Written Answers Nos. 793-812
793. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the details of the recent changes to regulations in relation to the frequency of the collection of medical prescriptions; the reason for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11696/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe length or duration of a prescription is at the clinical discretion of the prescriber, but ordinarily a prescription in Ireland is valid for a maximum period of six months and a prescription cannot be issued for a longer than that. The rationale for such time limits is to ensure that appropriate medical care continues to be afforded to persons in receipt of prescriptions.
However, in April 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., introduced temporary, emergency provisions to enable pharmacists to ensure the continuity of care of patients without necessarily requiring a new prescription and to reduce pressures on General Practitioners at that time.
The maximum period of validity of a prescription for non-controlled drugs was temporarily increased from 6 months to 9 months as of the date specified on the prescription. This was enabled in circumstances where:
- it is the professional judgement of the pharmacist that it is safe, appropriate, and necessary for the continued treatment of the person for a further supply to be made, AND
- it is unreasonable at the time for the person to obtain a new prescription.
The amendments in April 2020 also introduced the electronic transfer of prescriptions, whereby an electronic version of a new prescription may be transmitted from the prescriber to a pharmacy of a patient’s choice. This mechanism also facilitates individuals to obtain an up-to-date prescription and to enable the pharmacist to continue to dispense their prescription(s).
In light of the prolonged nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, the temporary provisions introduced have not yet been revoked and continue to apply.
However, it is important to note that none of the temporary amendments impose a duty on a prescriber to issue a prescription beyond a period they consider to be clinically appropriate, or on a pharmacist to dispense any prescription where they do not consider it safe, appropriate and necessary for the continued treatment of a person for a further supply to be made without a new prescription issued by the prescriber.
794. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a CervicalCheck exam by month in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
795. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a BreastCheck exam by month in each of the years 2018 to 2021 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11704/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
796. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a BowelScreen exam by month in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11705/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
797. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who received a CervicalCheck exam by month in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11706/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
798. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of girls who received the HPV vaccine in schools in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11707/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of boys who received the HPV vaccine in schools in each of the years 2018 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11708/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate nursing and midwifery places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11709/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra801. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate medicine places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11710/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra802. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate biomedical science places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra803. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the details of the of engagements he, advisers or officials in his Department have had with the Minister for Further and Higher Education or his officials in relation to increasing undergraduate radiography places since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 800 to 803, inclusive, together.
Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals is a key priority. The challenges presented by Covid-19 have given extra urgency to the need to address the long-term workforce planning needs of the health system. It is critical that we continue to attract, train, and retain sufficient appropriately qualified healthcare workers to ensure the health service can meet the projected future demand for healthcare.
Officials in my Department engage on an ongoing basis with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science on determining the longer-term skills needs of the healthcare sector, and the role which the Further and Higher Education sector can play in meeting those skills needs. It is recognised by both Departments that there is a need to ensure the availability of graduates with the skills necessary to support the healthcare system and to support a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
The Department is engaging with DFHERIS regarding the number of places in health disciplines including medicine, nursing, health and social care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapists, Psychologists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Medical Scientists, Dieticians. These are high priority areas for the HSE in the context of delivery of the Enhanced Community Care Programme and where the HSE has identified significant skills shortages.
DFHERIS officials are currently engaging with the Higher Education Authority and representatives from the higher education sector on the provision of additional places for the coming academic year, with a focus on areas such as healthcare where there is a need for more skilled graduates.
Officials in my Department will continue to engage with officials in other Government Departments, the HSE, regulatory and professional bodies to ensure that there are sufficient undergraduate places across the health system to address skills shortages and meet the future workforce needs of the health sector.
804. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the admission and discharge rates for emergency departments for all hospitals from 1 January to 23 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11713/22]
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.
805. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the number of sexual assault treatment units across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11714/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware there are currently 6 Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) in Ireland. These are:
- Cork SATU located in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital,
- Donegal SATU located at Justice Walsh Road in Letterkenny,
- Dublin SATU located in Rotunda Hospital Campus,
- Galway SATU located in Brockagh, Co. Galway,
- Mullingar SATU located in Midland Regional Hospital and
- Waterford SATU located in University Hospital Waterford.
There are currently no plans to increase the number of SATUs.
806. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the engagements he and or his advisers have had with each hospital group in relation to overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11715/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
807. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on the location for a new elective hospital in the South South West Hospital Group. [11717/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to implement an elective care programme that will tackle waiting lists on a national basis. This means that the new facilities will be designed to maximise their capacity and in doing so will operate to cover as a wide catchment area as possible, extending beyond existing and future health areas.
The “Elective Hospitals Oversight Group”, under the joint governance of the Department of Health and Health Service Executive, has been guiding the development of the elective hospital proposals, following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code. Following the approval of the new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy, Programme level and Project level Preliminary Business Cases for the three locations are being finalised for consideration and review by my Department. If approved internally, the Business Cases will be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s recently introduced PSC External Assurance Process (EAP) and Major Projects Evaluation after which further memoranda for Government could then be brought forward. While it is difficult to be absolute about timelines, following these assurance steps I am hopeful we could proceed to approval-in-principle (Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code) in the coming period ahead.
808. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his recent visit to University of Limerick Hospital, Dooradoyle and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital; the persons and groups he met;the actions he intends to take arising from his visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11723/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently visited UHL to meet patients, staff, and management at the hospital. During that visit I met with the CEO of University Limerick Hospital Group, as well as the Executive management team and staff, to discuss the hospital's A&E Department and the issue of overcrowding. The Group have reported that they are continuing to deal with high volumes of patients attending University Hospital Limerick Emergency Department, a pattern that has been sustained over a number of months and is being replicated around the country. The emergency department in Limerick is one of the busiest in the country with over 76,000 attendances in 2021, up 16% compared to 2020 and up 7% on 2019.
I also visited Croom Orthopaedic Hospital to view the new theatre suite which was also recently opened. The brand new €15m theatre suite has four operating theatres which will increase the hospital’s surgical capacity volume by 100 per cent and includes a new Sterile Services Department, a reception area, a first stage recovery room and other ancillary support spaces.
My Department will continue to work with the HSE to support University Limerick Hospital Group to further develop and provide healthcare services to the people of the mid-west region.
809. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied). [11749/22]
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.
810. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons transferred from CHO4 mental health services to nursing homes in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will provide the name of the HSE facility from which the person is being transferred in each instance. [11751/22]
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.
811. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons transferred from the CHO4 mental health services to a nursing home (details supplied) in each of the years 2017 to 2021, respectively. [11752/22]
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.
812. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if telemedicine which has been integral to abortion care since March 2020 and is endorsed by organisations (details supplied) as an option for women who need abortion will be retained as part of the model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11785/22]
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.
