Written Answers Nos. 571-588
571. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number of private residents, that is, non-healthcare workers, who have completed a course of training certified by PHECC under SI 449 2015, in order that they may hold and administer adrenaline in community settings, as was intended by the 2015 measure. [56555/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for standards, training and education in pre-hospital emergency care, including in the administration of medicinal products. Accordingly, I have asked PHECC to respond directly to the Deputy in the matter, as soon as possible.
572. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has spoken formally with his UK counterpart since their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56556/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI very much welcome the recent appointment of the new UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay MP; at this stage we have not had occasion to speak formally. However, there is ongoing cooperation with the UK, between officials, on health-related matters.
573. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of nurses who are advanced nurse practitioners by 2.5%; the increased number of nurses becoming an advanced nurse practitioner that this would involve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56557/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, in November 2021 I requested that the number of nurses and midwives practicing at an advanced level across the health service be increased from 2% of the workforce to 3% over the next two / three years. A target of 2% had been previously recommended in The Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice (Department of Health, 2019).
At the end of September 2022, there was a total of 42,657 whole time equivalents in the nursing and midwifery workforce. Based on this, increasing the number of advanced nurse and midwife practitioners by 2.5% would result in an additional 1,066 whole time equivalents. The salary cost per post would be €73,872 ( based on the mid-point of the scale as at 1 October, 2021 plus 11.05% for employers PRSI). Adding 10% for non pay overhead gives a figure of €81,259 per post with 1,066 posts costing €86,622M per annum. In addition, the education costs required for registration as a Registered Advanced Nurse or Midwife Practitioner are €6,000 per year (2-year requirement) for MSc Advanced Practice. Therefore, there is a once off education cost of €12,792M associated with the 1,066 uplift
On foot of the Budget 2022 provision of €11.9M there are now 149 new advanced practice posts which has brought the total number of nurses and midwives at advanced practice level to 880 or 2.06% of the current total estimated workforce of 42,657 whole time equivalents. Adding 1,066 to the 880 figure would result in a total of 1,946 (or 4.56%) of the nursing and midwifery workforce working at advanced practice level.
574. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to establish a day care centre for older persons in Youghal, County Cork; the timelines for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56566/22]
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.
575. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 20 October 2022, if he will confirm if the health and social care professional role that he intends to establish in his Department will be at the level of chief officer; the timeline that he is working towards in advertising this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56580/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials are currently finalising a job description for this role 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.
576. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 561 of 14 September 2022 and 169 of 22 June 2022, the reason for the delay in the payment of the pandemic recognition payment to eligible staff of private nursing homes; when the payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56585/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
577. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in whose deaths the drug pregabalin was implicated since 2010, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56590/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is the national epidemiological database on drug and alcohol-related deaths and indirect deaths among people with a lifetime history of using drugs and/or were alcohol dependent, in Ireland. It was established so that the State can respond in a timely manner with accurate data on drug and alcohol-related mortality.
The NDRDI is jointly funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, and is maintained by the Health Research Board. The latest data available is for 2017, as data collection for 2018-2019 was delayed due to Covid-19. It is expected that data for 2018-2019 will be available in early 2023.
There were 376 drug poisoning deaths in 2017. Prescribable drugs (such as Pregabalin) were implicated in the majority (67%) of these deaths. Over half (58%) of poisoning deaths involved polydrugs. Polydrug use is a significant risk factor for fatal overdose.
There were 45 Pregabalin implicated poisoning deaths in 2017, a decline from 66 in 2016. Other drugs used in drug poisonings along with Pregabalin included methadone, diazepam, alcohol and heroin.
Further information on drug-related deaths, including the number of poisoning deaths in which pregabalin was implicated, is available here - National Drug-Related Deaths Index 2008 to 2017 data (hrb.ie).
|
Year |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
||
|
Pregabalin |
<5 |
<5 |
<5 |
14 |
27 |
50 |
66 |
45 |
It is a strategic priority for the remaining years of the national drugs strategy to develop integrated care pathways and harm reduction responses for high-risk drug users so as to achieve better health outcomes for people who are homeless, offenders, stimulant users and injecting drug-users.
