Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours that will be provided for older people in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61353/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to home support is a priority for the Government. Since 2021 we have provided an additional €207 million in funding. Next year the overall homecare budget will be more than €700 million.
In 2022 the HSE’s National Service Plan provides for the overall delivery of over 24 million hours of home support nationally by year end. This includes 23.67 million hours of home support, a further 360,000 hours to be provided from Intensive Homecare Packages and 170,400 hours provided for the testing of the proposed Statutory Home support Scheme.
The latest available reported activity, which is preliminary, reflects the period to end of October 2022. As of this date, 17.56 million hours were delivered nationally to 56,210 people this year. This represents a 4% increase in service delivery compared to the same period last year. Also, as of this date, some 71,665 people have benefitted from a Home Support service so far this year.
The HSE has formally submitted the National Service Plan 2023 to my colleague Minister Donnelly for his approval. Once the Plan is approved, it must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of its approval. Once the Service Plan has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
22. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are registered as patients under the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61303/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) commenced in November 2021.
The programme was established to enable unlicenced cannabis-based products to be prescribed for patients suffering from:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions.
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes.
- Severe, refractory epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications.
There are currently 31 patients registered under the MCAP.
I would also like to make the deputy aware of the licensed product Epidyolex.
This is restricted to approved prescribers under the High Tech Arrangements.
Epidyolex is approved for reimbursement at the licensed dosages for the following indications for patients 2 years of age and older
- As adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (Epilepsy).
- As adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Dravet Syndrome (Epilepsy).
- As adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).
To date there are 172 patients reporting with High Tech prescriptions.
Finally, the Ministerial licence scheme commenced in late 2016 under guidelines issued by the CMO
278 Ministerial licences have issued to clinicians under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
75 individual patients have been treated with prescribed unlicenced cannabis-based products under the scheme.
Currently there are 39 patients using the scheme.
23. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of public health nurses in the south Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60614/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Health Nurses play an extremely valuable role within the community healthcare system and provide an extensive range of services. This valuable role was highlighted as many Public Health Nurses, along with other front-line staff, were redeployed to assist and lead the Covid-19 response, in turn having an impact on the capacity of the delivery of day-to-day services.
Since earlier this year, HSE Public Health Nursing staff have been able to return to core duties. This has seen the resumption of services, including child development checks nationwide.
However, in some parts of the country, including South Dublin, this post-pandemic resumption is challenged by acute and local shortages in the Public Health Nursing Service. These shortages are mainly due to reductions in the availability of staff due to retirement, internal movement and challenges in recruiting staff.
Where these recruitment challenges persist, the Public Health Nursing service is operating a prioritisation system for child development checks. The utilisation of prioritisation systems is temporary and localised.
I have been assured by the HSE that where shortfalls are arising, patients who have the greatest need in the community continue to be prioritised and supported.
Nationally, the HSE has established a Community Nursing Oversight Group to address Recruitment and Retention of Public Health Nurses and Community Registered General Nurses in Community Nursing Services. This group comprises stakeholders from across the community and nursing services of the HSE, and the Department of Health from a policy perspective.
Both I and my Department recognise the need to improve access to the wide range of services provided by public health nurses and will continue to proactively engage with, and support, the HSE to address these existing challenges in both the short-term and long-term.
24. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health the work that is being carried out by his Department to address the serious concerns that have arisen in respect of the implementation of the EU medical device directive. [53859/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew EU regulations on medical and in vitro diagnostic devices have been fully applicable as of May 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Their overarching objectives are to significantly strengthen the regulatory system, provide a framework that is robust, consistent and enhances public health by ensuring that medical devices are safe, perform as intended and afford benefits to patients and healthcare systems, whilst supporting innovation.
I am aware that one of these regulations’ core implementation challenge relates to capacity in certifying devices under the new framework. I wish to acknowledge the work led by the Commission over recent months in responding to this and the helpful update provided by Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, in her recent address to the European Parliament. I would like to reiterate the Commissioner’s statement that patient access to safe medical devices is essential. I welcome in particular, the Commission’s move towards looking at a targeted legislative amendment to avert the risk of device shortages.
I look forward to intervening on this this matter, at tomorrow’s EPSCO meeting of EU Health Ministers in Brussels, where the Commission will provide an update on this matter.
The full and effective application of these regulations remains a priority for my Department and I. We will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to address the challenges faced with the overall objective of ensuring that the benefits of these regulations are realised in practice.
25. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the chronic overcrowding in the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61226/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have witnessed the challenging conditions for patients and staff in the ED during recent visits to Limerick. At my request, the HSE’s Performance Management and Improvement Unit led an intensive engagement with UHL team members throughout the summer in response to my concerns about the ED performance and the findings of the HIQA report published in June. The PMIU’s ongoing engagement with the Hospital Group and CHO continues to support and oversee the implementation of initiatives to improve services in the region. These measures include a renewed focus on hospital avoidance, patient flow and discharge planning, and regular and frequent assessment of patients with long stays in hospital.
It is accepted that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. 150 additional beds have been opened in the UL Hospital Group since 1st Jan 2020 and 98 of these have been in UHL. In mid-October I broke ground on the new 96-bed inpatient block at UHL. This project consists of a 4-storey, 96 single bed acute inpatient ward and Renal Dialysis Units at UHL and has a total capital investment of just over €90 million.
Alongside the national Winter Plan, Limerick’s bespoke site-level plan focusses on local needs, including recruitment of ED staff, and integration between health services such as improving access to GP diagnostics.
26. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in CHO 7; the number of vacant positions for public health nurses in CHO 7; the current recruitment process in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the end of October, the total health service workforce stands at 136,092 WTE – that is a monthly increase of 848 WTE and a year-to-date (YTD) increase total of 3,769 WTE.
There are 15,493 (WTE) employed as Nurses & Midwives in combined community services, 1,495 (WTE) or 9.6% of which were Public Health Nurses. During the same period there are a total of 168 (WTE) employed as Public Health Nurses in CHO 7.
The Public Health Nurse Service is a Community based service aimed at promoting and protecting the health of the population. The service provided aims to be total quality service, which is responsive to consumer/patients needs, placing community based services as the central focus of patient and consumer needs.
The number of approved vacancies for Public Health Nurses is gathered once a year for the Student PHN Sponsorship Scheme and in April 2022 the total number of vacancies to be filled via the Sponsorship scheme were 237 (WTE). The 237 (WTE) includes new development posts and routine replacement posts.
A National Community Nursing Oversight Group has been established to address Recruitment and Retention of Public Health Nurses and Community RGNs in Community Nursing Services.
27. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the action that is being taken to address the provision of services for persons with long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very aware that Long COVID is having a devastating effect on people. To ensure people who need care will have access to it, the HSE has developed and is currently implementing a plan to provide Long COVID services nationally. 2.2 million has been allocated for 2022 and the investment in the service is due to treble to 6.6 million in 2023.
Implementation involves the expansion of existing services and the establishment of new services across a number of settings including GPs, community services and acute hospitals. The first priority is to ensure there are Post-Acute and Long COVID services operating within each hospital group.
I am advised by the HSE that to date, five Post-Acute COVID clinics have been established, and four Long COVID clinics have been established under the new Interim Model of Care. Recruitment, which includes consultants in the areas of infectious disease, respiratory medicine, psychiatry and neurology, allied health professionals, and clinical psychologists and administration is underway. As of 1 November 2022, 25 dedicated WTE had been recruited.
My Department and the HSE, will continue to review new national and international evidence, research and data on all aspects of COVID19 including Long COVID, as it emerges to inform service planning and delivery and ensure a national service is in place for all who need it .
29. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 132 of 20 October 2022, the status of the examination by his Department of the strategic assessment report regarding the new emergency department, ED, at University Hospital Galway; the expected timeline for the delivery of the new ED; the reasons for the delay in the delivery of the new ED, particularly in view of the expected timeline as set out in the 2019 options appraisal for model 4 hospital services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI’d like to acknowledge the difficult conditions for patients, families and healthcare staff working in University Hospital Galway.
I visited Galway earlier this year. It is clear that action is required there on multiple fronts and I am pleased to say that the interim ED opened in October 2022.
While improving service delivery capability, the interim ED will also serve as enabling works for the larger project; freeing up the site required for the proposed new block.
The review of the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposed Emergency Department (ED), Women and Children’s block at is progressing well.
I expect that this will be concluded in early 2023. Once the SAR review is completed, it will be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for review.
I am aware that the ED project has been discussed for over 10 years and was included in the Saolta Group’s 2019 Options Appraisal for Model 4 Hospital Services. The ambitious timelines in that report obviously could not predict the impact and delays arising from the pandemic, nor the wider impacts on the construction sector, including the impact of construction inflation.
However, one of the reasons that the project is still in development phase is that there has been a very significant increase in the scale and ambition for the solution there, with the combination of the new ED with the Women and Children’s block.
The proposals are now costed in the hundreds of millions and significantly more that those indicatively forecast in the 2019 report. As the Deputy will be aware, all projects proposed in excess of €100m must be subject to the full scrutiny of the Public Spending Code process to ensure that proposals continue to represent value for money for the taxpayer and the best solution to the underlying problems.
If DPER finds that the SAR provides a basis to proceed, approval to develop the proposal by means of a Preliminary Business Case at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code can be granted.
The proposal will then proceed through the various Decision Gates of the PSC as long as the proposal satisfies the requirements laid down in code.
Unfortunately, the timeline for the new ED, together with the Women and Children’s block, cannot estimated be made until after the completion of a tender competition and submission of the Final Business case to Government for approval.
30. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made by CHO 8 in Louth in 2022 to recruit and retain homecarers; the changes in the numbers of HSE-employed homecarers in the Louth area in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60541/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the shortage of care workers in Ireland is an urgent priority for the Government. To this end, I established the cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group in March 2022 to examine, and formulate recommendations to address, the challenges in frontline carer roles in the home support and long-term residential care sectors. The Report of the Advisory Group was published on 15 October 2022. The report presents a suite of 16 recommendations spanning the areas of areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development, sectoral reform, and monitoring and implementation.
I strongly endorse all of the Group's recommendations and can confirm that work towards their implementation has commenced. I will be closely monitoring this implementation on an on-going basis to ensure that the recommendations are enacted in a full and timely manner.
On the 30 November, Minister English and I announced that 1,000 General Employment Permits will be made available for home support workers from January 2023. As recommended by the Advisory Group, these permits will be for full-time positions with a minimum salary of €27,000 per year and a stipulated minimum continuous shift-length of four hours per working day. A 2 year contract of employment with a Home Care Provider is part of the permit requirement.
The HSE has advised my Department that there has been ongoing recruitment of Homecare Support Assistants (HCSA) within Louth as part of an overall CHO8 rolling recruitment campaign. This has resulted in 15 additional HCSAs commencing in Louth in 2022. An additional 6 HCSAs will commence in January 2023. The HSE has further advised that New HCSAs receive full 39 hour contracts and all HCSAs now have breaks and travel time built into their rosters.
31. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding medical card patients availing of dental appointments and procedures (details supplied); the measures that he is putting in place in respect of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61092/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. I recognise that there is a need to substantively review and reform the DTSS to align with best international evidence and practice, as outlined in the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte (2019).
Work has begun on this review and officials in my Department are engaging with stakeholders. I expect significant further progress to be made in 2023 and have made an unprecedented additional allocation of €15 million in Budget 2023 to support this work and enhance the provision of oral healthcare services next year. This is additional to the €148 million that is already provided for oral healthcare each year across the DTSS, the HSE Public Dental Service and orthodontic services provided by the HSE.
On top of this €15 million allocation, resources will also be made available in 2023 for new clinical leadership posts and for other supporting staff to allow substantive reform of the provision of public oral healthcare services to all ages to commence. The implementation plan for Smile Agus Sláinte will prioritise the alleviation of access issues for oral healthcare.
In recognition of the issues that have been experienced in some parts of the country in accessing oral healthcare, the €15m award includes €5 million to support the HSE to provide care to some of its patient cohorts in 2023, including adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still struggling to access a local dentist. This is intended to protect patient access to oral healthcare services while the transformative reform programme progresses.
These further measures come on top of a package of measures introduced from 1 May 2022 to expand the Scheme and increase the fees paid to contractors. The numbers of patients being seen, the numbers of treatments being provided and the number of claims being submitted under the DTSS have all increased in recent months.
32. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the European Commission is proposing that breast screening should be offered to women from the age of 45 years, rather than from the age of 50 as is the case here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61302/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about changes to our screening programmes, such as extending the age range eligibility of a cancer screening programme, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC).
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The NSAC recently published its work programme which includes the expansion of newborn bloodspot screening, as well the potential expansion of cancer screening programmes in Ireland. The NSAC's first Annual Call (2021) for proposals received a significant response with over 50 submissions received. Submissions on expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening were received from a number of sources, including the BreastCheck programme. The NSAC have asked HIQA to look at the evidence for the expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening to women between 45 and 74 years of age, and preliminary scoping work has begun.
Under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a Proposal for an updated European Council Recommendation on cancer screening is expected to be formally approved on 9 December 2022 and published thereafter. The NSAC will consider this recommendation and advise me and the Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland.
I wish to assure you that Ireland will also be actively engaged with the significant ongoing collaborative work at European level to take forward the updated Recommendation on cancer screening.
33. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further information on the new elective hospital in Cork; if he will outline the next steps in the process; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60861/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis week the Government has approved the Enhanced Provision of Elective Care Programme and the preferred locations for the development of new Elective Hospitals in Cork and Galway. In Cork, the preferred site is at St Stephen’s Hospital, Sarsfield Court.
In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day cases, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future. The initial phase of elective care reform will be focussed on addressing demand for high volume/low complexity procedures and treatments. The Elective Hospitals will also be designed to provide sufficient capacity to facilitate future phases, including some elective in-patient capacity.
The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. The locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to implement a national elective care programme that will tackle waiting times on a national basis. The new facilities will be designed to maximise their capacity and coverage. In doing so they will provide a national service, operating to cover as wide a catchment area as possible, extending beyond existing and future health areas. The introduction of this new delivery capability into the Public Healthcare System will benefit the whole population by providing a sustainable and strategic response to cater for the highly dynamic landscape of healthcare policy and practice.
Following detailed internal and external assurance the Preliminary Project Business Cases for the new Elective Hospitals in Cork and Galway have now received Government approval-in-principle at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code (PSC). The projects can now move to Gate 2 of the PSC (detailed project brief and procurement strategy). I have asked my officials to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to explore options to expedite the delivery of the Elective Hospitals wherever possible.
34. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his Department has provided the resources to the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, that were identified in the HSE review of the closure of the emergency department at Navan hospital; and if the review will be published. [61088/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware that proposed changes to health services can cause considerable worry for staff and local communities affected.
I have made it clear to the HSE that there has been no change to the Government position, and that the HSE is not authorised to proceed with the reconfiguration of the Emergency Department at Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan or to implement a full ambulance bypass protocol.
Any consideration of changes in our healthcare system must ensure that patients have access to safe, high quality services when they need them, including for patients who are critically ill and who may require access to a range of specialties. This requires appropriate planning and investment.
As the Deputy will be aware, I asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity which was received in October. This review is currently under consideration and engagement in relation to this matter is ongoing.
I did agree that an update is warranted to the existing ambulance bypass protocol from the week commencing 12th December. This is to address urgent patient safety matters for the small number of patients presenting in ambulances to Navan who are critically or seriously unwell or likely to deteriorate.
I have encouraged the HSE to engage further with the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital management team with a view to ensuring sufficient capacity is in place across the region to meet demand.
35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date in enhancing the role of therapy assistants to provide treatment for children, particularly in disciplines where there are unacceptable delays in children accessing services due to a lack of therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61187/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department, in conjunction with the HSE, has been in communication with the Health Products Regulatory Authority with respect to ongoing medicine shortages as outlined on the HPRA website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61134/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnfortunately, medicine shortages are a feature of modern health systems worldwide. There are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; or product recalls due to potential quality issues.
Medicine shortages can therefore originate at any point in the supply chain and can involve and impact on many different stakeholders. Accordingly, medicine shortages require a multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety, continuity of care and protection of public health.
Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicine shortage framework in place, coordinated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), to prevent, wherever possible, and manage medicine shortages when they occur.
In many instances a shortage of a particular medicine is effectively addressed to ensure continuity of care for a patient including through the substitution for a generic version (in the case of a branded medicine short supply) or a generic version from a different manufacturer (in the case of a generic medicine in short supply). Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 medicines which are deemed to be interchangeable can be directly substituted for one another by a pharmacist.
Where an interchangeable product is not available in Ireland, a pharmacist, in consultation with the prescriber, can source a medicine containing the same active ingredient in order to ensure that continuity of patient care is maintained, wherever possible. Such medicines may be sourced in another European Member State, or by a specialist wholesaler in a third country, and are known as exempt medicinal products (EMPs). EMPs have not been granted a marketing authorisation in Ireland by the HPRA but are sourced in response to a bona fide unsolicited order in order to fulfil the special needs of a patient. These medicines will however have undergone an evaluation of their safety, quality, and efficacy for the granting of their marketing authorisation in another EU Member State or third country by the respective competent authority for medicines.
In other instances, where a medicine shortage occurs due to a more global issue affecting multiple countries, a patient may be directed to return to their clinician to consider prescribing an alternative medicine for the treatment of their condition.
The HSE maintains a reimbursement list of medicines that are provided under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS). These products are approved for the schemes by the HSE. In some cases, an alternative product sourced to maintain continuity of care in the event of a medicine shortage may be more expensive than the original medicine prescribed and will not ordinarily be included in the reimbursement list.
