Tuesday, 11 Oct 2022

Written Answers Nos. 699-718

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (699)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

699. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on diagnostic waiting lists at the end of quarter 3 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49878/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has advised that the data for Quarter 3, 2022 is currently being collated and will be available in the coming weeks.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (700)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

700. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with scoliosis waiting for a procedure at the end of August and at the end of September 2022; the number waiting greater than six months and 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49879/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million was approved for this initiative.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (701)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

701. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children with spina bifida waiting for an orthopaedic or urology procedure at the end of August and at the end of September 2022; the number waiting greater than six months and 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49880/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million was approved for this initiative.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (702)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

702. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer related appointment by appointment type cancelled in July, August and September 2022, for each hospital in tabular form; if he will request the information from each hospital as required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49881/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (703)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

703. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric orthopaedic appointments by appointment type, cancelled in July, August and September 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49882/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

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.

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.

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (704)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

704. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who left an emergency department post-registration but pre-admission in the month of July, August and September 2022, by hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49883/22]

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (705)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

705. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people under 18 years and the number of persons over 65 years on national T-recorded hospital waiting lists, by inpatient and outpatient lists for each recorded timeband in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49884/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

It 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, is outlined in the attached document, which has been provided to my Department by the NTPF.

Waiting Lists Aug 2022

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (706)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

706. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of care workers employed by the voluntary and private sector who have yet to receive the €1,000 bonus payment for frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic; when such payments may be made; the reasons for the delay in making the payment given the ongoing challenges presented by the rising cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49887/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 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.

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.

Home Help Service

Ceisteanna (707)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

707. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the criteria in the next phase of the upcoming HSE tender for homecare in order to ensure the best offers of quality care services from homecare providers; if a mechanism has been developed to determine a fixed price paid to providers; the way in which this mechanism will reflect the cost of providing care and market conditions such as the payment of a living wage, mileage and travel time; the way in which this pricing mechanism will reflect inflation over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49888/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for 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 (708)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

708. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if provision will be made for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or earn-as-you-learn schemes within the forthcoming Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2022; if he supports such a move as a means to help alleviate the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis within the homecare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49889/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

As the Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I established a cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) to examine current challenges associated with the recruitment and retention of home support workers and front-line carers in nursing homes. In recognition of the need for whole-of-government solutions to these challenges, the membership of the Group encompasses representation from seven Government departments.

An evidence review and targeted consultations has helped identify a list of recommendations which will be included in a report. These recommendations will also help inform the development of the Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2022.

Since March 2022, the Group has convened six times and has examined issues such as training, career-development, and pay and conditions as well as recruitment and retention. Alongside this, the Group undertook a structured programme of stakeholder-engagement to gain insight into the challenges arising from the perspective of key sectoral groups.

The report of the Group, which outlines their key findings and suite of recommendations, is currently being finalised prior to submission to me for my consideration.

Legislative Programme

Ceisteanna (709)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

709. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the Human Tissue (Transplantation Post-mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill will be discussed in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49912/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The enactment of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a priority for the Government.

The Bill is a complex piece of legislation that will include provisions on organ donation and transplantation, hospital post-mortem practice and procedures, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death.

Drafting of the Bill is at an advanced stage and Government approval for publication will be sought as soon as possible during this session of the Dáil.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (710, 711, 713, 716)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

710. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending University Limerick Hospital Group adult diabetes service and using insulin pump therapy to manage their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49922/22]

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

711. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending University Limerick Hospital Group paediatric diabetes service and using insulin pump therapy to manage their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49923/22]

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

713. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who are awaiting a first appointment to the adult outpatients diabetes clinic in any of the UL Hospital Group hospitals; the number of persons waiting for time periods (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49925/22]

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

716. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons registered to attend the UL Hospital Group adult diabetes clinics in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49928/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 710, 711, 713 and 716 together.

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

Question No. 711 answered with Question No. 710.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (712)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

712. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the directive or clinical recommendations that the HSE gives its medical consultants for prescribing insulin pumps for adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49924/22]

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.

Question No. 713 answered with Question No. 710.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (714)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

714. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the process employed by UL Hospitals Group in moving persons from the waiting list to the adult outpatients diabetes clinic list; the way in which the waiting list is monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49926/22]

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.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (715)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

715. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent posts in consultant endocrinologists, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses and dietitians currently in the UL Hospital Group’s diabetes service and in each of the Group's hospitals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49927/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 716 answered with Question No. 710.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (717)

Neasa Hourigan

Ceist:

717. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the frequency with which the adult diabetes clinic is run; and the number of speciality diabetes clinics that are run, including a young adult clinic, type 1 adult clinic, type 2 clinic and a diabetes podiatry clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49929/22]

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.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (718)

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

718. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all section 39 funded organisations in 2021 and 2022 respectively, in tabular form; the amount of funding awarded to each; the way that the funding allocation for each makes provision for pay, terms and conditions of the staff employed in each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49933/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Department of Health does not directly fund any section 39 funded organisations. Under Section 39 of the 2004 Health Act (as amended) funding is provided by the Health Service Executive. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.