Written Answers Nos. 685-704
685. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will outline an updated plan to tackle the incidence of perinatal mental health illness in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53419/22]
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.
687. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if an official group has been established to review the codeine prescription processes; the membership of this group; the parameters of the group; the date of its establishment; and the date that the group will report back. [53433/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and its agencies are actively monitoring the evolving evidence in relation to codeine-containing medicines, including the merits of any necessary further steps to support the safe and effective use of these medicines.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority, the competent authority for medicines in Ireland, are currently conducting an independent review of the method of sale and supply of codeine-containing medicinal products that are currently available without a medical prescription.
Following its completion, the Department will engage with relevant stakeholders to assess the recommendations made, including the recent recommendations from the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), to fully consider any policy changes that may be required regarding the regulation of codeine-containing medicinal products.
688. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Ireland's proportionate spend on medicines which is decreasing in relation to other countries; if a process is in place to monitor same; if he will take steps to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53434/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Spending through the community drugs schemes is monitored and reported by the HSE’s Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS).
The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible, from the resources available to it. To make this possible, I have secured €23.4b in funding for our health services in Budget 2023. This is the third year in a row that funding has set a new record.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess a drug's clinical and cost effectiveness as a health intervention.
Multiple initiatives exist to try to ensure value for money in the medicines purchased. These include the Framework Agreements on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines 2021-2025, a set of Agreements negotiated with Industry to provide medicines for the HSE at sustainable prices. These are expected to lead to between €600m-700m less being spent on medicines over the course of the deals. The extra headroom provided by these deals will allow the HSE to do more with their resources.
The pipeline of new medicines coming to market remains strong and this government wants to secure fast access to medicines for our patients. Dedicated funding for new drugs was allocated in the past three budgets, totalling €98m. This has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for new drugs and new indications of existing drugs in a timely manner, with 52 approvals in 2021 and 46 to date in 2022.
689. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent treating patients abroad via the treatment abroad scheme with CART since 2019; the number of medicines for CART that were being assessed during this window; if consideration has been given to the way to increase the efficiency of this approvals process in view of this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53435/22]
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.
690. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to a bus service. [53439/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra691. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if funding is available for services (details supplied). [53440/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 690 and 691 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the immediate threat to service provision (details supplied) due to funding issues; the immediate plans that are in place to address these issues; the way in which the 59 families involved in this service will be kept informed and service continued for service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53441/22]
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.
693. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the review into the health service's response to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 well-being, 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 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: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8beb5-ministers-for-health-establish-the-public-health-reform-expert-advisory-group/
694. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of a surgery appointment for a person (details supplied). [53457/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
695. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if increased home help will be facilitated in the case a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53470/22]
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.
696. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in paying the Covid bonus to section 39 bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53472/22]
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.
regarding cohorts 1-4 The HSE tendered for an external provider to assist in setting up and implementing the process of gathering required information from the relevant employers to facilitate payment of the Pandemic Recognition Payment to their eligible staff.
The Department is aware that the deadline for the HSE's tender process on this matter was extended to 23 September.In accordance with public procurement guidelines, from the time a preferred tenderer is selected by the HSE, a standstill period of 14 days must be observed before any contract can come into effect.
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.
I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
699. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the measures that are in place to ensure that nursing homes are able to afford rising energy costs this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53482/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the specific challenges faced by the nursing homes sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. It is imperative that nursing homes manage potential cost pressures in line with their regulatory and contractual responsibilities, maintaining their quality of care so that residents’ lived experience and comfort is not affected.
The Government has provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €144 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) since its introduction in 2020. The Government has now agreed to extend TAPS to the end of the year by maintaining the availability of Outbreak Assistance support.Substantial additional supports have also been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.
Budget 2023 saw an additional €180 million of funding for services for older people for winter 2022 and into 2023, building on unprecedented increases of recent years. This will bring investment in these services to over €2.4 billion in 2023, including nearly €12 million of new developments. Prior to Budget Day I stated that my priority was to secure additional funding for Budget 2023 to ensure the continuation of all services to a high standard. Long-term residential care will be supported through additional funding for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) to maintain services and manage inflationary increases.
In addition, a significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based service providers who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country. This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs. These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community.
The details of the plan are being finalised. It is proposed that the inflation support fund will be administered by the HSE utilising the mechanisms in place for funding eligible organisations in receipt of Service Level Arrangements and Grant Aid Agreements. These arrangements are already in place with organisations that provide key health and social care services for people in Ireland. It is proposed that payments will be made to eligible organisations in the final quarter of 2022 to meet the pressures of this coming winter. Many eligible organisations may be already operating within a context of increased inflationary pressures.
For providers of long-term residential care who participate in the nursing home support scheme, funding will be allocated through the established mechanism of the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme. Precise details of the scheme are being finalised and will be communicated in the coming days.
To address strategic workforce challenges in the nursing home and home care sector, a Cross-Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) was established in March 2022 and published a report on October 15th outlining 16 key recommendations spanning the areas of recruitment and retention, pay and conditions and overall sectoral reform. I strongly endorse the Group’s recommendations to address the critical shortage of care workers in Ireland and a dedicated Implementation Group will start to progress these immediately.
Funding to support people to access services in the sector continues to be provided in line with the long-established statutory mechanisms under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. This is the mechanism established by the Oireachtas to provide for the processes relating to funding under the NHSS and the negotiation of prices for services for private and voluntary providers with the designated State agency, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Maximum prices for individual nursing homes are agreed with the NTPF following negotiations and based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home, local market prices, historic prices and overall budgetary capacity.
The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009. The NTPF has statutory independence, and there is no role for Ministers or the Department of Health in these negotiations. The Department of Health published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. It recommended several actions to improve the pricing system which are now being taken forward by the Department of Health and the NTPF.
700. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when a reply will issue to correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) concerning the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other neurological conditions; if he will provide an update on his Department's plans to implement the recommendations of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53491/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
701. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 203 of 12 October 2022, the breakdown of the allocations totalling €107.1 million bundled in line one cost-of-living by item in tabular form. [53498/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to Parliamentary Question No. 203 of 12 October 2022, Budget 2023 allocated funding of €254 million to the Department of Health in respect of New Service Developments. Within this, funding of €107 million was allocated in respect of Cost of Living measures, and the breakdown of this is as follows:
|
Details |
2023Non-PayCost |
|
€m |
|
|
Abolition of Acute Public Adult Inpatient Charges |
20.6 |
|
GP Visit Cards eligibility measures |
70.0 |
|
Extension of free contraception scheme |
5.9 |
|
Access to advanced Assisted Human Reproduction treatments |
10.6 |
|
TOTAL |
107.1 |
702. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the financial supports that were paid to individual nursing homes by his Department and the HSE, by name and location due to the effects of the Covid -19 pandemic since April 2020; if such payments have been subject to an audit; if so, if the audit has been or will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53501/22]
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.
703. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the number of children on CAMHS waiting lists from County Mayo and CHO2, respectively, in 2021 and to date in 2022; the length of time that each child has been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53512/22]
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.
704. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the future investment that will be provided in mental health service in primary care across County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53513/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion, which is another record budget for mental health services. This significant investment will enable implementation of many of the short and medium-term measures in our national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision. It will enhance the provision of mental health supports across a broad continuum from mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, and enable us to continue to deliver our vital services to as many people as possible, as we move into 2023.
As occurs each year following the Budget, discussions are taking place with the HSE on details relating to specific service initiatives in the context of preparing the HSE Service Plan 2023, including for Mental Health.
