Written Answers Nos. 382-392
382. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by home care workers as regards mileage costs for travelling as part of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15608/22]
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.
383. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the steps that she has taken to make it easier to recruit home care workers into the sector in order to reduce the current waiting lists. [15609/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very aware of the strategic workforce challenges in the home support and nursing homes sector, and the need to address this as a matter of urgency. As such I have held multiple meetings with relevant key stakeholders in recent months on these matters.
I have also spoken about my commitment in establishing a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group to examine strategic workforce challenges, including recruitment and retention of workers, in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes. This Group is now fully established and I opened the inaugural meeting on 3rd March 2022 and expressed my full support.
The Terms of Reference for the Group are available on the Department’s website:
gov.ie - Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler launches the first meeting of the Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants (www.gov.ie)
The Group will progress a structured programme of ongoing consultative engagements with stakeholders to further explore and define the issues, listen to stakeholder views, and identify approaches to respond to the strategic workforce challenges including the recruitment of staff.
The Group will also provide a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address the workforce challenges in the sector and develop a report for my consideration outlining the Group’s key findings, recommendations, and a proposed action plan to support implementation of these recommendations to include periodic monitoring of progress.
The Group is working to a tight timeline and is committed to providing a set of recommendations to me by September 2022.
That said, it is important to note that progress is being made in terms of reducing the waiting lists - at the end of January 2022 there were 4,836 people assessed and waiting for a carer to become available. This is a reduction from December 2021, when 5,322 were waiting for a carer to become available. At the end of January 274 were awaiting processing of funding approval, which is a reduction from 474 in December 2021. Furthermore, the total number of people waiting for home support across both categories has reduced from over 9,000 at the start of 2020 to approximately 5,110 by the end of January 2022.
384. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the transport services and or the financial assistance available to persons on social welfare or a low income with a requirement to travel to hospitals for treatment on a regular basis; if he will address the transport issues and costs associated with such travel arrangements in circumstances in which there is a lack of public transport or simply no public transport; if overnight private accommodation costs are funded for low income patients in circumstances in which hospital appointments span a number of days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15618/22]
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.
385. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when an assessment will take place for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15625/22]
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.
386. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early appointment for treatment will be arranged at Waterford University Hospital for a person (details supplied). [15627/22]
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.
387. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to carry out an independent research project on the possible negative effects of the use of telemedicine to prescribe abortion pills before a decision to make the use of such telemedicine permanent given that he has indicated he plans to carry out same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15633/22]
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, with restrictions eased, 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.
At the request of the Department, the HSE conducted a review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy. The findings of this review are currently being examined.
It is important to reflect that COVID-19 is still with us and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on Managing Risk of Transmission of Respiratory Viruses including COVID-19, continues to advise, amongst other things, to limit footfall in General Practice settings and support telephone consultations where care that meets the needs of the patient can be delivered - this helps to eliminate the risk of transmission of viral infection. As such the arrangements for remote access to this service in the context of COVID-19 remain in place.
388. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the name of the task force and task force leader appointed for the implementation of the 30 proposed HSE diagnostic hubs; the timeframes that are expected for the roll-out of these hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15634/22]
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.
389. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of young people 0 to 18 years of age with cancer who were treated in each public hospital in Ireland from 2016 to 2021, including inpatient and outpatient appointments in tabular form. [15639/22]
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.
390. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if his Department intends to legislate for nicotine pouches and equivalent products in a similar manner as traditional tobacco products were legislated for under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 and the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he intends to legislate for heated tobacco products in a similar manner as traditional tobacco products were legislated for under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 and the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15641/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
Heated tobacco products are tobacco products for the purposes of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 - 2015, and as novel tobacco products within the EU Tobacco Products Directive, which was transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sales of Products) Regulations 2016.
The regulation of nicotine pouches is being discussed at EU level, both in terms of how these products are categorised and in the context of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive.
392. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the policy of the St. Vincent's University Hospital pharmacy with regard to the dispensation of contraceptives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15650/22]
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.
