Written Answers Nos. 1571-1590
1571. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding, excluding the nursing home support scheme that was given to each HSE nursing home and community hospital to implement measures to prevent and manage Covid-19 outbreaks in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; the expenditure incurred to implement these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42271/22]
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.
1572. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the overall expenditure incurred per HSE nursing home and community hospital in each of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42272/22]
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
1573. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI 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 (NHI), the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes, most recently on Friday the 8th of July 2022 to discuss this issue. I updated them in detail on progress being made in relation to this matter.
I have also met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials.
I have 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 that nursing homes manage potential cost pressures in line with their regulatory and contractual responsibilities, maintaining their quality of care so that residents’ lived experience and comfort is not affected.
I hope to be in a position to revert to NHI again shortly following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
1574. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will urgently schedule surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42278/22]
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.
1575. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the services available at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny for patients with skin disease; if a consultant and support team are available on site in the hospital; if so, the date of the commencement of the service; the number of patients attending the service; if there is a waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42281/22]
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.
1576. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will license cariban doxylamine pyridoxine under GMS and community drug schemes, recognising the great need of pregnant women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum and the cost of which can be €50 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42282/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
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.
Cariban (doxylamine / pyridoxine) is an unlicensed product that is not reimbursable under GMS and Community Drug Schemes. Only licensed products are added to the formal GMS Reimbursement List in line with the 2013 Act. It is a matter for the marketing company to apply for licensing in Ireland through the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
However, the HSE has asked the Medicines Management Programme to examine the appropriateness and feasibility of a patient-specific arrangement for Cariban. The Medicines Management Programme assessment for Cariban has now been completed and its recommendation is under deliberation with the HSE at present.
1577. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action he has or is taking to bridge the wage gap between section 38-39 organisations; if any new pay agreement will be index linked; if the reasonable requests being made by section 39s have been costed; if so, if he will outline these costs; if he has presented a business plan to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; if so, if the Department has responded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
Under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides assistance to organisations that provide services similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide. However, Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations, once in line with employment legislation, are strictly between the employer and the employee.
1578. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure patients will have access to out-of-hours general practitioner services in the north-east region following the announcement of the north-east doctor-on-call of reduced operating hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42284/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1579. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his recent engagements with the north east doctor-on-call in respect of the out-of-hours general practitioner services provided by that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42285/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1578 and 1579 together.
GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, most GPs do so as such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision.
GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE provides significant funding to co-operatives, including NEDOC Ltd, through service level agreements to support the provision of out of hour GP services. The HSE has confirmed that there has been no change to the funding arrangement for NEDOC Ltd for 2022.
NEDOC GP out of hours cooperative recently informed the HSE of its intention to reconfigure its GP out-of-hours service with effect from August 2022, with no availability of late night in-person GP consultations. Following recent discussions and correspondence between the HSE and the board of NEDOC in relation to its proposal, it has been agreed that any proposed changes that NEDOC Ltd were suggesting have now been put back to January 2023 to facilitate an examination of the NEDOC Ltd operation.
1580. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered through the use of debt collectors and-or debt collection agencies in respect of the collection of fees and charges for inpatient and day services on patients attending hospitals managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42305/22]
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.
1581. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE in contracting debt collection agencies to pursue unpaid fees and charges from inpatient and day services from those attending hospitals managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42306/22]
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.
1582. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatients or inpatient day cases attending hospitals managed by the Ireland East Hospital Group with unpaid fees and charges for inpatient or day services whose debt was referred to a debt collection agency in each of the years 2017 to 2021; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42307/22]
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.
1583. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered through the use of debt collectors and-or debt collection agencies in respect of the collection of fees and charges for inpatient and day services on patients attending hospitals managed by the RCSI Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42308/22]
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.
1584. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE in contracting debt collection agencies to pursue unpaid fees and charges from inpatient or day services from those attending hospitals managed by the RCSI Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42309/22]
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.
1585. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatients or inpatient day cases attending hospitals managed by the RCSI Hospital Group with unpaid fees and charges for inpatient or day services whose debt was referred to a debt collection agency in each of the years 2017 to 2021; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42310/22]
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.
1586. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered through the use of debt collectors and-or debt collection agencies in respect of the collection of fees and charges for inpatient or day services on patients attending hospitals managed by the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42311/22]
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.
1587. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE in contracting debt collection agencies to pursue unpaid fees and charges from inpatient or day services from those attending hospitals managed by the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42312/22]
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.
1588. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatients or inpatient day cases attending hospitals managed by the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group with unpaid fees and charges for inpatient or day services whose debt was referred to a debt collection agency in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42313/22]
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.
1589. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total funding provided to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the projects itemised; the future commitments to further expand the services and-or building infrastructure of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42322/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
1590. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an assessment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42323/22]
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.
