 2021 and workshops were held with relevant interest groups as part of the consultation process. The clinical lead connected to the National Dementia Office is currently being recruited. Consideration on the development of a working group will be considered once they are in post.
227. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the establishment of dedicated specialist Huntington’s disease clinics in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/22]
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.
228. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time psychologists and psychiatrists available in University Hospital Kerry and County Kerry, respectively for adult mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10234/22]
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.
229. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the status of an EU Digital COVID Certificate for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10235/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDigital COVID Certificates for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are now being issued in Ireland. The certificates are being issued via email to individuals who have received their booster vaccination and paper versions of the certs are available upon request.
The details of the individual in question have been processed to confirm that all the necessary data is available to issue a Digital COVID Certificate without further delay. If any further details are required for the certificate, the HSE may contact the person directly.
Any persons who continue to wish to update their Digital COVID Certificate may contact the DCC helpline directly for urgent assistance. It is recommended that people ensure they are calling 1800 807 008 (or +353 76 888 5513 when calling from abroad) for assistance.
230. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when he plans to lift the temporary telemedicine provision of abortion pills introduced early in the Covid-19 pandemic given that restrictions are being lifted. [10241/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together in 2020 to put arrangements in place to allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely.
For the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners are paramount, it became possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e., before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.
There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to monitor service provision, facilitate the smooth-running of the service and resolve any issues that may arise. However, as restrictions are beginning to ease, the Department is currently reviewing whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the COVID-19 public health emergency period. A decision is expected in the coming weeks.
231. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners can charge patients on the GMS for a repeat prescription. [10266/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for medical services provided under the contract.
It is a matter for the treating GP to determine in the case of each individual patient what is proper and necessary care. In circumstances where a GP, in the exercise of his/her clinical judgement, determines that a particular treatment or service requested by a patient is not clinically necessary, but the patient still wishes to receive same, it is at the GPs discretion as to whether he/she imposes a charge for providing the service/treatment in question. Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contracts are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients.
