Written Answers Nos. 2015-2035
2015. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for roll-out of an electronic health record system across all public health services; the progress of same to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of electronic health records is a long term programme of work and the HSE has operational responsibility for the implementation of EHR's across all public health services.
On July 4th, 2022, the Department of Health secured approval for Children’s Health Ireland to enter contracts for the delivery of an enterprise level EHR system for the new Children’s Hospital and contracts have been signed with EPIC. This will represent the most significant EHR implementation in Ireland to date but builds on the success of the EHR programmes at four of our largest maternity hospitals, the hospital wide deployment at St James’s Hospital, Dublin. Contracts for clinical management systems capable of generating electronic health records (EHRs) have also recently been signed for both the National Rehabilitation Hospital and National Forensic Hospital.
The use of EHRs as part of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS) will be extended to Limerick and the Coombe, in 2022 and 2023, resulting in over 70% of newborn babies in Ireland being assigned an EHR at birth.
Consideration is also being given to a strategic approach to widening the roll-out of EHRs in conjunction with the establishment of Regional Health Areas.
2016. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to establish a vaccine damage compensation scheme; the timeline that he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is advised that in June 2018, the Government agreed to the establishment of the expert group to review the management of clinical negligence claims. It was chaired by the High Court judge, Mr. Justice Charles Meenan. The expert group examined the system from the perspective of the person who has made the claim to explore if there is a better way to deal effectively, yet more sensitively, with certain cases.
Mr. Justice Meenan submitted the final report on the current system for managing clinical negligence claims to the then Minister for Health and Minister for Justice in January 2020, prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic. The Government subsequently published the Meenan report in December 2020. One of the report's recommendations is that a compensation scheme be established.
On foot of a request from my Department, the Health Research Board, HRB, carried out an evidence review on the vaccine injury redress programme in other jurisdictions, which was completed in March 2019. The expert group's report, in addition to the HRB's evidence review, and consultation with other Departments and relevant State agencies will inform the development of proposals regarding the establishment of a compensation scheme, including the need for primary legislation.
While some preliminary scoping work has been undertaken by the Department, during the Pandemic all available Department of Health resources were devoted to the Public Health response. This has meant that progress on the development of policy in this area could not be progressed as intended.
There is still significant work required to develop proposals for consideration by Government regarding vaccine damage compensation. As part of that work, it is anticipated that consideration will also be given to the inclusion of claims relating to alleged adverse reactions from COVID-19 vaccines.
2017. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if tele-health providers are excluded from the free contraception scheme for women aged 17 to 25 years; if so, the reasons for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44076/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, 2020 commits to providing free contraception for women, starting with the 17-25 age cohort. My Department has been working with partners, including the HSE, towards ensuring that the scheme will commence in September, 2022. Funding of approximately €9m has been allocated for this in Budget 2022.
The scheme will be open to all 17-25 year-old women ordinarily resident in Ireland and will provide for:
- The cost of prescription contraception;
- The cost of consultations with medical professionals to discuss suitable contraception for individual patients and to enable prescription of same. Consultations will include both initial discussions of suitable contraception for each patient, and necessary check-ups to provide repeat prescriptions;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove same;
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs (coils), the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
- The cost of training and certifying additional medical professionals to fit and remove LARCs;
The legal framework for the scheme is provided by the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2022, which was enacted in July, 2022. It is envisaged that the Act will be commenced, and the scheme launched, once the Regulations setting the terms and conditions relating to the provision of services and fees, etc., are expected to be enacted later this week. It is envisaged that the scheme will go live next week (the week commencing 12 September 2022).
The Department of Health and the HSE are working with service providers in term of preparations for scheme commencement. It is typically the case that formal agreement with the main medical and pharmacy representative organisations is reached regarding the detail of service provision, prior to engagement with other smaller providers.
I can confirm that officials in the Department have contacted smaller specialist service providers, with a view to discussing possible engagement with the scheme and to discuss any issues they may wish to raise.
With specific regard to telemedicine, it will be necessary to have the provision of prescription contraception in this manner reviewed by clinical experts, prior to inclusion in the scheme. Advice from the relevant clinical experts has been sought in this regard. If the clinical advice is that it is appropriate in terms of patient safety, etc., for prescriptions for oral contraceptives to be issued through online consultations under a State sponsored scheme (i.e. without the ability to carry out physical checks using calibrated equipment, etc.), amendments will be required to the Regulations that will lay out the terms and conditions of scheme participation for providers, following negotiations with providers to agree these.
Completing these requirements may take a little additional time; therefore it may not be possible to include such providers in the scheme from the outset. However, their inclusion is being actively worked on and we are hoping to include these options as soon as the appropriate clinical and regulatory processes have been completed.
The design of citizen engagement information and publicity campaigns to support and promote the roll out of the scheme is currently being finalised by officials in the Department’s Press and Communications Team, the HSE’s Communications team and relevant subject matter experts in the Department and HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme.
The campaign will target 17-25 year olds with a broader reach to all adults through an extensive media engagement and outreach programme on broadcast and video on demand services; digital out of home advertising in a variety of locations including third level institutes, retail settings etc; targeted and an organic social media campaign. Digital information regarding the scheme and how to access it will be available through www.sexualwellbeing.ie shortly and contraceptive choices materials will be placed in GP surgeries from later in September.
2018. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to parliamentary question No. 198 of 12 July 2022, the timeline that he is working towards for allocating dedicated funding for the inpatient mental health support mother-and-baby unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44077/22]
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.
