Written Answers Nos. 675-694
675. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting on a counselling appointment in primary care; the average waiting time in each CHO area from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27471/22]
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.
676. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are currently waiting for appointments in a CAMHS psychiatry service; the average waiting times by CHO area from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27472/22]
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.
677. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting primary care psychology appointments; the average wait time in each CHO area from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27473/22]
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.
678. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting on a counselling appointment in primary care; the average waiting time in each CHO area from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27474/22]
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.
679. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of people on a waiting list for a mental-health organisation (details supplied); the average waiting time in each CHO area, from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27475/22]
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.
680. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of people on a waiting list for a mental-health organisation (details supplied); the average waiting time in each CHO area from 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27476/22]
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.
681. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his intentions regarding the proposed amendments to the international health regulations at the World Health Assembly this year; if the State intends to accept and adopt or oppose amendments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27479/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the 75th World Health Assembly took place last week where decisions were taken on health goals and strategies that will guide our public health work in the future. Included in these decisions were discussions on health emergencies: preparedness and response: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies under which the International Health Regulations (IHR) were discussed.
The purpose and scope of the IHR is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. These Regulations provide inter alia, the basis within International law, for the setting up of reporting structures for the monitoring and reporting of issues relating to infectious diseases (particularly where they may pose an international threat).
I wish to advise the Deputy that it the World Health Assembly approved the establishment of a Working Group on International Health Regulations (WGIHR) who are tasked with discussing targeted amendments to address specific identified issues and challenges, including equity and technological developments and to consider gaps that are critical to supporting effective implementation and compliance with the IHR. It is intended that amendments arising from the work of this Group will be brought to the seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in 2024 with a view to their adoption. I can confirm to the Deputy that Ireland will participate in this process.
Subsequent to the decision to establish the WGIHR, a number of technical amendments were agreed to the IHR namely: Article 59 (Entry into force; period for rejection or reservations), Article 61 (Rejection), Article 62 (Reservations) and Articles 63 (Withdrawal of rejection and reservation). These amendments reduce the period for entry into force of any future amendments to the IHR and will ensure coherence and consistency. I can confirm to the Deputy that Ireland supported these amendments.
682. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if the HSE speech therapy building on Castleknock Road is currently in use by the HSE; if not, if it is vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27486/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
683. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a bed will be made available in the National Rehabilitation Hospital for a person (details supplied) who urgently requires the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27490/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
684. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when an agreement will be in place to allow for increased subventions to nursing homes given the increased costs they face post-Covid and with the rising cost of heating fuel and other input costs; when this payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27508/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the specific challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. I have met directly with Nursing Homes Ireland, the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes, to discuss this issue, and have written to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials.
Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
The Department of Health has also provided significant specific supports to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. As you are aware, the COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme, also known as TAPS, was established as part of a package of support measures for nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. €134.5 million was made available under the scheme from March 2020 to June 2021. The outbreak assistance element of the scheme is still in payment. In addition to TAPS, direct support has been provided by the HSE to private nursing homes in many areas, including the provision of PPE, serial testing and support with staffing.
The Department published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. This review was conducted by the NTPF with input from stakeholders and external experts. It recommended several actions to improve the pricing system. These are now being taken forward by the Department and NTPF. Given the size and scope of the NHSS, which is expected to cost the State more than €1.04 billion this year, any changes must be delivered carefully and with due consideration to their impact and any unexpected consequences.
The Department is also taking forward the 9 recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs, which was published in December 2021. The purpose of the VFM Review was to identify, quantify and analyse the reasons for any cost differential between private/voluntary and public nursing homes and, following analysis, to make recommendations for improving the value for money obtained by the Health sector.
To continue the substantial progress being made on implementing the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report, nearly €18 million euro was allocated in Budget 2022 including investment in Community Support Teams and Safeguarding supports.
Finally, in response to the strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group has been established. The Group is working to a tight timeline and is committed to providing a set of recommendations to me by September 2022.
685. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings, excluding Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health meetings and meetings with Cork County Council, that Cork HSE management had about the services provided by a property (details supplied); the future of the services and the transfer of residents to other facilities, since January 2021; if he will provide dates of those meetings and the names of attendees; if minutes were taken at those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27514/22]
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.
686. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings Cork HSE management have had about the services provided at a property (details supplied); the future of the services and the transfer of residents to other facilities, since January 2020; the dates of those meetings and the names of attendees; if minutes were taken at those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27515/22]
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.
687. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1329 of 26 April 2022, that each sub-question of that PQ be clearly answered, namely when a property (details supplied) was identified as a replacement property; the reason/s the HSE did not proceed with selling the property since it was identified as not fit for purpose; if the residents were informed by the HSE that this facility was due to be sold at any stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27516/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
688. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to sponsor the training of students in counselling or educational psychology in order to encourage employment with the HSE of suitably qualified professionals as they do for clinical psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27525/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
689. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the return of therapists to special schools in Cork, by special school, in tabular form. [27526/22]
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.
690. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date that a child (details supplied) will receive speech and language therapy. [27527/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra691. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date that a child (details supplied) will receive occupational therapy. [27528/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra692. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date that a child (details supplied) will receive physiotherapy. [27529/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra693. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) remains on a waiting list for speech and language therapy. [27530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 690 to 693, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
694. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if a ceiling-track hoist will be provided for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27538/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities to meet their needs. There are a range of services in place to protect individuals and families from excessive costs for their medical and surgical needs.
The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability assist people to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These works can include making it wheelchair-accessible, extending it to create more space, adding a ground-floor bathroom or toilet or a stairlift. The scheme is administered by local authorities and more information can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/service/6636c-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/
In late 2020, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offered guidance to local authorities that fixed ceiling-track hoists should not be included in the Housing Adaptation Grants. That Department did not consult with the Department of Health and/or the Health Service Executive at the time, prior to making the decision to remove funding. The HSE became aware of this in April 2021 and engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this matter – with a view to resolving the difficult issues involved as soon as possible and ensuring that people receive the services they require.
Applications to the Health Service Executive for a wide range of aids and appliances - including beds, wheelchairs, mobile hoists, respiratory equipment etc - are made on foot of prescriptions from relevant health care professionals and based on an applicant's eligibility under the Health Act 1970 (as amended). These applications are made under the Community Funded Schemes and are considered by Resource Allocation Groups within each Community Health Organisation. A determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding available within local budgets. These aids and appliances play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning and to remain living in their homes and local community. The Community Funded Schemes have not funded fixed ceiling-track hoists given the need for structural adaptations necessary to install them and, also, that they had been funded under the Housing Adaptation Grants.
I am aware that the unilateral decision to remove funding without ensuring that another Government agency could take over the funding of these items has caused considerable distress to many people who can no longer access a service that they require to meet their health and safety needs. I also understand that the HSE has seen an increase in the number of applications for mobile hoists, but that these may not be as clinically appropriate as fixed ceiling-track hoists in some situations.
I have, therefore, also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, on whether an application for a mobile hoist may be clinically appropriate in this case.
