Paul Murphy
Ceist:301. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to cancel the debt of a person (details supplied) who will be unable to pay their hospital bill. [58510/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Charges
Ceisteanna (301)
Freagraí scríofa
Patient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the HSE’s annual National Service Plan. These charges typically include out-patient charges; in-patient charges; and long-term stay charges.Certain cohorts of people may be exempt from some or all of these charges.In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private in-patient charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (302)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:302. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitalisations for children and older adults afflicted with respiratory syncytial virus infection, recorded by hospital and month from September to February in each of the years 2019 to 2021, and from September to date in 2022, in tabular form. [58514/22]
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 Promotion
Ceisteanna (303)
Francis Noel Duffy
Ceist:303. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied); his views on the request by the organisations to ban all online marketing of junk food and drinks, extend the broadcast watershed for junk food ads to 9pm and to remove junk food advertisements from State-owned transport, buildings and other public infrastructure. [58542/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The WHO European Regional Obesity Report, published earlier this year, warns of the serious health risks associated with rising levels of obesity. In the European Region, overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions, with prevalence levels higher among males (63%) than among females (54%). In Ireland, overweight and obesity pose an increasing challenge, with one in five children and almost 60% of the adult population now living with overweight or obesity, according to the Healthy Ireland Survey, 2019. The Healthy Ireland Survey,2022 is due to be published in the coming weeks and will provide an update on overweight and obesity levels in Ireland, after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The policy instrument for addressing obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016, under the umbrella of the Healthy Ireland Framework, our national policy for health and wellbeing in Ireland.
The OPAP covers a 10-year period, up to 2025, and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Implementation of the OPAP is overseen by a cross-sectoral and cross-Departmental group, the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG), chaired by the Department of Health. Deliverables under the OPAP are also reflected in a number of key policy documents, including the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan and the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan (HI SAP).
The OPAP recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted issue and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. This is also emphasised by the 2022 WHO European Regional Report. The OPAP also includes most of the recommended policy actions in the WHO 2022 report. Childhood obesity is a key priority under the OPAP, as is reducing the inequalities underlying obesity rates, where children (and adults) from lower socioeconomic groups have not only higher levels of obesity but are also facing challenges in accessing healthy food in the current cost of living crisis. Many initiatives and policies which address different aspects of the complexity of obesity have been developed and progressed over the last number of years. A review of the OPAP is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks, alongside an evaluation of the OPAP undertaken by the Centre for Health and Diet Research, University College Cork for the Department of Health.
In relation to the issues around advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods aimed at children, significant work is ongoing at both EU and national levels to restrict such marketing.
At an EU level, since 2020, Ireland and Portugal have co-led a Work Package on Restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and adolescents under the EU Joint Action “Best ReMaP” (Best practices in Reformulation, Marketing and public Procurement), working with 15 other Member States which is due to complete its work in 2023. This includes proposing a revised WHO Nutrient Profiling Model for use throughout Europe in implementing the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive. This model will also be used in the EU Codes of Practise templates, adaptable by Member States, for use with non-broadcast media, including digital media; product placement (including multi-buy options) and sponsorship. As part of this Work Package, a Digital Media Monitoring Framework is being developed for EU-wide use.
Member States have also recently established National Intersectoral Working Groups, to facilitate the implementation of the food marketing tools developed by the Joint Action Best-ReMaP and the integration of policies into national legislation after the end of the Joint Action.
An EU Protocol aimed at monitoring unhealthy food marketing to children is well underway which is expected to draw on existing WHO Protocols, address gaps that may exist, and create substantive guidance and hands-on materials to support MS and institutions wishing to carry out food marketing monitoring.
The EU Framework for Action is the final deliverable of the Joint Action Best-ReMaP Work Package 6, expected to be finalized by September 2023. This framework will contain all the tools developed by the Work Package, including the WHO/EU harmonized Nutrient Profiling Model, the EU coordinated monitoring protocol and technical guidance to implement best practices when restricting marketing of unhealthy foods to children as mentioned above.
With regard to current rules in Ireland regarding advertising, sponsorship, product placement and other forms of commercial promotion aimed at children or broadcast in or around children’s programming, these are contained in the Childrens’ Commercial Communications Code (CCCC). This is a statutory broadcasting code issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
In relation to specific legislation which seeks to address the promotion of “junk food”, my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaelteacht, Sport and Media, is currently bringing a Bill through the Oireachtas which will do just this. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022, which has completed all stages in the Seanad and has passed the first three stages in the Dáil, will dissolve the BAI and establish a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.
Under the Bill, broadcasting codes will ultimately be superseded by media service codes, which will apply to both video-on-demand and broadcasting services. Furthermore, An Coimisiún will be enabled to make online safety codes which apply to designated online services, such as video-sharing platform services (e.g. YouTube). Similar to broadcasting codes such as the CCCC, media service and online safety codes may provide for the regulation of commercial communications relating to foods or beverages which may be the subject of public concern in respect of the general public health interests of children. The consultation process for a new CCCC is expected to be undertaken by the new Media Commission, Coimisiún na Meán, following the enactment of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. As the Department responsible for public health policy, the Department of Health would expect to contribute to, and be consulted on, the making of any codes by Coimisiún na Meán relating to the advertisement of food or beverages at children.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (304)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:304. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 842 of 5 July 2022, if he will provide details on the way that a person (details supplied) can make a payment to buy-back optional service from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58543/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this issue is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (305)
Francis Noel Duffy
Ceist:305. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent withdrawal of the primary care paediatric courier services from general practice surgeries (details supplied) to CHI Crumlin via St. James's Hospital for the processing of samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58551/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this issue, as soon as possible.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (306)
David Cullinane
Ceist:306. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers Bill 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58554/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care’. Work is ongoing within the Department to progress this commitment and is currently developing a regulatory framework for home-support providers with the aim of ensuring that all service-users are provided with high-quality care. This framework will comprise primary legislation for the licensing of providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations (minimum requirements), and HIQA national standards. On 27 April 2021, Government gave approval to the Minister for Health to draft a General Scheme and Heads of Bill to establish a licensing framework for home-support providers. The Heads of Bill are currently being drafted, and it is intended to bring this legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest opportunity. A Regulatory Impact Analysis is being progressed by the Department to ensure effectiveness and mitigate risks.In tandem to this, draft regulations setting out the minimum requirements a home support provider must meet to obtain a license are also at an advanced stage. The Department has completed a targeted stakeholder consultation which has amended the draft regulations further. This has been enhanced by regular discussions with HIQA, HSE, Provider and Service User representative groups and legal expertise assisting with legal text and interpretation of core issues, such as capacity legislation, employment laws and health and safety issues. A seven-week public consultation concluded on 4 August. The Institute of Public Health are analysing responses and a report on the findings of the public consultation is currently being prepared for the Department of Health. In addition to this, HIQA are in the process of developing standards for home care and home support services which will be the focus of a public consultation early next year.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (307)
David Cullinane
Ceist:307. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed national office for home support; the way that this will align with regional health areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58555/22]
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 (308)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:308. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the action plan for the disability capacity review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58561/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032 and it is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period. This reflects the obligation under the UNCRPD for progressive implementation of social, cultural and economic rights.
In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services. This group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan, which will be an implantation plan for the first phase, is currently being finalised for approval.
In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (309)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:309. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in issuing the Covid bonus payment to all eligible staff not directly employed by the HSE; if he will outline the specific steps that he has taken in the past three months to address this impasse; the steps that he will take to ensure that all outstanding payments are issued before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58560/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
First, I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. To date, over 124,000 workers have received the payment, and payments to eligible HSE and Section 38 staff are substantially complete.
Certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees are also covered by the Government Decision, and efforts are underway to ensure an efficient and expeditious rollout to these staff. These include 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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The HSE and KOSI Corp are currently progressing the rollout to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above. Information on the process involved has now been provided by the HSE and KOSI Corp to relevant organisations. I am pleased to confirm that payments to employers of eligible staff are rolling out, including to private nursing homes, with funding transfers underway, and these employers will then pass on the payments to their eligible staff.
The Department of Health has transferred funding to the Department of Defence and Dublin City Council to enable payments to eligible staff in cohorts 5 and 6 above, and payments to these staff are being arranged by their respective employers.