Written Answers Nos. 208-227
208. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant or temporarily, locum or agency filled consultant posts; the length of time since these posts were filled on a permanent basis or were created; the number of recruitment campaigns of which these posts were the subject; the number of applicants to these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13403/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with the data requested.
209. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) will be referred for braces through the primary dental system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13414/22]
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.
210. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of minor injury units in hospitals across the State; the hours each minor injuries unit operate; the number of patients treated in each unit in each of the years 2010 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13416/22]
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.
211. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount raised by charges in minor injury units in each of the yeas 2010 to 2021 and to date in 2022 by unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13417/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of abolishing the charge for accessing minor injury units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13418/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
213. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the fee or cost for a patient accessing a minor injuries unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13419/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 which came into effect n 23rd December 2019, provides the legislative basis to implement, a charge of €75 for out-patient services provided at Minor Injury Units and other similar facilities across the country. These Regulations also provide for the continuation of the current €100 charge for out-patient services provided at Emergency Departments, Accident and Emergency Department's and Casualty Departments. These Regulations also provide for a number of exemption to these charges including a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
214. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the additional funding allocated to implement the recommendations of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals since 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13420/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if targets set or recommendations made under the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals since 2018 have been met; the number of wards or settings the framework applies to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13421/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there are general or specialist medical settings or surgical care settings in which the recommendations of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals have not been met since 2018 to date by setting and by ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13422/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 216 together.
The Safe Staffing Framework is an evidence-based approach to determine the safe nurse staffing and skill mix requirement based on patient care needs.
The initial phase, Phase 1, applied to general and specialist medical and surgical care settings in adult hospitals. Following the success of the pilot project, Phase 1 was agreed as national policy and handed over to the HSE for phased implementation across the acute hospital system.
To support national implementation, funding was allocated for a National Lead for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix, at Director of Nursing level, to establish a governance structure in the HSE to oversee implementation.
The national rollout has been impacted by COVID 19 and the cyberattack. However, the allocation of €15m provided in the period to end 2021, to progress Phase 1 implementation, has delivered 302 additional whole-time equivalents across the Model 4 Hospitals. Budget 2022 has provided for further continuation of Phase 1 implementation with an additional €10 million allocated as part of concluding implementation in the Model 4 hospitals.
Full implementation of the Framework for Safe Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care settings in Adult Hospitals continues to be a priority for me and my Department and I have allocated €0.2million in the 2022 Letter of Determination, to further develop the unit, within the HSE, responsible for oversight of the national implementation plan for safe nurse staffing and skill mix.
In the 2022 National Service Plan the HSE committed to continuing the implementation of the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in General and Specialist Medical and Surgical Care Settings in Adult Hospitals in Ireland 2018 (Phase 1) and commencing the roll-out of a Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing in emergency care settings (Phase 2).
As part of my Department’s oversight role of HSE, it will be monitoring implementation during 2022. Regarding the Deputy’s request around details for individual settings, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to him.
Separately, the Deputy will also be aware that my Department continues to develop the Framework for other clinical settings. It is expected that policy development for Phase 2 of the Framework, relating to emergency care settings, will be complete very soon, with implementation commencing by the HSE later this year.
217. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of current vacant posts in emergency departments in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in by Department and by profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13423/22]
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.
218. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the investments and capital projects that have been made in Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
219. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total value of payments made to agencies for agency nursing and healthcare assistant staff since 2016 separated into payment for fees, payment for pay costs and any other relevant category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13426/22]
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.
220. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeframe for the publication of the full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions in relation to the Covid recognition payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13432/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. It is intended that payments will be instructed this month, with the payment processed through local payroll thereafter.
Separately, the measure also extends to those equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health.
For healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices, arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health. As the HSE is not the employer in these instances, the arrangements including payment dates will require further analysis before finalising but it is envisaged that payments will be instructed for these workers in Q2 2022.
221. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a query (details supplied) in relation to student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13433/22]
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.
222. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of Covid-19 anti-viral drugs to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13435/22]
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.
223. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will approve home help hours for a couple (details supplied). [13437/22]
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 Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the public health nurse in a location (details supplied) has been on leave and no replacement is being provided for; and if a locum public health nurse will be provided as a matter of urgency. [13438/22]
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.
225. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the conditions that are applied to a person travelling to Ireland with a prescribed cannabis-based medicinal product; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13439/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Ireland, cannabis and psychoactive cannabis derivatives (which includes tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)), are strictly controlled under Ireland’s national Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016, and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder. Cannabis is listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control. Possession is unlawful except under licence.
Under the legislation cannabis-based products containing THC are not permitted to be imported into Ireland, unless the product has been prescribed on an individual patient basis by an Irish registered medical practitioner subject to a Ministerial licence being granted to that prescriber pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, or under licence for a product in Schedule 1 of S.I. No. 262/2019 - Misuse of Drugs (Prescription And Control Of Supply Of Cannabis For Medical Use) Regulations 2019.
226. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current staffing vacancies within each of the children's disability network teams in New Ross, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Gorey in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13440/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting an assessment with the children's disability network teams in County Wexford; the period of time each child has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13441/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists currently employed as part of the children's disability network teams in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13442/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of children awaiting an appointment with an occupational therapist in the children's disability network team in County Wexford; the period of time that each child has been waiting for an occupational therapy appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227, 228 and 229 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
