Written Answers Nos. 325-336
325. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time pharmacists and senior pharmacists working in the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in each of the years of 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [62934/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of staff at the NCPE has remained constant at 20.5 whole-time equivalents (WTEs) since 2020. The breakdown of this is as follows:
|
Clinical Director |
1 |
|
Grade V |
1 |
|
Chief I Pharmacist |
3 |
|
Chief II Pharmacist |
6.5 |
|
Senior Pharmacist |
8 |
|
Pharmacist |
1 |
Following an independent review of the NCPE's work in 2017, I allocated an additional €750,000 in 2018 to support the working of the NCPE, increasing its staffing from 10.5 to 20.5 WTEs.
326. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the new National Children's Hospital will have the capacity and specialist staff to carry out heart and lung transplants for children aged under 16 years. [62935/22]
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.
327. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health when urgent surgery will take place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62941/22]
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.
328. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on implementing the recommendations from the McHugh report on the conditions and allowances of student nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62945/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 4 November 2021, following the publication of Longer-Term Review of Matters relating to Student Nurses and Midwives, an independent review, conducted by Mr. Seán McHugh at my request (McHugh Report), 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 practice placements. Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on supernumerary placement to the end of the academic year 2021/22.
I also announced additional support to nursing and midwifery students who require overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical practice placements. I doubled the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance to €100 per week of placement. Student nurses and midwives (for Academic Year 2021/22) on paid internship placement received additional financial support (50% of the PPG: totalling to €1,800 for the academic year) for the duration of their internship, from 1 January 2022.
Following approval by Government last Tuesday, 13 December, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives. €5.4m will be used to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements. This scheme will provide a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting these students and its main features are set out under:
eligible student nurses and midwives in years 1 to 3 of their studies will see each receive €500 per year as a targeted measure to contribute towards meeting the extra costs of meals associated with practice placements outside the student’s core placement site;
a new rate of €80 for overnight accommodation is being introduced, along with an increased weekly cap of €300, for those eligible students who require accommodation away from their normal place of residence while attending practice placements. This weekly cap is three times the cap introduced on 1st January 2022, and almost six times the previous cap;
student requiring overnight accommodation can also avail of, on a vouched basis, the reasonable cost of uniform laundry services.
The enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme will be backdated to the start of the current Academic Year, September 2022.
For student nurses and midwives on their final year internship, I am ensuring that their salary is set in line with the relevant recommendation in the McHugh Report, by increasing their rate of pay to 80% of Point 1 of the Staff Nurse/Midwife pay scale. This measure, worth €3.6 million, demonstrates further the Government's commitment to retaining talent throughout our nursing and midwifery degree programmes and our appreciation for the efforts and dedication shown by students during their crucial final-year internships. Finally, students will also be provided with two additional uniforms at the start of their internship.
332. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that the long-term illness scheme covers medication associated with intellectual disability and does not cover medication and other medical appliance costs associated with autism; if he intends extending the scheme to cover the same expenses for persons with autism as it covers for intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62968/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. While Autism is not one of the specified illnesses covered by the LTI scheme, a person with Autism may also be separately diagnosed with an intellectual disability (mental handicap) which would make them eligible for the LTI scheme.
Under the LTI scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. Further information regarding the LTI scheme, including how to apply, can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/lti/about/.
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. It is not possible at this juncture to say what the outcome of that review will be.
The Government is committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable and has introduced several reductions in the cost of healthcare. For people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone who is ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS 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. 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. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
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.
Finally, 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%.
333. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of adult ADHD services in CHO4. [63013/22]
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.
334. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the additional financial supports that will be provided for small-scale nursing home providers in view of the substantial additional costs incurred recently by such providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63018/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate financial support is provided for small-scale nursing home providers given that a number of such providers have closed over recent months and it is essential that private nursing home care is not provided solely by large-scale operators, which would result in some rural communities losing such important health care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63019/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
I recognise the important part smaller voluntary and family-run nursing homes play in communities and I am strongly committed to supporting them in these challenging times.
The Government remains conscious of the financial challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector, particularly in terms of inflationary cost increases. A €10m scheme (the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme or TIPS) has been established that will cover 75% of year-on-year energy and heating cost increases in private and voluntary nursing homes up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per month per nursing home over the period of July to December 2022.
Since the start of the pandemic, private and voluntary nursing homes have also received a wide range of non-financial supports, including over €72m in free PPE and oxygen, as well as over €145m of financial support through the Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS). The TAPS COVID-19 Outbreak Assistance has been extended to the end of the year.
Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) which will provide for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.
In December 2021, the Department of Health published the independently chaired Value for Money (VFM) review on nursing home costs. The review found that the cost differential is largely driven by variances in staff-to-resident ratios and the skill mix in public and private nursing homes. The VFM Review made nine recommendations which the Department continues to take forward. Many of the recommendations from the report were already in progress and overlap with existing reforms. Further work is being undertaken to address issues in the sector on foot of the recommendations of the NTPF Pricing Review and the report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants.
There a number of reasons for nursing home closures each year including retirement, non-compliance with HIQA regulations, financial viability and, in some cases, recognition that their premises would not be compliant with revised regulations. The Government remains committed to ensuring that long-term residential care for older people continues to place residents’ care, well-being, standards and best interests at the centre of development. It is essential that all future plans for the nursing home sector continue to prioritise the best interests of residents while seeking value for money for the Exchequer.
The Department takes the closures of nursing homes very seriously and I am currently in discussions with Departmental officials to examine ways in which funding can also continue to be used to provide support, where necessary and appropriate, to those nursing homes who are not scheduled to renegotiate their Deeds of Agreement this year. This includes an expected extension of the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme into 2023.
336. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional health care places will be provided to an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63020/22]
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.
