Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:202. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25085/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (202)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (203)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:203. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a new wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25086/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances free of charge to eligible persons (such as medical card holders and people on the Long Term Illness scheme), following assessment by a relevant health professional. These aids and appliances are provided by the HSE through community services known as Community Funded Schemes.
Each Community Health Organisation (CHO) operates processes for the allocation of funding for medical and surgical aids and appliances. Each application within a CHO is assessed by the local Resource Allocation Group and a determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and funding availability within local budgets.
At times, due to the demand for resources exceeding the available capacity, waiting lists may apply for some categories of items provided through the medical and surgical aids and appliances budget in a particular CHO. Waiting times for items approved for funding vary depending on the priority rating and priority is given to clients with the greatest level of clinical need. The HSE have advised that clinical demands on the local budget remain high.
The HSE have confirmed that the application for a new wheelchair was considered by the local Resource Allocation Group on 31 of March 2022 and was subsequently included on a waiting list.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (204)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:204. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a new sling and hoist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25089/22]
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.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (205)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:205. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive a home support package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25090/22]
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.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (206)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:206. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a standing frame; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25091/22]
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.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (207)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:207. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a home support package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/22]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (208)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:208. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter (details supplied). [25103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (209)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:209. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 542 of 21 September 2021, the updated position on the formal HSE investigation into the death of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the HSE will explain the delay in providing the deceased’s family with the investigation report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25105/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Care of the Elderly
Ceisteanna (210)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:210. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if respite services will be provided to a person (details supplied) presenting with dementia given that their spouse is not in a position to care for them due to ill-health. [25112/22]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (211)
Martin Browne
Ceist:211. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the National Patient Safety Office’s feasibility study into remunerating service user family member carers; if this study involves the service users, family members, carer's and supporters engaging in services in resource centres such as a centre (details supplied); the date this study is likely to conclude; if service users, family members, carer's and supporters have been consulted throughout the course of this study; if not, if the National Patient Safety Office will consider doing so; if he has been contacted by service users, family members, carer's and supporters in relation to having lost payment for their time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25113/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
For clarification the work being conducted by the National Patient Safety Office of my Department on a policy on patient representatives is not a feasibility study on remunerating service user family member carers and is not related to this area of work. I am aware that the HSE is carrying out work on the Service User Carer Programme.
Officials of my Department are developing a policy for the selection and remuneration of patient representatives who participate on committees and working groups that are involved in strategic decision-making in relation to the development of health policy and the design of health services. The purpose of developing a Patient Voice Partner Policy is to ensure that patient participation is embedded in health policy and service development and to ensure that patient voice partners are recognised and valued for their contribution.
It is widely recognised in the health sector, both nationally and internationally, that patients have a central role to play, as service users, in the development of health policy and the reform of the health services. Patient representatives participate on a number of committees and working groups across the Department of Health, the HSE and health agencies and make a significant contribution to the strategic decision-making work of those committees and groups.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (212)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to consider the caring responsibilities of women when scheduling healthcare appointments, recognising the particular difficulties raised by lone parents. [25115/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (213)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:213. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to fund training of healthcare workers on how best to tackle unconscious bias and ensure that women from all backgrounds can access information and the care they need when they need it. [25116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (214)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:214. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to assign targeted health measures for Travellers, Roma, migrants and other disadvantaged women given documented differentials in health. [25117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Budget 2022 provided unprecedented funding for measures related to women's health, including funding for the health needs of marginalised women. The Department has not costed the measures identified by the Deputy, and would not be in position to do so pending further details about the envisaged roles and activities. Costing would also require an input from the HSE in terms of the likely level of need for these measures. Funding for new service developments for marginalised women will be considered in the context of Estimates 2023, including the forthcoming national Traveller health action plan and the national domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy.
However, as the HSE may have similar measures under its operational remit, I have referred the questions for its input.
Health Strategies
Ceisteanna (215)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:215. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to equality-proof all health strategies as per section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 with a focus on gender and intersectionality. [25118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (216)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:216. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to expand the roll-out of contraception to all ages and to include longer-acting forms of contraception. [25119/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Report of the Working Group on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception, which include accessibility, information, workforce capacity and, for a significant number of women who may be just above the eligibility threshold for a full GMS (medical) card, cost.
In consideration of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the 8th Amendment to the Constitution (JOC8) and the findings of the Working Group on Contraception, the Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort .
In terms of planning for the implementation of this commitment, the Contraception Implementation Group was convened in July, 2021. The focus of the detailed work done to date by the Group has been working towards commencing the scheme in August 2022. Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for roll-out of the scheme in Budget 2022.
Full year costings may be considered in the context of Estimates 2023, but no costings have been finalised to date and no funding allocations agreed at this stage.
The scheme will provide for:
1. The cost of prescription contraception;
2. The cost of necessary consultations with GPs and other doctors to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same;
3. The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
4. The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs; the HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
5. Provision of the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders will also be available through this scheme, to include contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (217)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to fund general practitioner-training for the provision of all types of contraception to ensure equitable access to a high-quality service across the country and to involve the pharmacy network to support this. [25120/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A scheme to provide free contraception to women aged 17-25 is currently scheduled for launch and roll-out in August, 2022. Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated in Budget 2022 to enable commencement of the scheme.
This includes an allocation for training and certification for fitting, checks and removals of long-acting reversible contraception. The HSE is currently working on preparing to roll out these additional training supports in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners. It is currently estimated that the cost of General Practitioner LARC training and certification will be in the region of €200,00 per year.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (218)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to commit to retaining a general practitioner- clinical-lead in women’s health. [25121/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (219)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:219. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to resource general practitioner to roll-out universal life cycle reviews of women’s health similar to the current Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme with a dedicated pathway to refer onwards. [25122/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is being collated by Department officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (220)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:220. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost for one additional ambulatory gynaecology clinic to include out-of-hours care. [25123/22]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (221)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:221. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost for one specialist elective hospital to focus on eliminating waiting lists for gynaecology and ensuring rapid access to services. [25124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In December 2021, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, the Government approved a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
It is noted that some 500 procedures and treatments will be available in the new elective care centres within a defined set of specialities, including gynaecology and the business case for same is progressed through the PSC. Accordingly, a stand-alone dedicated elective gynaecology hospital is not Government/Departmental or HSE policy and no such proposal has been considered, costed or evaluated. In addition, gynaecology has been identified as one of three priority areas in the Waiting List Action Plan (along with paediatric orthopaedics and bariatric / obesity treatments) for which €15m for this service area has been allocated to reduce waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Fund will enable the expansion of gynaecology ambulatory care in Tallaght, will provide access to additional theatre capacity for gynaecology activity in the Coombe and will provide additional IPDC capacity at CUMH through increased theatre sessions.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (222)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:222. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost to increase the number of specialist endometriosis services to four nationally for each region; including supports for specialist surgeons and a dedicated pathway to surgery. [25125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.