Patrick O'Donovan
Ceist:340. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61580/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Funding
Ceisteanna (340)
Freagraí scríofa
While the vast majority of health funding is dispersed by the HSE, my Department funds a number of initiatives directly. The table below sets out the payments made in 2022 under these initiatives to organisations in Limerick.
|
Organisation |
Purpose of Funding |
Amount (€) |
|
Limerick County Council |
Sláintecare Local Development Officer 2022 |
35,956 |
|
Limerick County Council |
Sláintecare Local Development Officer 2023 |
37,500 |
|
Limerick and Clare Education |
Drugs Programmes |
147,982 |
|
University of Limerick |
Student bursaries |
9,000 |
|
Limerick County Council |
Period Poverty Mitigation Pilot Projects |
10,000 |
|
Limerick County Council |
Ukrainian Refugee Fund 2022 |
38,100 |
|
Limerick County Council |
Slaintecare Health Communities Seed Funding |
75,000 |
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (341)
David Cullinane
Ceist:341. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will implement a public-only consultant contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61589/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to confirm that the Government has now approved the public-only hospital consultant contract. The contract reflects extensive engagement between the Department of Health (DoH), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA). The representative bodies will now consider the proposals through their respective processes.
Implementation of the contract will result in the removal of private care from public hospitals and ensure that patients receive care on the basis of need rather than ability to pay within the public system. It will also support the delivery of care over an extended day Monday to Friday and on Saturdays with consultants present and delivering patient care when demand is highest.
The terms of the contract will also help us recruit more consultants. While we now employ 3,800 consultants in the public system, an increase of 1,300 over the last 10 years, we want to continue to build our consultant numbers to provide a better-quality service for patients, and to improve the work life balance of consultants.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (342)
David Cullinane
Ceist:342. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will appoint a new CEO for the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61590/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The final round of interviews are being held on December 14th and I expect the recommendation of the Boards preferred candidate on the same day. The goal remains to offer the post and receive confirmation from the successful candidate by month end.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (343)
David Cullinane
Ceist:343. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report into Cork University Maternity Hospital’s organ retention and disposal practices; when he will publish the human tissues Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the 18 families in Cork who have been directly impacted by this incident. I know that the Health Service Executive (HSE), South/South West Hospital Group, Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital have apologised to the bereaved families and very much regret the incident occurred.
The HSE shared the final systems analysis review report with the affected families on Friday 25th November 2022 and published the report on the HSE website later the same day at www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/hospitals/systems-analysis-review-report.html.
The HSE advise that Cork University Hospital fully accepts the findings of the report, is committed to implementing the recommendations in full and has already commenced work in this regard.
Separately, Government approval for publication of the Human Tissue Bill was secured on 29 November 2022, and the Bill is expected to be published shortly.
The Bill is a composite piece of legislation that includes provisions around organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures in hospital settings, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death. Crucially, it embeds in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive areas.
Following publication, the Bill will begin the legislative process through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (344)
David Cullinane
Ceist:344. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will implement the European Commission recommendation that member states recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease if contracted by healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61592/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recently recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.
In Ireland, Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) is available for the recommended isolation period, for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments.
For those who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a temporary scheme, specific to the public health service has been developed to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.
The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and employees who meet the criteria for eligibility for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022.
I am advised by officials from the Department of Social Protection who operate the national Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, that Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and that they do not intend on revising this position.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (345, 352, 353)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will give a personal direction to ensure that patients with life-threatening illnesses are offered medical cards without incessant reviews on financial grounds or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61609/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:352. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that patients with serious life-threatening conditions have had their applications for a medical card approved with sufficient expediency given the nature of their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61616/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard Durkan
Ceist:353. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if patients with a life-threatening condition are likely to have their application for a medical card issued with sufficient expedition having regard to their medical needs and expected compassionate response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 352 and 353 together.
With regard to the Deputy’s request that I give a personal direction, 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.
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.
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.
I can advise the Deputy that the HSE has guidelines in place in relation to the provision of emergency medical cards to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. Instances where it would be appropriate to apply for emergency consideration include acute medical crises whereby access to services covered by medical card eligibility is required urgently and the client has no means to pay for same privately.
With the exception of terminally ill patients, all emergency medical cards granted are issued for 6 months on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship and will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the medical card eligibility. I am advised by the HSE that such medical cards are active on the system within 24 hours of the HSE National Medical Card Unit receiving a medical report and completed application form from a healthcare professional.
I can assure the Deputy that I endeavour to ensure that the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs. My Department keeps medical card issues under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (346)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a special winter plan to cater for the homeless or those who find themselves unable to meet the challenges of the winter months for whatever reason in such a way as to minimise the challenges they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a priority for this Government. The Housing for All plan commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government will approach this challenge.
The Department of Health is committed to maintaining and consolidating the enhanced healthcare services provide for people who are homeless during Covid-19.
In 2022, the Department of Health provided €10m in Covid funding to the HSE to maintain public health measures and to consolidate improvements in health services during the pandemic for people who are homeless. Under this funding, a total of 17 initiatives for the homeless population were funded as part of COVID-19 measures. This has included integrated care pathways for people who are homeless with chronic health needs, initiatives that provided temporary emergency accommodation, increased GP capacity at low threshold GP clinics, national social inclusion and public health support, and a number of other projects such as a 7 Day service to include a Homeless Clinical Lead, a Homeless Covid response coordination team who managed the Covid Response for the Winter Plan and a community mobile screening testing service and vaccination service for the homeless population.
In the HSE Winter Preparedness Plan for October 2022 - March 2023, €1.1m has been allocated to the delivery of enhanced services to support people to receive the best possible services to meet their needs. This includes a targeted vaccination programme and development of complex care packages for people who are homeless and other socially excluded groups experiencing severe health inequalities.
I have made the health needs of homeless persons a key priority and, with the Minister for Health, have provided additional resources for this purpose.
Hospital Overcrowding
Ceisteanna (347)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:347. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if adequate emergency beds can be provided wherever required but particularly in accident and emergency hospitals on call where ambulances are queuing up while awaiting the admission of a patient; if he will identify the precise steps required to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61611/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.