David Cullinane
Ceist:141. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for dental services for public patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52301/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDental Services
Ceisteanna (141)
Freagraí scríofa
Public dental services are provided to children and to patients with special needs by the HSE Public Dental Service. Services available for children up to 16 years of age include emergency care, a fissure sealant programme for 2nd and 6th classes and referral and care for orthodontics.
In addition, the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. The numbers of patients being seen and the numbers of treatments being provided under the DTSS have both increased in recent months following a €26 million package of additional investment in, and expansion of, the Scheme from 1st May 2022, over and above what was spent on the Scheme in 2021.
The National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, sets out a body of comprehensive reforms to the provision of oral healthcare services in Ireland, in which services are reoriented to embrace a primary oral healthcare approach that is available across the lifecourse. I am committed to ensuring that implementation of this policy progresses. Therefore, an unprecedented allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services.
A dedicated €4.75 million has been provided to develop comprehensive oral healthcare packages for children aged from birth to seven years, aligned with the National Oral Health Policy. An additional €9 million has been provided to address waiting lists in orthodontics and for the Public Dental Service to provide care to its eligible children and adult patients.
On top of this €15 million allocation, resources will also be made available to recruit more consultant orthodontists, for new clinical leadership posts and for other supporting staff. These latter staff will allow substantive reform of the provision of public oral healthcare services to all ages to commence.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (142)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:142. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 686 of 11 October 2022, if the position of chief health and social care professionals' officer will be established in his Department, following comments made by the Secretary General of his Department at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 28 September 2022 (details supplied); the timeline that he is working towards in bringing this expertise into his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Officials are currently finalising a job description to bring additional expertise from Health and Social Care Professionals to the Department. This role will be advertised in the coming weeks with a view to having the successful applicant in place in Q1 of 2023 subject to their availability to start.
Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 135.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (144)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:144. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the new capacity planned for the coming year in clearing waiting lists within the public system and through the NTPF; the estimated number of additional outpatient first-time consultations and the number of additional procedures which will be facilitated in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51944/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan was launched on 25 February this year following extensive engagement between my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
The Action Plan allocated €350m of funding for 45 actions to reduce and reform waiting lists across four main areas of work: delivering capacity, reforming scheduled care, enabling scheduled care reform, and addressing community care access and waiting lists.
The Waiting List Task Force, co-chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and the CEO of the HSE, is currently focused on overseeing and driving delivery of this Action Plan. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and ED pressures, which have negatively impacted scheduled care activity in our hospitals this year, the priority for the HSE and NTPF is to deliver as much activity as possible to reduce waiting times and the number of people waiting for acute scheduled care by year-end.
New capacity to further reduce waiting lists in 2023, along with associated estimates on the number of additional appointments and procedures expected to be delivered next year, will be developed as part of agreeing the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
The most critical health priority for 2023 is to ensure the full delivery of this new Waiting List Action Plan which will include: short-term measures to address acute scheduled care waiting list backlogs; priority actions in relation to Obesity/Bariatrics, Spina Bifida/Scoliosis and Gynaecology; as well longer-term reforms to enhance capacity and streamline and reconfigure acute scheduled care pathways.
For 2023, funding of €443 million has been allocated to tackle Waiting Lists. This includes:
- €123 million in funding for delivery of the Waiting List Action Plan, including priority areas such as Obesity/Bariatrics, Spina Bifida/Scoliosis and Gynaecology, as well as progressing longer-term reforms to sustainably enhance capacity. Other actions in the Action Plan will streamline and reconfigure care pathways.
- €150 million for the NTPF to procure additional capacity to reduce waiting lists.
- €90m for additional short-term measures to address acute scheduled care waiting list backlogs.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (145)
Seán Canney
Ceist:145. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the plans that he is putting in place to deliver the specialist neurology required to meet the current demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51146/22]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (146)
James Lawless
Ceist:146. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to expand endoscopy services in Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52430/22]
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.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (147)
Gary Gannon
Ceist:147. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the reason that some persons who are diagnosed with lifelong conditions which render them eligible for a medical card often have to re-apply for a medical card. [50747/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (148)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:148. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a locum audiologist will be put in place in Kerry to cover the public audiologist currently on maternity leave; if he will detail the impact this uncovered leave has had on the waiting list and provide data regarding the current numbers on the list in Kerry including waiting times for those on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52365/22]
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 (149)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:149. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide timelines for the expected publication of a report (details supplied) and any other details, further to his acknowledgement that he received the report concerning the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52165/22]
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.
