Sorca Clarke
Ceist:527. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will issue to a person (details supplied). [62157/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWritten Answers Nos. 527-541
527. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when an appointment will issue to a person (details supplied). [62157/22]
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.
528. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61633/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra532. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to palliative care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61661/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 532 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
529. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the consultant psychiatrist post for the south east in CHO 5 has been filled; the basis and tenure on which it has been filled; the length of time that the post was vacant; the number of times that the post was advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61634/22]
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.
530. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate that pregnant women suffering from hyperemesis should have to see a consultant before receiving their reimbursement for Cariban; his views on whether this will introduce an additional barrier to treatment for women in this position and is appropriate given that the HSE recommends Cariban as the first line treatment for hyperemesis, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy; if he will include a prescription from a GP to allow for the reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61639/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra538. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the reimbursement of pyridoxine/doxylamine, whose brand name is Cariban in Ireland, for women with hyperemesis gravidarum to require a prescription from a consultant obstetrician, rather than a GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61689/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 538 together.
As part of Budget 2023, I announced €32.2 million in funding for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023, to include dedicated funding for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine). Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product i.e. not licensed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland. Following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, this product will be made available on an individual patient basis for those patients who meet the criteria under Community Drug Schemes (GMS, DPS) from January 2023 where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under Community Drug Schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. However, whilst the original prescriber is a Consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription further to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
531. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the main policy achievements of his Department since 27 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61652/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is engaged in policy development and implementation across the full spectrum of issues that impact health and wellbeing in Ireland. To support the Deputy, I have listed below the main policy achievements and initiatives undertaken by my Department since I took post as Minister for Health in June 2020 which mark significant milestones in the development of health policy for Ireland. Relevant policy documents are available in detail on gov.ie/health.
Further details of the main achievements made are and will continue to be documented in the Department of Health Annual Reports. These documents will detail the achievements of my Department over the period of a year, in particular our achievements as they relate our commitments in the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future .
Since March 2020, officials from my Department continue to provide ongoing advice in relation to the overall response to COVID -19 . Further to this, in 2020, my Department was successful in:
- Establishing the CervicalCheck Tribunal in line with Justice Meenan recommendations for an alternative system for dealing with claims arising from CervicalCheck.
- Publishing the Final Report of the Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims.
- Continuing implementation of the National Maternity Strategy with the expansion of the supported care pathway across maternity services.
- Ensuring all 19 maternity services in the country have at least one Advanced Midwife Practitioners by funding 12 additional Advanced Midwife Practitioners were funded to support the further roll-out of the Model of Care .
- Publishing Ireland’s first ever Maternity Experience Survey with the results being very positive overall and all hospitals having developed Quality Improvement Plans.
- Healthy Ireland Communications managed the cross-sectoral Keep Well campaign, which provided supports for population resilience in the context of Covid-19, from October 2020 to June 2021. Healthy Ireland has since partnered with Sport Ireland for a citizen engagement campaign called Let’s Get Back to encourage people to return to sport and physical activity, in late 2021 and early 2022.
- Under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 the following measures on alcohol pricing, advertising and public health input into licensing came into operation. From 12 November 2020, in mixed retail outlets alcohol products and advertising are confined to one of the following:
- an area separated by a 1.2m high barrier, or
- units in which alcohol products are not visible up to 1.5m height, or
- up to three units that can be a maximum of 1m wide by 2.2m high.
- In addition, alcohol products can be contained but not be visible in a unit behind the counter. (Section 22)
- Publishing two National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) National Clinical Guidelines ; No. 24. Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Colon Cancer and No. 25. Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Rectal Cancer.
- Publishing Version 2 of NCEC National Clinical Guideline No. 1. Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS).
- Publishing the Report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery .
- Completing and publishing the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in Adult Emergency Care Settings in Ireland.
- Completion of the testing and publication of the results of an integrated nurse-led community virtual ward proof-of-concept.
- Developments in mental health services continue in line with the national mental health policy, Sharing the Vision, as does work on Connecting for Life, the national suicide reduction strategy, which both align to the Programme for Government commitment. Connecting for Life was extended for a further 4 years from 2020 to 2024 .
- Sharing the Vision was published, and the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) was established to drive the policy recommendations forward and ensure robust policy implementation oversight and governance.
- 5 Early Intervention in Psychosis Teams are in place out of 20 Early Intervention in Psychosis teams required. 48 Whole Time Equivalents have been funded via National Clinical Programme for Early Intervention in Psychosis since 2019. Of which 17.1 Whole Time Equivalents were funded since 2020. 556 service users have accessed the 5 teams since 2020.
- Introduction of the paid induction week for Interns – previously this was an unpaid week.
