Written Answers Nos. 633-652
633. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of all Covid-19 assessments carried out by general practitioners by telephone in each of the years 2020, 2021 and up to May 2022, by month and by the number of general practitioners or practices who received amounts greater than €10,000, €20,000, €50,000, €100,000 and €250,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35354/22]
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.
634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines administered by general practitioners in the year 2021 and up to May 2022, by month and by the number of general practitioners or practices who received amounts greater than €10,000, €20,000, €50,000, €100,000 and €250,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35355/22]
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.
635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to set out a timeframe for the implementation and delivery of the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35356/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra636. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline when a heads of Bill will be completed to enable the introduction of the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35357/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra639. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any work has been done to hire InterRAI assessors in the context of preparing for the statutory home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35360/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 635, 636 and 639 together.
The Programme for Government agreed in 2020 commits the government to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’.
Consequently, work is on-going within the Department of Health to progress the development of the new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Taking place within the broader context of the Sláintecare reforms, this work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
With the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with a standard, high-quality level of care which is safe, effective, and person-centred, it is envisaged that the regulatory framework will comprise: (i) primary legislation for the licensing of public and private home-support providers; (ii) minimum requirements (i.e., regulations); and (iii) HIQA National Standards for Home Support Services.
In April 2021, Government gave approval to draft a General Scheme and Heads of a Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. This is being progressed by the Department with a view to bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. It is expected that the primary legislation will give the Minister for Health the power to make regulations in respect of minimum requirements which will form the criteria against which a provider’s eligibility to hold a licence will be determined. A regulatory impact analysis by the Department to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks has commenced.
In collaboration with HIQA and in consultation with the Health Service Executive and other key informants, the Department developed draft regulations and a targeted stakeholder consultation was undertaken in January 2022. A 6-week public consultation was launched on June 16th in association with the Institute of Public Health (IPA) who will assist with survey testing, data analysis and reporting. A report on the findings of the public consultation will be prepared by the IPA for the Department of Health. Evaluating the survey feedback and the IPA report on the consultation will inform amendments in the draft regulations.
On 24th February, the ESRI published a report on the demand for and cost of home support. This is the final output from a programme of research that the ESRI has undertaken to support the Department of Health to progress the development of the new home support scheme. This research will form an important part of the evidence base for the development of a sustainable funding model for home support services in the context of our ageing population. Government approval will be sought in due course on any proposed legislation to provide for a financial support scheme, taking into consideration the cost associated with the various options.
In addition, work is ongoing in relation to the development of a reformed model of service delivery for the new scheme. As part of this a home support pilot using interRAI assessments is underway in 4 pilot areas (East Westmeath in Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) 8; Tuam, Athenry and Loughrea in CHO 2; Bandon, Kinsale and Carrigaline in CHO 4; and Ballyfermot and Palmerstown in CHO 7). InterRAI assessments will assist in the delivery of a standardised approach to care planning and supports the objective of maintaining clients in the community.
On June 28th the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler announced the recruitment of 128 interRAI care needs facilitators with a view to having the posts in place by the end of Q3 2022. This will help to progress the national rollout of interRAI as the standard assessment tool for care-needs. The interRAI outputs and pilot site evaluation will be critical to the development of the new statutory home-support scheme.
637. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the work of the pilots rolled out on home support schemes as part of the preparation for a statutory scheme; if the pilots have been extended; if so, the duration of the extension; the cost of rolling out the pilots to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35358/22]
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.
638. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the national home support office will be established; the cost of establishing the office; if this cost is already provided for in baseline funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35359/22]
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.
640. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the progress of the tensor for the home care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35361/22]
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.
641. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of healthcare staff eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; the number of staff paid to date; the expected timeframe for completion of all payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35362/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of directly-employed HSE staff who are eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; the number of staff paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35363/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra643. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff who are eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; the number paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35364/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra644. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of contract staff who are eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; the number paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35365/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra645. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in healthcare who do bank hours and are eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; the number paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35366/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 to 645, inclusive, together.
Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this challenging period.
As the deputy is aware, 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 and will be completed as soon as possible. As of Friday, 1st July, approximately than 75,815 eligible HSE and Section 38 staff have received payment around the country. All payments across the HSE and Section 38 organisations are being progressed by local management and each site will assess the eligibility of their staff before processing payment. As eligibility is still being assessed across sites locally, I cannot provide you with an estimated number of public service workers who are eligible to receive the 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. 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 the Defence Forces to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers highlighted above has not yet begun, and eligibility has not yet been assessed across the private sector, I cannot provide an estimated number of workers who will receive the payment. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
646. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the method being used to pay directly employed HSE staff the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35367/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As the deputy is aware, 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.
Payments are receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE to those eligible to receive it. The payments are being processed through local payroll administrators to eligible workers and will be seen in paychecks once the payment has been processed.
647. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the method being used to pay agency staff the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35368/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the method being used to pay contract staff the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35369/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.
Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As the deputy is aware, 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.
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. 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, including how staff will be paid. 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 the Defence Forces to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
649. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to expand capacity at hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh to take pressure away from the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35370/22]
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.
652. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of home care and home help hours funded in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35374/22]
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.
