Johnny Mythen
Ceist:871. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of respite centres that are provided in CHO 5, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34322/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (871)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (872)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:872. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds currently operational by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34323/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this PQ refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (873, 874)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:873. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of respite beds operational in County Wexford in each of the years 2017 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34324/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohnny Mythen
Ceist:874. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are currently on waiting lists for respite in County Wexford; the number who have been waiting less than six months, more than six months and more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34325/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 874 together.
As these PQs refer to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 874 answered with Question No. 873.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (875)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:875. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the management structure by grade and organisational chart for occupational therapy in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34326/22]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (876)
Johnny Mythen
Ceist:876. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of respite centres that are rental accommodations; the cost of these rentals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34327/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this PQ refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (877)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:877. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that medical card holders entitled to a medical card as a result of getting a social security pension from the United Kingdom or working and paying social insurance in the UK are not entitled to treatment under the cross-Border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34330/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the social security provisions of the EU UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA), a person for whom the UK is competent is, if they move to live in Ireland, entitled to a non-means tested medical card if they meet any of the following requirements:
- ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland and,
- insured under the social security legislation of another EU/EEA member state, Switzerland or UK; i.e. receiving a social security pension from that state or working and paying social insurance in that state
- not subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is subject to Irish social security legislation if they are receiving a contributory Irish social welfare payment or are subject to PRSI in the Irish State.
Prior to the 1st January 2021, UK pensioners residing in Ireland who had accessed healthcare under the EU Cross Border Directive were required to have their healthcare costs reimbursed by the UK as this was a requirement of the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive. As a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive no longer apply to the UK.
Separately, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme enables persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (878)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:878. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that medical card holders entitled to a medical card as a result of getting a social security pension from the United Kingdom or working and paying social insurance in the UK are not informed that they will not receive cover under the cross-Border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (879)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:879. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department is taking to support the HSE to relieve the neurology waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34335/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system. Neurology is a specialty targeted by the Action Plan. The NTPF have advised my Department that they have approved 9 Neurology OPD insourcing initiatives for funding so far in 2022, which will facilitate treatment for 3,728 patients on neurology outpatient waiting lists.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting Lis Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (880)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:880. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is planning a recruitment campaign for specialist neurology nursing positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34336/22]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (881)
Alan Farrell
Ceist:881. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the steps the HSE is undertaking for patients to access neurology supports once their initial appointment has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34337/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists. Neurology is one of the specialties targeted by the Action Plan.
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting Lis Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
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.
Question No. 882 answered with Question No. 755.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (883)
John Brady
Ceist:883. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to providing full or partial reimbursement for coaguchek meters and self-test strips for those patients requiring long-term oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34348/22]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (884)
Ivana Bacik
Ceist:884. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times in the orthopaedic department of Tallaght hospital. [34350/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The NTPF have advised my Department that to date this year they have approved an orthopaedic outpatient (OPD) initiative which will facilitate appointments for 200 patients on the orthopaedic outpatient waiting list at Tallaght University Hospital.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists. Ophthalmology waiting lists are a particular area of focus of this plan
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting Lis Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
Covid-19 Tests
Ceisteanna (885)
Robert Troy
Ceist:885. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of Covid swabbers (details supplied) in view of the increased number of positive Covid tests. [34354/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Changes to COVID-19 testing and tracing as part of the overall transition arrangements for the pandemic were approved by the Government in February 2022. There is no longer a public health rationale or need for extensive testing, case finding and tracing of infection to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The focus now is on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19 for those most vulnerable to the disease and those with risk factors who may benefit from specific interventions. Full details of the current public health advice are available on the website of the HSE at www.hse.ie. The public health advice relating to testing and tracing is kept under continuing review having regard to the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the disease on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and other international evidence and guidance.
The HSE is working to implement this advice which is invariably leading to consolidation of resources around the country as the HSE moves through the transition phases of the programme. The arrangements with regard to the number of positions available, and the nature of the work that will be carried out is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in this regard, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (886)
Michael Ring
Ceist:886. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when he expects that a profession (details supplied) will start taking on new customers that are medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34355/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Both I and the Government have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. The problem became particularly acute over the last couple of years as a significant number of contracted dentists chose to opt out of the DTSS.
I secured an additional €10 million in Budget 2022 to provide for expanded dental health care for medical card holders including the reintroduction of Scale and Polish. I am also using an estimated €16 million of an underspend in this year’s estimate allocation (€56 million) to award fee increases across a number of items including fillings and restorations. The combination of these two measures, which came into effect on 1st May, represents an estimated total additional investment of €26 million in the DTSS this year over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021, €40 million.
While it is a matter for each individual dentist to decide whether to accept new patients, I hope that this significant additional investment in the scheme will attract more dentists to treat medical card patients, including in Mayo. These measures are designed to address immediate concerns with the Scheme, pending a more substantive reform of dental services to align with the National Oral Health Policy.
I have been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are still experiencing problems in accessing a service.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (887)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:887. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who provide abortion services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As of the 14 June 2022, there are 413 GPs currently providing Termination of Pregnancy service. The HSE has indicated that it is satisfied that there is good geographic spread of GPs throughout the country providing the service.
It is open to all GPs to sign up to a contract to provide termination of pregnancy services.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (888, 889)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:888. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who have registered as conscientious objectors and do not provide abortion care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuncan Smith
Ceist:889. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners across the country who are unable to provide abortion services due to lack of resources or capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 and 889 together.
GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of services on its behalf. GPs who wish to provide termination of pregnancy services may enter into a contract with the HSE to do so. Given this contractual arrangement, GPs are not required to register as conscientious objectors and the number of same is therefore not available.
The Government is aware of the manpower issues facing general practice and has taken measures to increase the number of GPs working in the State and consequently increase service capacity within general practice. As GPs are private practitioners, information is not held in regard to the capacity available at individual practices to provide certain services, however provision of the service concerned would not be considered as having a large impact on practice capacity. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for services provided under the Termination of Pregnancy Service contract.
Question No. 889 answered with Question No. 888.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (890)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:890. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of public health facilities, excluding general practice, across the country that provide abortion services, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34366/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy's question relates to a service matter, is has been sent to the HSE for answer.