High-risk drug users have complex health and social care needs that make them vulnerable to drug overdose and pre-mature death. Integrated care pathways are required to deliver the best outcomes for this cohort, that connect care settings between GPs, primary/community care providers, community specialist teams and hospital-based specialists.
I am committed to reducing and preventing drug-related deaths. These deaths are a tragic loss of life and cause grief and devastation for families. Reducing drug-related deaths is a key outcome indicator for the national drugs strategy.
579. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on when a new national sexual health strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS) was launched in October 2015. It takes a life course approach, acknowledging the importance of developing a healthy attitude to sexuality in young people and of building on that foundation for positive sexual health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age. The Strategy has been extended to the end of 2022, in order to account for the various impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on previous timelines. Current priority deliverables under the Strategy are HIV prevention, including the continued expansion of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) programme, which commenced in late 2019, and the HIV Fast Track Cities programme, involving Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. Other key areas of work include expanding access to contraception, free of charge; expanding sexually transmitted infection (STI) services, progressing a population survey on sexual health and improving sexual health education, training and resources, including in schools, higher and further education. A review of the Strategy commenced in 2021, having been postponed as a result of the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Focus group meetings were held with key stakeholders, including clinical and public health staff, the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP) team, those working in STI clinics, the education sector, the Department of Health and Women’s Health Taskforce, the research and academic sector and organisations representing the LGBTI+ community. The detailed feedback from these meetings has been collated and will inform the future direction of the next iteration of the Strategy. An external review of the Strategy is currently being completed and will be published on the Healthy Ireland website, by the end of January 2023. The findings from this review will inform future policy direction and the Women's Health Taskforce will continue to provide input on matters relevant to women's health as the new policy is drafted and implemented. The recommendations of the Review will be taken into account during this process. It is intended to publish the new Strategy in Q4 2023.
580. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department’s progress in making hepatitis C a rare disease by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56597/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs responsibility for the treatment of Hepatitis C is under the remit of the National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme (NHCTP), I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
581. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way in which non-HSE and section 39 workers who worked in healthcare settings during the Covid-19 pandemic, but no longer work in the role, will be able to apply for their pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56614/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
582. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the staff turnover for CDNTs in St. Columba's Armagh Road, Dublin 12 and Brú Chaoimhín, Cork Street, Dublin 8, since established. [56625/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
583. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if there is a common policy in relation to staff absence for sick or statutory leave; if cover is provided; and if not, if services and therapies are cancelled. [56626/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployees of the public health service are encompassed by the terms of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme in respect of absence due to illness. In respect of other leave policies, you may find the HSE Terms and Conditions of Employment guide for staff of interest, which can be viewed online here healthservice.hse.ie/staff/benefits-and-services/hr-forms/terms-and-conditions-of-employment/.
In respect of cover in the case of illness or other statutory leave, this is a service based decision, and as such, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.
584. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the perception among the families of service users that there is a higher level of sick leave among the therapists in CDNT 3 as compared to CDNT 1; if the causes of same have been identified; if this is due to stress, additional workload due to staff shortages or the work environment; and the steps that can be taken to ensure that both CDNTs are fully staffed with required cover to ensure delivery of services. [56627/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
585. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to the provision of support for a vital service for children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56634/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has received details of the proposed development from the organisation the Deputy refers to and has met with them in this regard.
My Department is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders to explore what role it can play in supporting the work of this initiative, including assessing what funding options are available to help support the delivery of these services to children and their families.
586. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied). [56637/22]
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.
587. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the low availability of GP provision in the Carrickmacross area; the steps that he is taking to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56649/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,529 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of November 2022, 27 GMS panels (or just over 1%) are vacant, including one panel in Monaghan town. This vacancy is currently being advertised and locum cover is in place to ensure continuity of service. There are no GMS vacancies in the Carrickmacross area.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.
In addition, a steady increase has been seen in the number of doctors entering GP training over recent years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
588. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive an urgent appointment to meet with an orthopaedic surgeon, given the particular set of circumstances. [56662/22]
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.