- The Strategic Plan for Critical Care was brought to Government in December 2020. 297 permanent adult critical care beds are now open, an increase of 42 over the 2020 baseline of 255. Funding is in place to increase this to 340 beds by late 2022/early 2023.
- Significant progress was made toward operationalising the Medical Cannabis Access Programme and consultants can now register patients with the HSE.
In 2021, some of my Department’s main policy achievements were, as follows:
- Developed key legislative work, including the preparation of over 50 Statutory Instruments under the Health Act 1947, in order to provide for the public health measures required by Government in response to COVID-19. Officials in my Department also oversaw the development of national legislation and infrastructure to implement the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, to facilitate ease of movement within the European Union.
- An overall improvement in compliance among approved mental health centres in recent years. In 2021, 59 approved centres (89%) achieved at least an 80% rate of compliance (in 2020, 82% of approved centres achieved this). Of these, two-thirds achieved at least 90%.
- The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 was approved by Government in May 2021. The new Strategy builds on the progress of Sláintecare reform to date and on the lessons learned from COVID-19. A mid-year progress report on implementation of the Strategy & Action Plan was published on 10 September 2021.
- The HSE Winter Preparedness Plan for 2021/2022 was published on 15 November 2021. The Plan aims to ensure that the health service is prepared for the challenges of winter 21/22 in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
- The opening of the CHI Tallaght Outpatient and Emergency Care Unit on 15 November 2021 was a major milestone in the new children’s hospital project. The new facility delivers services in a modern, fit for purpose environment and significantly expands acute paediatric capacity in the Greater Dublin Area with 2022 full-year activity projected to reach 7,000 outpatient appointments and 30,000 emergency care attendances.
- The establishment of two Major Trauma Centres is one of the major commitments of the Trauma System for Ireland. In April Government approved the designation of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin as the Major Trauma Centre (MTC) for the Central Trauma Network. Recruitment in 2021 enabled the commencement of phase one of the development of the MTC at the Mater and facilitated the development of Planned Trauma Care in the MTC for the South Trauma Network, Cork University Hospital.
- In 2021 the National Ambulance Service (NAS) invested €10m development funding into strategic goals outlined in its five-year strategic plan, Vision 2020. The NAS is currently finalising a new strategic plan to build on the progress made under Vision 2020.
- Significantly increased funding of €7.3m in 2021 ensured implementation of the National Maternity Strategy was further progressed. 96.5 additional WTEs were approved for maternity services in 2021, resulting in further development of community-based midwifery services, increased choice for women and improved access to specialist services, including obstetric, endocrinology, perinatal pathology, neonatology and perineal services.
- Funding in 2021 ensured that all 19 maternity hospitals/units now offer the Strategy’s midwifery led Supported Care Pathway.
- On 11th May 2021, funding of €1.58m was announced to provide an additional 24 Lactation Consultants across hospital and community settings, which are required to implement the National Breastfeeding Action Plan and ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed.
- Healthy Ireland published the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan in May 2021, setting out the actions and priorities for the next 5 years of Healthy Ireland implementation.
- RTE’s Operation Transformation was sponsored by Healthy Ireland in 2021 and 2022. Healthy Ireland also ran it’s Let’s Get Set public engagement campaign and is running a Healthy Weight Campaign currently. Healthy Ireland and the Women’s Health Taskforce are working with Sport Ireland on the current It’s My Time campaign to promote participation in sport and physical activity amongst women over 40, which was funded by the Women’s Health Fund.
- Healthy Ireland, through Sport Ireland, supports and funds national strategies on promoting walking, cycling, running and swimming.
- Sláintecare and Healthy Ireland, working with the HSE and local authorities and community agencies, launched the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme to provide increased health and wellbeing services in 19 community areas across Ireland where health and wellbeing risk factors may be particularly concentrated.
- Healthy Ireland’s National Healthy Campus Framework was launched in July 2021. The Framework will help higher education institutions across Ireland to embed health and wellbeing into campus life for staff and students.
-A Roadmap for Food Product Reformulation in Ireland was launched in December 2021 This fulfils a key objective of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan by setting targets for the reduction of the levels of saturated fats, sugar and salt in processed foods. Healthy Ireland funding has been provided for a dedicated Food Reformulation Task Force, situated in the FSAI, to implement the Roadmap. The Task Force is to operate until the end of 2025. Engagement with industry is a key element of the work of the Task Force.
- The National Cancer Strategy Implementation Report and Key Performance Indicators for 2020 was published on 5 May 2021. Progress on implementation of the National Cancer Strategy has continued throughout 2021, with investment of €20m having a significant impact on access to cancer diagnostics, treatment and supports.
- The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) launched the first ‘Annual Call’ for proposals from the public on new population-based screening programmes that may be adopted in Ireland, as well as submissions on proposed changes to existing screening programmes.
