Written Answers Nos. 774-793
774. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 28 April 2022, when the post of Parkinson's disease nurse specialist in University Hospital Galway will be filled; the interim measures that will be put in place prior to the filling of this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35792/22]
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.
775. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of pandemic bonus payments that have not been paid from the fund to date; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of persons who are eligible for the payment but have since retired who have yet to be paid by the hospital; and the date on which all eligible persons will be paid (details supplied). [35793/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly 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, more 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 and have not yet received it. Nor can I advise on how many are eligible to receive the payment but have since retired.
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:
Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
Agency roles working in the HSE;
Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
Redeployed members of the Defence Forces to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
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, or retirees who will receive the payment. We expect the rollout to begin shortly and for eligible workers to be paid as soon as possible.
776. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his plans for the former health centre building in Camolin, County Wexford which has sat idle in the centre of the town since its closure approximately four years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35795/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a matter for the HSE, I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy.
777. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider classifying Covid-19 as an occupational injury for healthcare workers in line with the decision of the European Union Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35811/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Public Health Act (Infectious Diseases) Regulations, all infectious diseases are reportable to the Public Health Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting system (CIDR). The infectious disease, COVID-19 was included under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No.53 of 2020) on the 28 February 2020.
In addition, to the reporting requirements under these regulations there is a second reporting system under the National Incident Management System (NIMs) which collects national data of incidents of COVID-19 in the public healthcare sector in Ireland. These reporting systems are an important source of information in identifying prevalence and trends, monitoring progress, and informing interventions.
Following the transposition of the EU Biological Agent Directive into the Biological Agents Regulations (S.I. 539 of 2020) and its associated Code of Practice, employers are required to report to the Authority, cases of COVID-19 workplace disease or death resulting from occupational exposure to SARs-CoV-2.
A proposal for a scheme for public health service employees who remain absent from the workplace re long-Covid has been prepared and provided to the staff representative bodies in respect of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection.
An offer of direct engagement on this between the management side and the health sector staff representative bodies has been made, which I hope can be concluded quickly.
It would be inappropriate to make any further statement on the matter until that engagement is concluded.
778. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health when the detailed 2022-2025 Action Plan for the Disability Capacity Review will be published. [35814/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032. In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services for the period 2022-2025. This Group, whose membership consisted of senior officials from the Departments of DCEDIY, Social Protection, Housing, Further and Higher Education, Health, and the Health Service Executive, has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan is currently being finalised.
779. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Wexford who are awaiting primary care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35815/22]
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.
780. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the actions that are being taken to provide affordable medication for hyperemesis during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35816/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra792. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when the cost of the medication cariban which is used to treat hyperemesis in pregnancy will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35931/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 780 and 792 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
781. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction counsellors employed or contracted by the HSE in each of the past five years in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; his plans to develop this service for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35828/22]
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.
782. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment with CAHMS in each county in tabular form. [35829/22]
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.
783. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting psychiatric appointments in each hospital in the State; if he will provide a breakdown on the number who have been waiting over three months for an assessment; the number waiting over six months; the number waiting over one year; and the number waiting over two years in tabular form. [35830/22]
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.
784. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the action that his Department can take to ensure that patients without medical cards can access general practitioner services if they can show that they have received refusals from three or more GP services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35834/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis in which the Minister has no role and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with an intake of 258 planned for this year.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
785. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the bodies under his aegis in which persons will receive a pay rise from 1 July 2022; the role of each where appropriate, or the anonymised salaries bands otherwise, the current remuneration and the proposed increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35854/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department are engaged in the preparation of adjusted rates of remuneration for appropriate health sector grades that are due an adjustment with effect from 1st July 2022. At present it is not possible to provide the information the Deputy is seeking, however this information will be publicly available on the Departments website as soon as it is available.
786. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the health technology assessment regarding the potential inclusion of a chickenpox varicella zoster vaccine has been completed by HIQA; if his Department are taking the report into consideration in Budget 2023 discussions; if a 2023 launch of this programme is likely subject to a positive HTA report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35880/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.
NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge.
Varicella (chickenpox) is an acute infectious disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Primary infection with varicella results in varicella (chickenpox). Recurrent infection results in herpes zoster (shingles).
