Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:719. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times for each of the children's disability network teams in CHO8. [49986/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (719)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (720)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:720. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the current number of scans and x-rays awaiting reading by a radiologist at the Ireland East Hospital Group by hospital. [49987/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (721)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:721. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he will publish in full the report that he received from a person (details supplied) into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic; the date that he received the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, I, together with my colleague Minister Feighan, announced the establishment of an independent Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group in January of this year.
The Expert Group was tasked with; identifying learnings from the public health components of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland with a view towards strengthening health protection generally and future public health pandemic preparedness specifically; identifying lessons from international best practice regarding reform and strengthening of other core public health functions, including the promotion of health and wellbeing, population health research and health intelligence and health service improvement; and making recommendations regarding the delivery model for public health in Ireland.
The Group, which was chaired by Professor Hugh Brady, carried out its work from January to August of this year. Membership of the Group comprised of national and international experts with experience across a range of key domains, including public health, health protection, epidemiology, senior public health service leadership, change management, and risk and evidence communication.
The Report of the Expert Advisory Group was submitted to me in September and I am now giving consideration to it's contents. Following consideration, I plan to bring the Report to Government shortly, with a view to publishing it thereafter.
Further information on the Expert Group and details of its membership can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8beb5-ministers-for-health-establish-the-public-health-reform-expert-advisory-group/.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (722)
David Cullinane
Ceist:722. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when guidelines (details supplied) were rolled out by the HSE; if any service provider has adapted them and set up family forums since in their community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to an operational matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (723)
Michael Ring
Ceist:723. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the status of setting up an independent review within a profession (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50039/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair.
As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
Question No. 724 answered with Question No. 641.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (725)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:725. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that home help hours for a person (details supplied) were reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50041/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (726)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:726. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the Independent Review of Radiation Therapy as agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission between an organisation (details supplied), the HSE and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50045/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
An independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been agreed under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. Discussions are ongoing between the parties to finalise a Terms of Reference and appoint an independent chair.
As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
Budget 2023
Ceisteanna (727)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:727. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the health budget for 2023 that has been designated towards health promotion and prevention measures for conditions such as obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50048/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapital Expenditure Programme
Ceisteanna (728)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:728. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has received the business case in respect of the proposed new national maternity hospital; if the external assurance process for major capital projects has commenced and or concluded; the consultant who undertook the assurance process; and the fees paid for same. [50061/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A pre-tender final business case for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to Elm Park has been submitted to the Department of Health for review at Gate 2 of the Public Spending Code (PSC). The business case has been subject to internal review and the External Assurance Process (EAP) (introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) in late 2021 for projects over €100m) is underway.
The independent scrutiny processes for major capital projects at Decision Gates 1 and 2 of the PSC- the introduction of the External Assurance Process and review by the Major Projects Advisory Group- have been established to ensure appropriate project preparation, to further strengthen project management, and ultimately improve project outcomes.
For the External Assurance Process, D/PER established a single lot, multi-supplier framework from which funding Departments can source the independent reviewers to conduct the reviews. A Supplementary Request for Tenders from this established framework to conduct the Decision Gate 2 EAP review on the business case documentation for the relocation of the NMH was circulated. Following a tender evaluation process, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was engaged by the Department of Health, as it was determined that it submitted the most economically advantageous tender to perform the EAP review.
The EAP for the NMH relocation is well advanced and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. As the contract is yet to be concluded no fees have yet been paid.