- Publication of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery and the six strategic priorities for the remaining four years of the strategy, 2021-2025. The strategic priorities will strengthen the health-led approach to drug use and align with the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan. The mid-term review of the strategy shows significant progress in implementing the action plan for the period 2017 to 2020, with only a small number of the 50 actions outstanding.
- Tobacco Free Ireland 2020 Annual Report was published on 9 September 2021. Tobacco Free Ireland is Ireland’s national tobacco control policy. It sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free by 2025.
- The 3rd Progress Report on implementation of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel’s (NHEP) recommendations was published in September 2021. Many of the short- and medium-term recommendations have already been implemented. The third progress report highlights the achievements in implementing nationally focused recommendations as well as detailing the ongoing supports under NHEP to the Nursing Home Sector.
533. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when legislation dealing with international surrogacy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61662/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 (AHR Bill) passed Second Stage in the Dáil on March 23 2022 and has been referred to the Select Committee on Health for Committee Stage.
The focus of the AHR Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction exclusively, and particularly those carried out by the private fertility clinics operating here. The published Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions.
Following the publication of the Final Report of the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, an Inter-Departmental Group was established to review the Report’s recommendations, along with other relevant matters, with the aim of determining an agreed policy position and suitable next steps, in the form of a unified Policy Paper and an outline of appropriate legislative proposals.
The work of the Group is at an advanced stage and it is envisaged that before Christmas Minister Humphreys, Minister O’Gorman and myself will be in a position to submit policy and draft outline legislative proposals for the consideration of Cabinet in respect of both the regulation of international surrogacy and the recognition of past surrogacy arrangements (domestic and international).
It is to be noted that if such policy and legislative proposals are approved by Government they will be required to be formally drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Given the magnitude of the constitutional and legal issues which are likely to arise from such proposals, significant input from the Office of the Attorney General will also be required.
It is of the utmost importance to note that the proposed legislative provisions need to be robust and constitutional which can only be ensured by rigorous analysis by the Office of the Attorney General. Once drafted and approved by Government, the intention is to insert new legislative provisions in respect of international surrogacy and past surrogacy arrangements into the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 at Committee Stage.
I cannot provide a definitive timeline as to when the legislative provisions dealing with international surrogacy will be published. Nevertheless, I can assure the Deputy that I wish to progress this much-needed and long-awaited piece of historic legislation as quickly as possible to ensure both that the goal of providing for a route to formal recognition by the State of past surrogacy arrangements or surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions is achieved and that a robust regulatory framework for AHR more broadly is put in place.
534. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied) who having been referred to St. Gabriel’s CDNT Limerick for an ASD assessment has yet to receive any appointment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61664/22]
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.
535. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of dentistry practices in Galway that provide dental services to medical card holders under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61667/22]
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.
536. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to income limits to qualify for a GP card ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61681/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. The HSE assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card and is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances. Regarding persons aged 70 or older, the medical card assessment is based on gross income. The weekly gross income thresholds for eligibility to a medical card for those aged 70 and over were increased in November 2020 and are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1,050 for a couple. However, It should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. The means assessment determines an applicant’s eligibility allowing for taking account of one’s eligible expenses from their income. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, insurance, childcare, maintenance, nursing home costs, (detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/file-library/medical-cards/medical-cards-national-assessment-guidelines.pdf).
It is important to note that certain social welfare payments are not included in the means assessment for a medical card. Where income is from a social welfare payment such as a pension and other sources, some of the social welfare payments are assessed.
In situations where a person’s sole income is derived from a social welfare payment, even where this payment is in excess of the current income thresholds, the person will be awarded a medical card.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, including the current medical card income thresholds under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
537. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the healthcare staff of an organisation (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 recognition payment; the category and cohort that they fall under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61688/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your correspondence.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
539. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a request for engagement with a group (details supplied) in light of ongoing negotiations on the World Health Organization's pandemic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61692/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO to manage the process to negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; its December meeting will see discussion of a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. A progress report on the negotiations is expected to be delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, with the aim of adopting the agreement by 2024.
Ireland supports this WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.
The EU is also a leading proponent of this process and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, and the INB bureau in this process.
The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.
As part of the negotiating process the INB has held a number of its meetings in public; Ireland strongly supports this action and welcomes the participation of civil society organisations in this process. Accordingly, I have instructed officials in my Department working on this agreement to respond positively to approaches from the organisations the Deputy mentions and arrange to meet in the new year.
540. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 4 October 2022, when the staff of a nursing home (details supplied) will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61693/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
541. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 903 of 8 November 2022, the date that his Department intends to issue the €1,000 Covid-19 pandemic bonus payment to section 39 agency staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61694/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your correspondence.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly