Written Answers Nos. 572-587
572. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if a report (details supplied) has been received by his Department; if the recommendations have been received; the effort that is being made to implement these findings ahead of the move of the Central Mental Hospital to Portrane; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61828/22]
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.
573. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider issuing medical cards to those suffering with the genetic medical condition congenital adrenal hyperplasia (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61835/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra575. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including the condition congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 575 together.
The Government is committed to ensuring that healthcare in Ireland is both accessible and affordable.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement for medicines under the community drugs schemes is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.While there are no plans currently to extend the list of illnesses covered by the LTI scheme, the scheme will be included as part of a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
There are two schemes operated by the HSE which protect people from excessive medicine costs, the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) and the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested, is available to anyone who is ordinarily resident in Ireland, and significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the GMS scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
574. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the extension of the under six free GP card will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the budget 2023 announcement that GP visit cards will be extended to children aged six and seven years by the end of 2022 will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62321/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 654 together.
My officials and the HSE have made preparations for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 and 7. Engagements with the IMO, representing GPs, in relation to the necessary fee structures are ongoing with the intention of introducing this service as early as possible.
Furthermore, from 1 April 2023, eligibility will be extended to people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. Further operational details will be made available prior to the commencement of this income-based expansion. It is envisaged that these measures will be supported by a significant package of additional capacity supports to GP practices.
576. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when the long-promised community neurorehabilitation team for CHO 6 will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61858/22]
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.
577. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to attract GPs to growing suburban areas such as Clondalkin, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61861/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. In the interim the HSE puts in place a locum or other appropriate arrangement to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to increase the number of GPs working in the State and therefore improve the availability of GP services throughout the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has to date been increased by €206.6m and is set to increase to €211.6m per annum next year when the Agreement is fully rolled out. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. These measures enhance the attractiveness of working in general practice in Ireland.
In addition, a steady increase has been seen in the number of doctors entering GP training over recent years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
Furthermore, my Department and the HSE are preparing to commence shortly a strategic review of GP services to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a sustainable general practice.
578. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the positions, titles and names of the persons currently working in the national foetal valproate syndrome assessment team; if they are geographically based; and the resources allocated to them. [61876/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
579. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with Huntington's disease who were seen at memory assessment services and clinics in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and the extent of the current waiting list for same. [61877/22]
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.
580. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the services provided by the HSE in relation to treatment of tongue-tie in babies. [61878/22]
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.
581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons between the ages of zero to 18 years who have travelled overseas for specialist ophthalmology treatment not available in Ireland between 2019 and to date in 2022; and the number of these who travelled under the EU cross-border directive. [61879/22]
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.
582. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the opening hours of each specialist menopause clinic, by location, in tabular form, as of 6 December 2022. [61880/22]
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
583. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the figures for recorded pressure sores, by community acquired pressure sores and hospital acquired pressure sores, between 2015 and 2020 at Tallaght University Hospital. [61901/22]
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.
584. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign of an organisation (details supplied) to establish a working group to develop a national hearing plan, as recommended by the World Health Organization; if he intends to establish such a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61911/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the World Health Organization in relation to the setting-up of a working group to develop a national hearing plan for Ireland; if this is under consideration by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61994/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 607 together.
The World Health Organisation’s World Report on Hearing published in March 2021 recommends, among other things, that governments develop a comprehensive people-centred hearing care plan within their national health care plan.
The National Audiology Review Group (NARG) Report, published by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2011, identified shortcomings in audiology services including access issues, poor information, inadequate staffing, and unacceptable waiting times and made recommendations to address these issues.
While many of these recommendations have been implemented, including the rollout in of a National Audiology Clinical Management system for community and acute services, there is still much work to do in relation to the community audiology waiting lists. These have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the HSE is actively looking at all options to increase activity and minimise patient wait times nationally.
The proposal to establish a working group to assist in developing an updated strategy that addresses the hearing needs of the Irish population is being considered by the Department.
585. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his Department’s plans to establish a community neuro-rehabilitation team in south Tipperary, CHO5, which is widely demanded and needed for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61912/22]
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.
586. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the 12.5% pay increase for fourth-year student nurses completing their 36-week internship will be in place for nursing interns starting placement in January 2023. [61916/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra619. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the 12.5% pay increase for nursing student intern students in fourth year is going ahead for nursing interns starting in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62163/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take questions Nos. 586 and 619 together.
Following the publication of the McHugh report (the Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives), I announced that the Government had approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m, for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) to eligible final-year student nurses on their 36-week internship placement at a rate of €50 per week, for internships in 2022. This offered each final-year student nurse and midwife an additional €1,800 over the course of their internship.
I am pleased to confirm that, as of this week, measures have been approved by government to reinstate the salary for final-year student nurse and midwife interns to 80% of point one of the staff nurse/midwife pay scale for their 36 week placement.
587. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61922/22]
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.
