Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:535. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when the family of a person (details supplied) can expect to receive their care plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56321/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Services
Ceisteanna (535)
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.
Health Strategies
Ceisteanna (536)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:536. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of a new cardiovascular disease strategy; if a strategy will be published by his Department in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56324/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives.The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to recommend configuration for a national adult cardiac service to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults and considers cardiac diagnostic procedures such as echocardiogram. The COVID-19 Pandemic impacted on the progress of the review during 2020 and into 2021 as the Chair of the Cardiac Services Review has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response. Substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services since the Steering Group reconvened in September 2021 and it is currently in its concluding stages. The final Steering Group meeting was held in October and recommendations are now finalised. The Report is being prepared to send to the Minister for his consideration.
Health Strategies
Ceisteanna (537)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:537. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his Department will be drawing down funding under the EU joint action on diabetes and cardiovascular disease scheme; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56325/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The EU4Health Programme mandates a wide range of support to health policies and actions. The EU4Health annual work plans are structured around four overarching strands – crisis preparedness, health promotion & disease prevention, health systems & healthcare workforce, and digital – with a cross-cutting priority on cancer. My department participates actively in the EU4Health Steering Group and Programme Committee, and together with its aegis bodies including the Health Service Executive and Health Research Board, works to bring possible support measures under EU4Health to the attention of health authorities and eligible stakeholders.
Participation in the 2022 EU4Health Programme joint action on diabetes and cardiovascular disease initiatives remain under consideration by officials in my department.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (538)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:538. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a rescheduled date for ENT procedures at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin will be given for a child (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56337/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Under 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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (539)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:539. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of staff hired in each CDNT in 2022, in tabular form. [56344/22]
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 (540)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:540. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of staff hired across all therapies in each CHO and LHO, in tabular form. [56345/22]
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 (541)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:541. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged 0 to 18 years of age who are waiting for first-time intervention in all areas of early intervention in each CHO, by individual area and by each composite LHO within each CHO; the number on the public list; the number on the children's disability network team list in each CHO in tabular form; and the length of time that they are awaiting intervention by age. [56346/22]
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 Facilities
Ceisteanna (542)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:542. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds, broken down by acute, non-acute and ICU beds, which are currently in place in HSE-run hospitals; the corresponding figures for 8 February 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56350/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is a service matter, so please refer to the HSE for direct reply.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (543)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:543. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when the new chronic disease management hub will become fully operational in County Clare; the location, functions and staffing details of the hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56351/22]
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 (544)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:544. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56355/22]
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 (545)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:545. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56357/22]
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.
Pharmacy Services
Ceisteanna (546)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:546. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the number of pharmacies that do not employ any full-time pharmacists, and are thus solely reliant on locums, which is pushing up demand for casual work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and regulation of pharmacies and pharmacists in the State. The PSI maintains the Registers of Pharmacists and Pharmacies, as part of its remit and in the interest of public health and safety.
The PSI has been keeping my Department updated on reported workforce issues. Through the PSI’s work and engagement with registrants and wider stakeholders, the PSI is aware of apparent acute workforce issues, particularly in relation to community pharmacy. The existing workforce challenges are there, despite the fact that there are increasing numbers of registered pharmacists joining the Register. As of 11 November 2022, there were 7,020 pharmacists registered to practise in Ireland. This is the largest number on the pharmacist register in Ireland to date (the number at the end of 2021 was 6,845). As of 1 November 2022 there were 1,980 pharmacies registered with the PSI. The majority of these are pharmacies in community settings.
The Pharmacy Act 2007 established the current governance requirements for pharmacies – this includes the roles known as superintendent pharmacist and supervising pharmacist, each with a distinct role and responsibility within a pharmacy. Each registered pharmacy is required to have both a named supervising and superintendent pharmacist in place. The superintendent pharmacist, who must have a minimum of three years post-registration experience, is responsible for the overall professional policy and clinical management of a pharmacy. A pharmacy may only legally be open if there is a registered pharmacist present on the premises.
Reports to the PSI indicate that there has been an increase in the number of pharmacists choosing to work in a locum, rather than full-time employment, capacity. This has a knock-on impact on pharmacist vacancies, and potentially on continuity and consistency of service. That said, there are roles and responsibilities that apply to all pharmacists in patient-facing roles, regardless of employment status. The PSI wrote to pharmacist registrants in July this year highlighting key professional considerations for all pharmacists in the current environment and noting the increased numbers of pharmacists operating as locums.
