Tuesday, 27 Sep 2022

Health Services

Ceisteanna (495)

Danny Healy-Rae

Ceist:

495. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46849/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Ceisteanna (496)

Danny Healy-Rae

Ceist:

496. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46860/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (497)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

497. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line workers who have received the pandemic bonus payment to date; when all payments are expected to issue to front-line workers eligible for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46877/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

The vast majority of eligible HSE and Section 38 staff have received the Pandemic Recognition Payment, with approximately 123,549 such staff having received the payment by 16th September 2022.

The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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.

Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (498)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

498. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the current average processing time for a nursing licence; if his attention has been drawn to any delays in the processing of such licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46893/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland, including the registration of nurses and midwives.

During the latter part of 2021, the NMBI had been experiencing an increased volume of overseas registration applications as well as delays in processing applications overall. Following consultation, my Department sanctioned additional resources to deal with the backlog. These have been in place for some time now and timelines for processing applications have significantly reduced.

In 2021 there were 4,546 applications from overseas nurses and midwives and, based on current trends, the NMBI estimates that it will receive just over 5,256applications in 2022.

So far in 2022, NMBI has issued 4,523 Decision Letters to overseas applicants. This is higher than the number issued during the full year of 2021 (2,430) and NMBI expects to have issued about 5,500 by year-end, which will be more than double the 2021 total. A Decision Letter is a key milestone for applicants and usually ( 98% of cases) includes an instruction for the applicant to go through a ‘compensation measure’ to allow them to demonstrate their clinical skills in terms of meeting the standard required in Ireland set by NMBI.

Approximately 80% of nurses and midwives pass their required compensation measures (either an adaptation period or an aptitude test) and convert to a registrant within six months of their decision letter being issued. Following registration, they can join the nursing and midwifery workforce.

In the period up to January 2022, 95% of initial applications received by NMBI were incomplete applications. This increases the lead in time for registration as time is lost while individuals gather (and supply to NMBI) the necessary documents and information which had not been supplied initially. As of the end of August 2022, only 55% of applications were incomplete at the point of submission, which is a substantial improvement.

The NMBI continues to work with key agencies and stakeholders as part of its role in supporting applicants, including aiming to further reduce the number of incomplete applications received.

In addition to assisting applicants, the NMBI’s approach is to reduce the timeframe in responding to incomplete submissions, thereby speeding up the process. Currently, these applications are assessed within 4 days of submission and applications that require re-assessment are reviewed within 5 days of receiving the additional necessary documents or information which had been sought from applicants. Once again this is a significant improvement since January 2022.

As the Deputy may be aware the NMBI has a number of statutory obligations to protect the public in its dealings with nurses and midwives and to protect the integrity of the practice of the professions of nursing and midwifery. Maintaining a high level of scrutiny in the assessment of applications is an essential element of this protection.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (499)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment with a specialist will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46894/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (500)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

500. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the reason that the Covid-19 special recognition payments for home help workers have still to be processed; when these vital front-line workers will receive this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46896/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly, 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 have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-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.

Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision 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, but this work is being given priority attention.

Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (501)

Joe Carey

Ceist:

501. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the reason that the Covid-19 special recognition payments for nursing home staff have still to be processed; when these vital front-line workers will receive this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46897/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

The vast majority of eligible HSE and Section 38 staff have received the Pandemic Recognition Payment, with approximately 123,549 such staff having received the payment by 16th September 2022.

The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, the HSE is tendering for an external provider to assist in setting up and implementing the process of gathering required information from the relevant employers to facilitate payment to their eligible staff. This is a complex process as these staff are not HSE employees, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations involved. Once a provider is contracted and details on this payment process are published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Ceisteanna (502)

Johnny Mythen

Ceist:

502. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 20 September 2022, if he will provide details of the significant work done to date in relation to the standardisation of provision of medical and surgical aids and appliances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46910/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, free of charge to eligible persons (such as medical card holders and people on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional.

These are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community.

Each Community Health Organisation (CHO) operates processes for the allocation of funding for medical and surgical aids and appliances. Each application within a CHO is assessed by the local Resource Allocation Group and a determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding availability within local budgets.

Currently, many of these aids and appliances are not provided on a standardised basis across the country and many do not yet have formal contracts in place governing their supply or price. This has resulted in an inequality of access for some aids and appliances in some areas. In addition, it does not allow the HSE to deliver best value for money in the provision of these aids and appliances.

The HSE established a National Service Improvement Programme for the Community Funded Schemes. This Programme is working on the development of standard operating procedures and guidelines with the aim of ensuring value for money, equity of access, and a management system that ensures compliance with those guidelines.

In respect of the aids and appliances stream, the category lists are completed, category specific information for prescribers is complete and the contracts for Aids and Appliances items are in place. The roll-out and implementation of these lists and prescribing information to CHOs and local health care workers is currently underway and is expected to be completed by November 2022.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (503)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

503. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the number of diagnosed and suspected neuro-diverse children under the care of the CAMHS; the number of those who are currently prescribed medication; the number of those on medication who have received follow-up medical supervision regarding that medication within the previous 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46938/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna (510)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

510. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to make the drug evusheld available in Ireland given that it has been approved by the European Medicines Agency and is currently in use in Europe and America; the stage that these plans are at; when those who are immunosuppressed are likely have access to the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46973/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.