Work is ongoing to update the business case documentation in line with external review recommendations so that an updated business case can be submitted to the Major Projects Advisory Group. Pending favourable review under the Public Spending Code requirements, a Memorandum for Government will then be brought forward to progress the programme for the NMH. If approval in principle is granted by Government, the project can move to deployment of a tendering strategy.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (729)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:729. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the name, address, service provider and area served for each of the children's disability network teams in CH09. [50062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (730)
Verona Murphy
Ceist:730. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 919 of 19 October 2021, the updated number of adult medical card holders presently eligible for dental services under the dental treatment scheme in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50065/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (731)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:731. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time faecal immunochemical test teams in each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (732)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:732. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged under 18 years with an intellectual or sensory disability currently referred and waiting to be seen by HSE disabilities and special needs’ services in County Clare; the type of services that they are waiting to attend in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (733)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:733. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered replacing the ambulance on Arranmore island for a newer model in order that the ambulance can spend more time on the island and less time on the mainland getting repaired; if a replacement ambulance has been considered; if so, when this change is likely to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50087/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (734)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:734. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when Arranmore island will be assigned a full-time public health nurse to replace the island’s full-time public health nurse who retired in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50088/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 (735)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:735. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the case of a person (details supplied) who is waiting on the receipt of an occupational therapy report from Ballynanty Health Centre Limerick, confirming that they are medically capable of operating a stair lift, in order that they can proceed with an application for a housing adaptation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (736)
John Paul Phelan
Ceist:736. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the number of female patients in Dóchas suffering with mental health conditions awaiting a specialist bed; the length of time that each has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (737)
David Cullinane
Ceist:737. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the Government will support the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021; if he will support this Bill through the remaining legislative stages; if he intends to bring forward amendments to this Bill at committee stage; if he intends to seek Government business time to facilitate this bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 2013 Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act is a clear, robust, statutory framework under which all new medicinal products must be assessed by the HSE. The HSE is the statutory decision-maker for the reimbursement of such products, and the Act ensures that these decisions are made on an objective and scientific basis.
The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to remove any threshold incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) informed by the Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) metric from the assessment of orphan medicinal products while retaining the responsibility for the HSE to consider cost-effectiveness under modified criteria.
The QALY is the economic evaluation system which is used to set a threshold of cost-effectiveness when assessing medicines. Using the QALY, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) can systematically assess new medicines for cost effectiveness. Disregarding a validated systematic evidence-based scientific methodology to inform decision-making would greatly limit the HSE’s capacity to determine whether the submitted price for orphan drugs represents value for money. In the absence of cost-effectiveness information on orphan drugs, the HSE would enter commercial negotiations in an uninformed, and therefore disadvantageous position.
The 2013 Health Act does not provide for a different ruleset when assessing orphan medicines. However, the criteria that apply to the evaluation process allow the HSE to have particular regard for the unique circumstances surrounding orphan drugs. The statutory framework in the 2013 Act requires the HSE to take account of a range of objective factors and not just cost-effectiveness under the QALY system. In making reimbursement decisions, there is a list of criteria contained in the Act which the HSE is required to consider, including the magnitude of the clinical effect, cost effectiveness, budget impact, available resources, and unmet medical need.
Consequently, the QALY economic evaluation system does not restrict the HSE from applying discretion particularly in seeking to address unmet medical need. In making reimbursement decisions, the HSE often reimburses orphan medicines in excess of a cost per QALY of €45,000 in cases where the potential to address unmet need is supported by robust clinical evidence.
Budget 2021 allocated €50 million for the approval of new drugs and nineteen of the fifty-two new medicines approved by the HSE in 2021 were orphan medicines, representing over one third of approvals. Budget 2022 allocated a further €30 million for the approval of new drugs. The HSE has approved forty-six new medicines/new uses of existing medicines to date in 2022 including eight medicines for the treatment of rare diseases.
I will be considering in detail the intent and the implications of this Bill as it progresses through the remaining stages in the House.
Thalidomide Victims Compensation
Ceisteanna (738)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:738. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when his Department and the State will publicly acknowledge the wrongdoing that occurred to pregnant women who were prescribed thalidomide in the 1950s and 1960s as a treatment for morning sickness; when women and their children impacted by the use of thalidomide can expect a public apology for the wrongdoing that occurred; when the State will deliver an appropriately specialised thalidomide-related healthcare and compensation package for thalidomide suffers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50156/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The question raised by the Deputy includes reference to matters related to litigation that has been delegated to the State Claims Agency. 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 Irish Thalidomide Association 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 and assists them to access supports towards their ongoing health and personal social service needs, 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.
Following a Government decision in 1975, Irish survivors of thalidomide have been in receipt of monthly payments for life from the Irish State. The range of supports provided by the Irish State to each Irish survivor also include a medical card on an administrative basis regardless of means, which includes access to a full range of primary care, hospital and personal social services, provision of appliances, artificial limbs, equipment and housing adaptations.
The German Contergan Foundation has confirmed that since 2013 it is accepting applications from individuals for compensation for thalidomide related injury. It is open to any Irish person to apply to the Foundation for assessment of their disability as being attributable to thalidomide. Any Irish person who establishes that their injury is attributable to thalidomide will be offered appropriate supports by the Irish Government, commensurate with those currently provided to Irish thalidomide survivors.
Departmental Communications
Ceisteanna (739)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:739. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50161/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue I have referred it to the HSE and ask them to respond directly to the Deputy.