The PSI has also been liaising with other stakeholders, including the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), on efforts being taken within the sector to understand and address this current problem. In June of this year, pharmacists were added to the Critical Skills Occupations List by the Minister of State for Business Employment and Retail.
The PSI is not involved in the recruitment of pharmacists, but as the regulator has committed to examining the topic of the pharmacist workforce to support the pharmacy sector in contributing in the development of an integrated healthcare system. It is aware through its work and through reports from stakeholders, of an increasing risk to the continued availability of a pharmacist workforce, with the concern being that the issue may be exacerbated into the future. In response, the PSI is undertaking a project examining ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’. This is a complex problem with many contributing factors, and multiple stakeholders, and the PSI project is taking a medium to long-term view of the matter. Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. The aim of the project is to gather robust data for Ireland, as this is needed to be able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. It will be on the basis of gathering and analysing this up-to-date, robust and relevant data, that recommendations can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs for a pharmacist workforce in the future, as Ireland’s healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.
My officials will continue to liaise with PSI on developments relating to this important issue.
Pharmacy Services
Ceisteanna (547)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:547. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 149 pharmacies (details supplied) do not have a nominated supervising pharmacist as per the PSI registers which is a position required by law for each pharmacy; given that many of these vacancies are long-standing, this put the responsibilities of the supervising pharmacist on to locums and support staff, if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this breaches the Pharmacy Act 2007 and is not in line with good practice; the actions that his Department will take to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56359/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Thank you for your question. In responding to your query, I have engaged with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the statutory regulatory authority responsible for the regulation of the practice and profession of pharmacy in this State.
As of 1 November 2022, there were 1,980 pharmacies registered with the PSI and named in the Register of Pharmacies. This Register is contemporaneous and there are changes to personnel updated on a daily basis. Of this number, there are currently just under 140 pharmacies having vacancies for supervising pharmacies (c. 7% of registered pharmacies). The PSI monitors the situation and vacancies on an ongoing basis with each pharmacy. PSI is also aware from its monitoring and engagement activities with those pharmacies, that these entities are involved in recruitment processes to fill the vacancies that have arisen. As part of its monitoring activity, PSI has established an escalation process to assure safety within pharmacies is being maintained where vacancies occur.
The requirement for all pharmacies to nominate a supervising pharmacist is provided for in section 28(b) of the Pharmacy Act 2007. This section requires that where the business is carried on by a corporate body:
“(b ) that, at the premises where the business is carried on or, if there are two or more of those premises, at each of them, there is a registered pharmacist who has a 3 years minimum post-registration experience in whole-time charge of the carrying on of the business there.’
This registered pharmacist is referred to as the supervising pharmacist. All pharmacies are also required to have in place a superintendent pharmacist, who must also have three years of post-registration experience and who is responsible for the overall professional policy and clinical management of a pharmacy. This person may hold this role for more than one pharmacy. It is also worth pointing out that from a patient safety perspective, a pharmacy may only legally be open if there is a registered pharmacist present on the premises.
The PSI as the regulator is currently undertaking a project examining ‘Emerging Risks to the Future Pharmacy Workforce’. This is a complex problem with many contributing factors, and multiple stakeholders, and the PSI project is taking a medium to long-term view of the matter. Workforce challenges are being experienced in other sectors nationally, and in the pharmacy sector in a range of other countries. The aim of the project is to gather robust data for Ireland, as this is needed to be able to determine the current landscape, assess future health system needs and understand existing sectoral challenges now and into the future. It will be on the basis of gathering and analysing this up-to-date, robust and relevant data, that recommendations can be proposed to address Ireland’s needs for a pharmacist workforce in the future, as Ireland’s healthcare system evolves, and in the context of Sláintecare implementation.
My officials will continue to liaise with PSI on developments relating to this important issue.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (548)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:548. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56361/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (549)
Michael Ring
Ceist:549. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a speech and language therapy position (details supplied) that has been vacant since August 2021 will be filled in view of the detrimental effect it is having on children living in that area who cannot access regular speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56365/22]
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.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (550)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:550. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who are clinically discharged but who are in hospital; the number of patients who are clinically discharged in hospital for six months or less, between six months and one year, between one year and 18 months, between 18 months and two years and for more than two years. [56374/22]
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 (551)
Ged Nash
Ceist:551. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will provide services to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56402/22]
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.