Written Answers Nos. 559-574
559. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report on waiting lists for a genetic test for BRCA1; the number of persons who are waiting; the average waiting times per hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47209/22]
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.
560. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the supports that are in place for someone who tests positive for BRCA1; and the frequency with which they receive these supports. [47210/22]
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.
561. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of genetic counsellors who are employed by the HSE; the plans, if any, to recruit more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47211/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
562. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when a health and safety inspection was carried out on a premises (details supplied); and if he will request the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to visit the premises and to advise this Deputy of same. [47224/22]
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.
563. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant dermatologists based in each hospital that is part of the RCSI group as of 12 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47245/22]
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.
564. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the total number of children awaiting appointments for HSE paediatric ENT services by hospital in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47246/22]
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.
The waiting list information requested by the deputy regarding children's ENT services, is outlined in the attached document.
565. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the podiatry waiting list by location and waiting times by month in counties Cavan and Monaghan in August 2022; the number of HSE podiatry clinics by location; the number of staff employed in each clinic; the number of vacant podiatry vacancies by location; the timeframe for these vacancies to be filled in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47247/22]
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.
566. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of a nursing home scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [47253/22]
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.
568. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47301/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the 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 formal 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. The Reimbursement list is the same for the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme and the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS).
The DPS provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone normally resident in Ireland.
Some hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications are available to medical card holders under the GMS scheme, subject to the statutory prescription charge. These same HRT medications are also available under the DPS, which ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Progressing women’s health is a priority for this government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.
The Women’s Health Action Plan was launched in March 2022. This Action Plan provides the foundation to address women’s whole health and help ensure that action on women’s health looks beyond reproductive health to make a real difference to women’s lives. For example, on 28th April 2022, I allocated up to €2.5 million of the Women’s Health Fund to priority areas within the Women’s Health Action Plan, including menopause. Six menopause clinics nationwide will be open by end 2022. This is two more than was envisaged at the time of publication. I am committed to the full implementation of the Women's Health Action Plan 2022-23 and will continue to drive progress in all areas of women's health, including menopause.
569. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will increase the fee for dispensed medicine to pharmacists; when an increase was last awarded to pharmacists for dispensed medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47307/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minster for Health, I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of health service reform. Community pharmacy is recognised as the most accessible element of our health service with an unequalled reach in terms of patient contact. Community pharmacists have played a central role in the national vaccination rollout – the largest ever undertaken by the State.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure that were made under section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 expired at the end of 2019. Under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, these regulations had to be replaced by 1 January 2020 in order to maintain a statutory basis for contractor payments and to prescribe the fees payable from that date.
The Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019 – S.I. No. 639 of 2019 – gave effect to the current pharmacy fees. Any future changes to the pharmacy fee structure will need to be made by regulations under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the Health Service Executive established a Community Pharmacy Contingency Planning working group with relevant stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures. This group – now called the Community Pharmacy Planning Forum – had examined the operational and clinical challenges confronting community pharmacists during the COVID-19 emergency and played a key role in resolving them to the benefit of the people of Ireland.
The work of the Forum has now transitioned to discussing the strategic direction of the community pharmacy profession. This will prove invaluable in the context of future contractual reform. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
570. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health his views on the need for additional third level pharmacy student places; the proactive steps that he has taken to ensure that additional places are made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47308/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department is aware of increasing intelligence being received through media, PQs and representations of a reported shortage of qualified pharmacists both in hospital and community practice. A number of agencies and stakeholders are now beginning to review this question and consider the impact, role, responsibility and accountability from their own perspectives, and the contributions they might make to mitigate. The Department is engaging both internally and with these external stakeholders, including the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology to fully assess the reported issue of shortages in the pharmacist workforce and to identify necessary actions to be taken in the short, medium and longer term.
Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. This re-enforces the need for robust data for Ireland to be best able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. The gathering of and analysis of up-to-date, robust and relevant data, will be a basis for recommendations that can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs as our integrated healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.
I will continue to engage as necessary with government colleagues, including with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in addressing relevant issues as they arise.
572. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on further information for agency roles working in the HSE; and their eligibility for the pandemic bonus payment. [47332/22]
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.
It is hoped that 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 front-line 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.
573. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be receiving the pandemic special recognition payment; and if a timeframe for same will be provided. [47334/22]
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.
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.
It is hoped that 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 front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
I would like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
574. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if an assurance will be given that no patient has attempted suicide or has succeeded in ending their life by suicide in the centre for mental health care and recovery in Bantry General Hospital in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47338/22]
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.
