Written Answers Nos. 1631-1651
1631. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to include catering assistants in the pandemic bonus payment working in healthcare settings during Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42483/22]
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.
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. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. 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. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff.
1632. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if addiction services have been added to the schedule of accommodation services for the new primary care centre for Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42488/22]
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.
1633. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details and full costings of planned refurbishment works at the HSE addiction services on Market Street, Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42489/22]
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.
1634. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the total number of HSE employees by title, grade, whole-time equivalent, wages and so on working at the HSE addiction services premises on Donore Road, Drogheda in each of the years since it opened in 2019, in tabular form. [42490/22]
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.
1635. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of addiction service users that attend the HSE addiction services premises on Donore Road, Drogheda clinic on a weekly basis from January to July 2022, in tabular form. [42491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1636. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons that have been treated in the HSE addiction services premises on Donore Road, Drogheda since it opened by year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42492/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1635 and 1636 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1637. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of HSE drug and alcohol outreach workers currently working in the HSE Louth and Meath areas; if an outreach worker is employed by the HSE in the Drogheda area, not including section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42493/22]
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.
1638. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total HSE investment in the needle exchange on a monthly and yearly basis in respect of the proposed new needle exchange for Drogheda which will be operated in the premises of an organisation (details supplied); the expected commencement date for the service to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42494/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1639. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total current HSE expenditure on needle exchange programmes nationally by county; the total number of needle exchange service users in each county; the estimated investment per service user for same in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42495/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1638 and 1639 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1640. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health when dental services under anaesthesia at Wexford General Hospital will be increased from the current one session per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42498/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1641. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children with special needs currently waiting for dental treatment under anaesthesia at Wexford General Hospital; the number of children with special needs waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42499/22]
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 are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic.
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 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 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.
1642. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with special needs currently waiting for dental treatment under anaesthesia at Wexford General Hospital; the number of adults with special needs waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42500/22]
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 are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic.
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 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 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.
1643. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current wait list for persons under 18 years of age awaiting orthodontal treatment at Wexford primary care centre, Grogan's Road; the number of persons waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42503/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1644. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current wait list for persons under 18 years of age awaiting orthodontal treatment at Enniscorthy primary care centre; the number of persons waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1645. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment of a whole-time dietician to the CAMHS unit in Arden House, Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42505/22]
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.
1646. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which blood test costs are covered by the HSE for a medical card holder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42506/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services including GP consultations.
The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services (blood tests) is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for such blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of services provided under the GP Chronic Disease Management programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, or has been charged for a blood test provided under the Chronic Disease Management programme, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
1647. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of adult medical card holders in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42507/22]
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.
Please note that the Primary Care Reimbursement Service publishes medical card and GP visit card numbers on a monthly basis on their website at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/pcrs-publications/
1648. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of student nurses and midwives nationally who have received the pandemic recognition payment to date in 2022; the percentage of student nurses and midwives that that figure represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1649. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of student nurses and midwives in University Hospital Galway who have received the pandemic recognition payment to date in 2022; the percentage of student nurses and midwives that that figure represents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42521/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1650. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the particular importance of those who have had heart problems looking after their oral hygiene; if he will ensure that medical cards cover oral hygienists, given this information; and if his Department will extend this service to include pensioners who have not met the PRSI coverage rules in the year before they retired. [42533/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGood oral health is an integral part of our general health and wellbeing. Poor diet, alcohol and tobacco use are risk factors common to cardiovascular and poor oral health. An extended dental health examination has been introduced for medical card holders since May 1st which includes alcohol, tobacco and dietary advice, intervention, and referrals for further support, as necessary. Cleaning (Scale and Polish) has also been reintroduced to support good oral health and hygiene.
This year an additional €10 million has been invested in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, which provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over.
The future approach to oral health service provision will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy. The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs. Work is currently underway to put in place root and branch service reform.
Dental care for self-employed and retired people who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions is provided through the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme, which comes under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection.
1651. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a family in Tipperary that was left waiting 45 minutes for an ambulance despite living less than ten minutes from the nearest ambulance station; and his plans, if any, to address ambulance response times. [42536/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