However, GMS medical card holders can apply to the local HSE health office to have these costs covered under the discretionary hardship arrangements. Under the DPS an individual or family will pay no more than €80 each calendar month for approved prescribed medicines. In certain cases, the cost of EMPs can be included in the total costs of medicines up to the threshold of €80. Patients are advised to consult with their pharmacist or clinician, who can make an application under the discretionary hardship arrangements on their behalf or to have the product covered by the relevant scheme.
Patients or their carers who have any concerns in relation to temporary alternative products provided because of medicine shortages are advised to speak with their pharmacist or other healthcare professional involved in their care.
37. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to ensure the availability of an adequate number of health professionals within the health services, including, but not limited to, consultants, GPs and nurses to meet the demand in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61275/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth and Social Care workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland is a top priority for the Government.
Department of Health officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
There are ongoing discussions between both Departments in relation to increasing domestic supply of health and Social Care graduates in the short term to medium term through the immediate provision of additional places, and the longer-term planning being undertaken around future skills needs in context of future demand for health and social care services. These additional places are being targeted in areas of acute skills need.
Further permanent additional places in healthcare disciplines were announced in July, including 135 places on nursing and midwifery programmes commencing from September 2022. In July 2022, Minister Harris and I announced an agreement with the Irish Medical Schools to phase in an increase of 200 additional Irish/EU medicine places over the next 5 years.
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. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training to the Irish College of General Practitioners 350 training places are intended to be available for new entrants per year by 2026.
These measures enhance the attractiveness of general practice in Ireland and will see an increase in the number of GPs working here, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
As of 31 October the total workforce stands at 136,092 WTE. This is an increase of 848 WTE from September figures and a year-to-date increase of 3,769 WTE. There are 16,275 more WTE working in our health service than there were at the beginning of 2020. This includes 4,592 nurses and midwives; 2,654 health and social care professionals; and 1,758 doctors and dentists. 2020 and 2021 have seen the biggest staff increases since the HSE was established.
In addition, the HSE has been engaging in a programme of work to develop and transform the ability of the HSE to attract essential talent, to meet the needs of our health service now and in the future. Over the past couple of years, the HSE have worked in partnership with service areas to enhance recruitment capability across our health service.
A programme of actions is currently under way including:
- All nursing / midwifery / Health and Social Care professionals being offered permanent contracts.
- Career opportunities across specialist and advanced practice roles and clinical leadership roles which are important factors to attracting and retaining nurses and midwives into the workforce and these continue to grow in community settings under Sláintecare reform.
- Increased funding for Additional Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioner (ANMP) posts. Budget 2022 provided funding for the development of 149 new ANMP posts across the health service increasing the critical mass of ANMPs.
- The number of Advanced Nurse/Midwife Practitioners will be increased service-wide to achieve a total of 3% of the nursing workforce at advanced level
- Further expansion of international recruitment and enhanced nurse programme as well as ongoing rolling campaigns.
- A focused multi stakeholder working group for Medical / Consultants established delivering improvements on average of 58% in times to hire (and improving) – 68 weeks down to 39 weeks with continuous review of process to reduce times to hire and improve candidate experience. Targeted marketing for hard to fill roles. Launched medical consultant hub - A one stop shop microsite for Medical Consultant - Recruitment (with the PAS) supported by an international marketing campaign. Link: publicjobs.ie/en/medical-consultants/hse
- Development of Clinical Infrastructure to facilitate additional students and accommodate overseas candidates gaining registration for Health and Social Care professions.
- Development of an Advanced Practice Framework for Health and Social Care Professionals
38. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the public health reforms that he announced in April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60933/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been significant progress in Public Health Reform over the past 2 years.
As agreed between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO in April 2021, a fully reformed model for public health including 84 Consultant posts is to be implemented by end 2023. The first phase (34 WTE) of recruitment is nearing conclusion and an interim National Director for Public Health has been appointed in recent days. Recruitment under Phase 2 of the programme has begun. There has also been extensive progress made in the area of Public Health Workforce recruitment. Since early last year we have seen the recruitment of over 230 new WTEs in the public health arena which includes public health doctors, nurses, scientists, and support staff.
Alongside recruitment, six new Public Health Areas have been established aligned to future Sláintecare areas, led by Area Directors of Public Health and delivering a consultant-led Health Protection service in line with the Hub-and-Spoke model. The HSE have also made progress towards procurement of an Outbreak Case and Incident Management System, a key enabler of a national health protection service.
My Department remains committed to the full implementation of the new Public Health Model by December 2023.
39. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to improve and expand mental health services in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61177/22]
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.
40. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of disability respite services in CHO 3 and CHO 5 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61049/22]
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.