Varicella vaccination is not currently included as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
I can confirm that HIQA are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment. On completion, the outcome of the HTA will form the basis of decision making in relation to the inclusion or otherwise of the varicella vaccine in the National Immunisation programme.
787. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of times the Vaccine Alliance has met since it was established by his Department in September 2019; if he will provide the dates of these meetings and its current terms of reference; if he will outline his future intentions for the work of this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35881/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Vaccine Alliance, chaired by the Department of Health, has met on three occasions since it was launched in late 2019. The then chair of the Alliance also convened a Vaccine Advocate Forum to offer information to organisations that had an integral role to play in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. This event took place in December 2020 and more information is available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/c453f-covid-19-vaccine-advocate-forum/
The initial aim of the Alliance was to raise awareness about the benefits of Ireland’s childhood vaccination programme, address vaccine hesitancy and ensure consistent messaging to stakeholders.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of the Alliance shifted to include COVID-19 vaccines, addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation relating to COVID-19 vaccines. This work was primarily undertaken by members of the Alliance taking part in HSE stakeholder events relating to COVID-19 vaccine rollout. In addition, the HSE established the COVID-19 Vaccine Community Network in February 2021 to support uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The Department and the HSE continue to work closely together to support these groups and progress the work of the Alliance.
788. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with senior HSE staff at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital on the matter of fast-tracking hip replacement surgery for a person (details supplied) on the grounds of age, immense pain and extenuating circumstances. [35889/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
789. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the chronic shortage of general practitioner services in north County Dublin; if consideration has been given to the deployment of directly employed HSE general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35927/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community. GPs are not employees of the HSE and any proposed model involving salaried GP positions would require careful consideration to ensure the required level of service could be provided for medical card and GP visit card holders.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,551 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of June 2022, there are 33 GMS vacancies across the country, just over 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels; there is one GP GMS vacancy in Dublin North and two in Dublin North West.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is committed to increasing the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.
The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. 258 places will be available this year. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
790. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention to been drawn to the situation in which the CHO7 disability team is not accepting referrals for persons who have suffered a stroke; the reason that this situation has transpired; the criteria that are being used for accessing disability services in the CHO7 area; the action that he is taking to change the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35928/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
791. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of a work package being co-lead by officials in his Department under the European Union Joint Action Best ReMaP (details supplied); the documents or actions that have been produced to date; when the project is set to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35929/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Joint Action Best ReMaP (Best practices in Reformulation, Marketing and public Procurement) is a three- year programme concluding in September 2023. Ireland and Portugal are co-leading on the Work Package “Best practices in reducing marketing of unhealthy food products to children and adolescents”.
Among the key objectives of this Work Package are: to develop effective policies to reduce the exposure of children to unhealthy food marketing, and to deliver protocols and tools to measure the reduction in the marketing of unhealthy food to children, with a particular focus on digital marketing and health inequalities. Work has been underway on this Joint Action since October 2020 and there are 17 EU Member States participating in sharing expertise and experiences.
Ireland is leading on developing guidance for an EU- wide Code of Practice to reduce marketing of unhealthy food to children and on developing, testing and adapting protocols to monitor unhealthy food marketing to children with a particular focus on digital marketing.
A workshop led by Ireland who has already developed Codes took place in March to help participating Member States develop and implement Codes of Practice to reduce unhealthy food marketing to children and to integrate relevant best practises into their national policies. A Technical Guidance document has been developed and submitted to the EU Joint Action Steering Committee. A food industry EU-wide technical guidance is being prepared based on the WHO Nutrient Profiling Model, together with an outline on governance and monitoring. A document to encourage food companies and partner organisations to sign up to the Codes will be developed and a register of signatories will be maintained and published by the national monitoring bodies.
A scientific evidence review on voluntary versus mandatory Codes is also being prepared.
A workshop led by Ireland took place in May on Monitoring food advertising: Progress, experiences, challenges and solutions which included a review of global monitoring protocols. The WHO is a participating partner in this action. An EU -wide Marketing Monitoring Protocol is now being developed.
793. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a review for funding will take place for a resource centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35934/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
