Neale Richmond
Ceist:421. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding spinal muscular atrophy to the new-born heel prick test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33363/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (421, 429)
Michael Creed
Ceist:429. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he plans to request the HSE to introduce a test for spinal muscular atrophy for new-borns with the heel prick test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33412/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 429 together.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been progressing work on this expansion.
The NSAC is an independent, expert committee which makes recommendations to me and my Department on new screening programmes, as well as changes to existing population-based screening programmes, based on international processes and best practice.
The NSAC has been working closely with HIQA, clinicians and other stakeholders, including patient advocates, in setting out the best approach for Ireland in relation to the further expansion of newborn screening.
I am pleased to report recent progress in expanding newborn screening with a ninth condition, ADA-SCID (Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), being added to the NBS programme on 23 May 2022. The NSAC has commissioned HIQA to undertake a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) looking at the addition of other SCID types to the NBS programme. This HTA is underway and I am looking forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee on this condition after the HTA process is finalised later this year.
The NSAC is now well established and recently published its second annual report which detailed significant progress in 2021. The Committee's first Annual Call for proposals for new screening programmes or changes to our existing programmes, received a significant response with a total of 53 submissions received, including on newborn screening. Submissions were received from various sources and are now undergoing consideration by the committee. The NSAC intends to publish its full work programme later this year once it has considered all proposals submitted.
Given that this is a complex area, careful consideration must be given to the expansion of the NBS programme and these things can take time, however, it is important that decisions are made based on internationally accepted criteria and scientific rigour.
I am aware of how difficult it is for parents whose children have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them, their families and their children. It can be an overwhelming situation and can be very isolating for many families because of the significant work that is involved when a rare disease is diagnosed. I am committed to the further expansion of newborn screening in Ireland and in identifying opportunities for future additions to it.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (422)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:422. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a business proposal submitted by a club (details supplied). [33375/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that I have received a business proposal from the Rainbow Club and am giving it due consideration as part of the upcoming Estimates process in the coming months.
Subsequent to that consideration, any funding arrangement that may arise would also need to be considered and delivered through a Grant Agreement or Service Level Agreement with the HSE.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (423)
Neale Richmond
Ceist:423. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to an additional palliative care bed for a care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33376/22]
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 (424)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their medical appliance; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/22]
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.
Public Inquiries
Ceisteanna (425)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:425. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1568 of 14 June 2022, if he will meet with a group (details supplied) to discuss an inquiry given that at the last meeting with the group it was confirmed to have been with Minister Butler on 12 July 2021 in which the group was informed regarding an inquiry that it is up to him and the Taoiseach; and if not, the reason for not doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33391/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As was confirmed with the Deputy in a recent response, my colleague the Minister for Mental Health and Older People met with the Care Champions group on the 12th July 2021 and heard the concerns as set out at the meeting and in further correspondence received.
The Taoiseach has indicated that a comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past 2 years, and consideration is being given as to what the best model for this evaluation will be. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type emergency arrives.
There has been a clear national commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic and where necessary to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises. As the Deputy will be aware, I established a Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group in January 2022. The Expert Group will initially focus on identifying learnings from the public health components of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland with a view towards strengthening health protection generally and future public health pandemic preparedness specifically. It is important that we have a strong and robust embedded public health system into the future.
Both myself and Minister Butler remain fully committed to the continued improvement of older persons services, including long term residential care. To this end, there has been significant learnings from the experience and impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes, and more generally, and these learnings are informing a wide-ranging programme of reform which was recommended in the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report. This report outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes, based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19.
Significant progress has already been made in implementing the recommendations of the Expert Panel, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, and work to progress medium and longer term reform recommendations is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Four Expert Panel Progress Reports have been published to date, the latest published on 21 June 2022, and all are available on my Department’s website.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (426)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:426. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the details of waiting lists for a public nursing home bed in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33398/22]
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.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (427)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:427. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that meters manufactured by an organisation (details supplied) and self-test strips will be made available free of charge to persons requiring such treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33400/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
The HSE have advised that International Normalised Ratio (INR) self-testing strips such as CoaguChek® are not reimbursable under the General Medical Services (GMS) and Community Drug Schemes.
Whilst a range of diagnostics are available on the Reimbursement List for use in Diabetes, a change in HSE policy would be required to expand this to other therapeutic areas such as INR testing ancillaries.
The HSE have further advised that on very rare occasions, CoaguChek® strips were approved for reimbursement in the most exceptional circumstances under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements where it was clear that there was no other option for the patient i.e. the person was bed bound or could not travel to the INR clinic.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (428)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:428. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason that general practitioners are being permitted to charge medical card holders for blood tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33402/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services (blood tests) provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. My Department and the HSE discussed this issue previously with the relevant GP representative body. However, it did not prove possible to achieve agreement that no charges for blood tests would be applied in any circumstances. It is intended to raise this issue again at an appropriate time.
It should be noted that the GP chronic disease management programme involves the ongoing monitoring of a patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
Question No. 429 answered with Question No. 421.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (430)
Richard O'Donoghue
Ceist:430. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected to address the impact of the extraordinary inflationary costs upon private and voluntary nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33414/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am acutely 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 met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials. Nursing Homes Ireland has recently responded to a request for further information from the NTPF, this response is currently being considered. I have also visited a number of Nursing Homes in recent weeks to discuss this issue with management of both public and private/voluntary nursing units. It is imperative for me that the optimum level of care for the resident is maintained.
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.
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 €1.053 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.