As the Deputy is aware, the Report of the Expert Advisory Group was submitted to me in September and I am now giving consideration to its 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: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8beb5-ministers-for-health-establish-the-public-health-reform-expert-advisory-group/
Health Services
Ceisteanna (150)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:150. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the vacant positions currently in primary care in counties Cavan and Monaghan for children waiting for occupational therapy, speech and language support and psychology services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50499/22]
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 (151)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:151. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the engagements that his Department has had with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, the HSE and the Higher Education Authority since July 2020 to identify skills shortages in health and social care and the need for additional further and higher education courses in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52463/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Health and Social Care workforce planning and ensuring a sufficient supply of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government. My department is committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce and to support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
Officials from my Department engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the HSE, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders including the Irish Medical Schools and Higher Education Institutions to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of our health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
Ongoing discussions between both Departments are in relation to increasing domestic supply on health-related courses such as medicine, nursing and health and social care disciplines in the short term to medium term, through the immediate provision of additional places, and the longer-term planning being undertaken around future skills needs in the context of future demand for health and social care services.
Working collaboratively with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the higher education sector, we have already made good progress in putting in place a multi-annual plan to deliver more medical places. In July, Government approved an agreement between the Department of Health and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Medical Schools to phase in an increase of 200 additional Irish/EU medicine places. The first phase has seen an additional 60 places offered in September 2022. The Medical Schools and both Departments have agreed to explore the potential to maximise the phasing in of these places in the coming years.
Further permanent additional places on healthcare disciplines were announced in July, including 135 places on nursing programmes commencing from September 2022. Significant engagement is ongoing between my department, NMBI and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to a sustainable introduction of further additional places on nursing programmes.
The availability clinical placement supports are key enablers of this expansion, and engagement across my Department, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the HSE and Higher Education Sector is ongoing. The Department of Health is continuing to work closely with officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science on other emerging workforce planning requirements including the provision of appropriate clinical placements for Health and Social Care Professionals. A workshop on clinical placement issues is planned in the coming weeks and will involve the HSE and higher education providers.
Health and social care courses are by their nature complex in delivery. Securing appropriate long-term clinical placements is a key element in unlocking additional provision. It is important that any increases in places are introduced in a sustainable way so that Higher Education Institutions can build appropriate staffing capacity.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (152)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:152. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being considered in the short-term to alleviate current long wait times in the accident-and-emergency department of Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52438/22]
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 (153)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:153. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there have been any official studies into vaping and young persons and the effects of vaping on them. [51648/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At the request of the then Minister for Health, the Health Research Board carried out evidence reviews on the health harms and possible benefits of electronic cigarettes, on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation and on whether e-cigarette use leads to subsequent smoking in adolescents. The evidence reviews were published in October 2020 and found that:
- Electronic cigarettes are not harmless to users, but there is evidence that they are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes.
- Electronic cigarettes appear to be as effective as nicotine replacement therapies for assisting smoking cessation for an observed period of up to 6 months. Further study is required to determine their effectiveness over a longer period.
- There appears to be an association between the use of electronic cigarettes and subsequent smoking among adolescents.
The reviews highlighted the need for further research to establish the long-term health effects of electronic cigarettes. My Department monitors, on an ongoing basis, the emerging international research and evidence in relation to these products.
The prevalence of electronic cigarette use amongst young people is monitored via the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) and the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study (HBSC), which both take place every four years. Additionally, the annual Healthy Ireland Survey records the prevalence in the population aged fifteen and above.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (154)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:154. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will reintroduce a 24/7 ShannonDoc service in Thurles, which has not resumed post-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52119/22]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (155)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:155. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the community rehabilitation teams in CHO6 and CHO7; the locations in which each team is based; the numbers of staff, in WTE terms, approved for each team; the numbers currently assigned to each team; the number of vacant positions on each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52163/22]
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 (156)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:156. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of nurses currently on sick leave; the number who cite stress as the reason for their leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51705/22]
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 (157)
Gino Kenny
Ceist:157. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are on the CAMHS waiting list nationally; the number waiting for care for over 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52401/22]
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.
Pharmacy Services
Ceisteanna (158)
Aindrias Moynihan
Ceist:158. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider expanding pharmacist services currently provided, in order to aid in alleviating the pressures currently experienced with GP services and hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52437/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise the significant role that community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care. Indeed, community pharmacists have played a central role in the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout – the largest ever undertaken by the State.
I also acknowledge the vital role that community pharmacy will play in the development and implementation of future healthcare reform, especially in regard to the aims and vision of Sláintecare.
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (159)
Marc Ó Cathasaigh
Ceist:159. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the next steps that his Department will take in the development of a national diabetes register given that funding has been provided under Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Budget 2023 provides funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, including commencing the development of a National Diabetes Register.
As part of the budget process, a business case was received by the Department setting out the proposal for the delivery of the registry. My Department and HSE National Clinical Programme for Diabetes are currently engaged in preparatory work for phase 1 of the multi-year development of a National Diabetes Register.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (160)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:160. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the range and nature of services available to Louth-based adults and children at hospitals; if there are plans to improve the diabetes service currently serving adults and children in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51615/22]
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.