Written Answers Nos. 156-175
156. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for home care packages; the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay accessing home care; and the waiting lists for home care packages, by CHO and LHO, in tabular form. [34644/22]
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.
157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for assessment for home care packages, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34645/22]
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.
158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for occupational therapy, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34646/22]
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.
159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons on waiting lists for an assessment of need, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34647/22]
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.
160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for ophthalmology, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34648/22]
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.
161. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for audiology, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34649/22]
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.
162. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for podiatry, by CHO, and age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34650/22]
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.
163. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for community psychology services, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34651/22]
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.
164. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for counselling services, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34652/22]
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.
165. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for CAMHS, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34653/22]
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.
166. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for dietetics, by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [34654/22]
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.
167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on an acute hospital waiting lists, by age category, hospital, speciality and time waiting, in tabular form. [34655/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
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 regard to the information requested by the Deputy, the attached document, provided to my Department by the NTPF, outlines the IPDC & OPD waiting list by time-band, hospital, specialty and age category.
168. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the Covid bonus payment will be paid to healthcare staff; the date the payment will be made to each cohort; if he will confirm the criteria for receipt of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34659/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE. As of Friday, 24 June, 45,882 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes applications payments made in Section 38 organisations, many of whom have also completed payment.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. Rolling out the payment to eligible non-HSE and non-Section 38 employees is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered.
Officials in the Department and the HSE are prioritising the work needed to progress this. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/S38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);#
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
The Government is mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
169. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if the funding model for prosthetics and orthotics is on a national basis or is it different in each CHO; if this consists of a risk assessment to be completed by the referrer for each new application (details supplied); if so, the person or body that informs the referrer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34661/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, including prostheses and orthoses, 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 are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community.
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 the funding availability within local budgets.
However, HSE National Service Improvement Programme has the aim of improving the equity of access, value for money, and functional processes of the Community Funded Schemes through the establishment of national guidelines for the provision of medical and surgical aids and appliances.
While this work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Programme has recommenced. A review of the current prosthetics service is underway – under the Orthotics, Prosthetics and Specialist Footwear Work Stream – and is due to be completed by early 2023.
170. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the average waiting period for an authorised purchase order for a prosthesis or orthosis; the number of persons currently waiting on a prosthesis or orthosis who have been waiting less than 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and longer than 6 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34662/22]
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.
171. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if there is a training budget for prosthetic and orthotic professionals; if so, the amount of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34663/22]
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.
172. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if engagement takes place between rehabilitation consultants employed by the National Rehabilitation Hospital with suppliers of prosthetics and orthotics; if so, the extent of this engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34664/22]
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.
173. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if outcome measures in relation to the funding of prosthetics and orthotics are used to evaluate and direct funding on an audited outcome measure basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34665/22]
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.
174. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the ratio of clinicians working in prosthetics and orthotics to their clerical administrative staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34666/22]
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.
175. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the details of all national policies and plans that are in place regarding prosthetics and orthotics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34667/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraProsthetics is the manufacture and fitting of artificial limbs (prostheses). Orthotics is the manufacture and fitting of devises (orthoses) designed to correct a patient’s physical posture and function, for example, specialised footwear, ankle and knee supports.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, including prostheses and orthoses, 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 are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community. Prosthetic services are currently provided by private providers and the cost is charged to the HSE.
Amputees, whose amputation arose from either a traumatic or elective event, usually have their primary prosthesis fitted at the hospital where the surgery was undertaken. Subsequent prostheses are provided to eligible patients through the Community Funded Schemes.
Rehabilitation services are provided by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) primarily at their site in Dun Laoghaire and augmented by a number of satellite clinics that they operate throughout the country. There are also a number of smaller services operated at regional level that provide assessment and fitting clinics along with prostheses at a local level.
The NRH does operate the Prosthetic, Orthotic and Limb Absence Rehabilitation (POLAR) Programme, which provides specialised, interdisciplinary limb absence rehabilitation for patients who have experienced amputation. This comprehensive rehabilitation service is offered to patients whether or not prosthesis is appropriate.
A HSE National Service Improvement Programme has the aim of improving the equity of access, value for money, and functional processes of the Community Funded Schemes through the establishment of national guidelines for the provision of medical and surgical aids and appliances.
While this work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Programme has recommenced. A review of the current prosthetics service is underway – under the Orthotics, Prosthetics and Specialist Footwear Work Stream – and is due to be completed by early 2023.