2019. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with an organisation (details supplied), following its correspondence. [44078/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy, relate to litigation that has been delegated to the State Claims Agency, by Government Order. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for me to comment on matters that are sub-judice.
However, I am happy to inform the Deputy that I met with members of the organisation in February last and assured them of the Government’s commitment to provide them with the necessary health supports to meet their related needs.
Following that meeting, the designated senior manager in the Health Service Executive who liaises with Irish thalidomide survivors, commenced a process to develop recommendations for future planning and pathways of care for survivor’s health care needs now and into the future.
The recommendations will also inform the work already underway in the Department to provide these health and personal social supports on a statutory footing as committed to by the Government.
2020. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he has had with a disability service provider (details supplied) since an investigation into its fundraising was launched by the Charities Regulator; the amount of HSE funding that this provider has received in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44079/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSunbeam House is funded by the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act. Services are provided through a Service Arrangement which is signed on an annual basis and reviewed continually.
The following table shows the amount of HSE funding that this provider has received in each of the years 2015 to 2022 (year to date):
Funding
|
Year |
Organisation |
Funding |
|
2015 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€20.218,407 |
|
2016 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€22,461,952 |
|
2017 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€24,201,907 |
|
2018 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€27,390,189 |
|
2019 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€30,702,240 |
|
2020 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€32,557,549 |
|
2021 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€34,408,337 |
|
2022 |
Sunbeam House Services |
€34,411,818 |
From the date of investigation, led by the Charities Regulator, on the matter of fund-raising activities (Sunbeam House Services), Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Anne Rabbitte T.D., has not engaged with the provider.
2021. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts in public health nursing, by community healthcare organisation, CHO, and local health office, LHO, in tabular form; the number of student public health nurses expected to be appointed to each area in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2022. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to recruit additional staff into the National Ambulance Service; the number of graduates from Irish paramedic science degree courses that have been recruited into the NAS in each of the years 2015 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44081/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2023. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if a general practitioner can refuse to make a referral for psychiatric treatment if an assessment was conducted by a private specialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44082/22]
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.
2024. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on pay increases for section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44106/22]
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.
2025. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the projected amount of agency staff that will be required by the HSE in 2023; the projected cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44107/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2026. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his plans to address the current funding imbalance for University Hospital Limerick compared to other Model 4 national hospitals to bring it to the national average as of September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44108/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraReply awaited from Department.
2027. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current number of ICU beds in place; the number that are currently funded as of September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44109/22]
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.
2028. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of payments to student nurses as of September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra2066. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when he will sanction the payment of financial supports to student nurses and midwives as recommended by the McHugh review; if he will ensure that there is no further delay given the fact that the new academic year has already started. [44273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2028 and 2066 together.
On 4 November 2021, following the publication of the McHugh Report, I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students needing overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement.
These additional supports arose following the Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives. This independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request, set out a number of recommendations, including an enhanced Travel and Subsistence scheme for students while attending their supernumerary clinical placements. As this is a significant departure from the current position, I committed to bringing a further proposal to Government setting out how to deal with this recommendation with effect from the start of the 2022/2023 academic year.
Along with my Department I am considering a number of options in relation to this recommendation so that an enhanced scheme can shortly be put in place that will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting students in undertaking their supernumerary clinical placements.
2029. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses that have received the pandemic bonus payment as of September 2022, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44111/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2030. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses that are yet to receive the pandemic bonus payment as of September 2022, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44112/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2031. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses that worked on the Covid-19 pandemic response but have since retired that have received the pandemic special recognition payment as of September 2022, by CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44113/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
2032. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of Dublin Fire Brigade workers who worked on the Covid-19 pandemic response as swabbers and vaccinators that have received the pandemic special recognition payment as of September 2022; if he will confirm that they are due to receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44114/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your correspondence on behalf of Dublin Fire Brigade Workers who worked as swabbers and vaccinators.
Firstly, 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.
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.
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. 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.
At this point, the Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases. Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised and once information on which organisations shall be paid is published, eligibility for payment can be checked at that point.
I assure you that it is the intention of the Department to have all eligible healthcare workers paid without delay, and all possible efforts are being made to achieve this. I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
2033. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will detail all organisations, public, voluntary and private that are due to have workers recognised with the pandemic special recognition payment but have not yet received the payment as of September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44115/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
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.
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. 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;
Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
As the rollout of payments to the eligible workers in non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisations 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.
2034. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of progressing free general practitioner care to all persons under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGP GMS contractors receive a range of capitation rates, fee per service payments and practice supports. The cost of GP visit and medical cards varies significantly with the age of the cardholder. Cost calculations require complex and detailed modelling exercises to account for a range of demographic changes, future projections of service demands and variation in the number of GPs and the allowances that could be paid.
Consultations with the IMO, representing GPs, would be held prior to expansions of GP visit card eligibility and would include discussions on the scope of services to be provided and the rate of fees payable to GPs for the provision of the services.
For these reasons, it is not possible to give the actual cost of extending GP care without fees to further cohorts. However, the 2019 IGEES paper Costing Framework for the Expansion of GP Care provides a cost estimate for expanding GP care without charges to all persons under 18 years of age and for universal free GP care. The 2018 ESRI study Universal GP care in Ireland: Potential Cost Implications also provides a cost estimate for universal free GP care.
Department of Health IGEES staff are currently working on possible options for expanding eligibility to GP care on a phased basis. This analysis includes consideration of costs, demographics, demand and GP capacity.
2035. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he and his Department have plans to introduce a new social protection payment to assist parents with the non-medical financial costs of hospital care; if so, the estimated cost of such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe responsibility for social protection payments and cost of living supports is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
