Written Answers Nos. 598-617
598. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if a nursing home (details supplied) was refused additional staff or any other type of support from the Health Service Executive during the period of the pandemic from January 2020 to date; if so, the dates on which the support was refused by the nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8091/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
599. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his response to the submission made by an organisation (details supplied) regarding special leave with pay for employees of the HSE suffering with long-Covid including those who were infected post 7 February 2022; and if he will expedite a positive conclusion. [8104/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial 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 introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.The Scheme will continue to run as expected, until 30th June this year for eligible employees.
I am acutely aware of the issues experienced by public health employees in relation to Long Covid and am committed to providing support. I have asked officials in my Department to look at available options.
600. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the extension of free GP cards for children beyond the existing age parameters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8107/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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. It will be adjusted for people living alone and for those with children; further operational details will be made available prior to the commencement of the income-based expansion. It is envisaged that these measures will be supported by a significant package of additional capacity supports to GP practices.
601. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a procedure will be arranged at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, for a person (details supplied). [8136/23]
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.
602. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (detail supplied) has been told they are not entitled to the pandemic bonus when their co-workers have been granted same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8142/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
603. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current status of the respiratory assessment unit at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; the current update on the project; and if a contract has been signed. [8169/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
604. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the works planned for the maternity unit at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and the stage that works are at. [8170/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
605. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the works planned for the paediatric unit at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; and the stage that works are at. [8171/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
606. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the works planned at Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise or currently ongoing; and the overall budget allocation for capital works at the hospital. [8172/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
607. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the vaccination centres that are currently available in the Dublin north central area for the MMR vaccine programme; if additional and alternative test centres will be provided in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8201/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
608. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the regulations for the fair deal in respect to extra costs incurred by families, which nursing homes are invoicing for, outside of the flat rate fee issued by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8220/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;- Bed and board;- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and- Laundry service.Data from HSE indicates that, on average, NHSS residents cover around 30% of their cost of care, with the state covering the remaining 70%. This proportion is based on the assessment of residents' assets and income, rather than on the cost of providing their care, and has remained stable over recent years.Costs not covered by the NHSS include those individually incurred for items like social activities, newspapers and hairdressing. This may also include medical services such as therapies and some medical equipment. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.It is important to state that residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services for which they are eligible as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24 hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community.Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, as set out above. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). The Department of Health does not currently hold data relating to additional charges in private nursing homes; these vary according to each individual nursing home depending on the services offered. It is important to note that it is private nursing homes who hold responsibility for delivering care to their residents in line with their terms of registration and the relevant regulations under the Health Act 2007.Nevertheless, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence and considering various policy options with relation to additional nursing home charges. It is clear that, under the terms of the NHSS Act 2009, private nursing homes should not levy additional charges on NHSS residents for services coming within scope of the Nursing Home Support Scheme. Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. Where an individual is not satisfied with the response they receive, they may wish to take their complaint further by seeking a review from the Office of the Ombudsman.The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaint’s procedure of the private nursing home concerned.The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published consumer protection guidelines for contracts of care in long-term residential care services for older people. The guidelines set out the obligations and responsibilities that providers must adhere to under consumer protection law and are aimed at providing greater transparency, clarity and certainty for consumers.
609. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of people who attended pigmented skin lesion clinics on a quarterly basis between 2013 and 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8222/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
610. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people who attended pigmented skin lesion clinics within the recommended timeframe on a quarterly basis between 2013 and 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8223/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
611. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people who attended pigmented skin lesion clinics to be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer through these clinics on a quarterly basis between 2013 and 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8224/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
612. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the projected annual cost to provide free nicotine replacement therapy to all those enrolled in HSE smoking cessation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8225/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
613. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE to tackle tobacco use in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8226/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans for population-wide education and health awareness on the use of e-cigarettes and or similar products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, the Health Service Executive has been asked to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
615. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the estimated amount to the State to extend the HPV vaccination catch-up programme to males up to the age of 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8228/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the HSE, I have referred the question to the HSE for a direct reply.
616. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 by his Department and by agencies which operate under the remit of his Department. [8242/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the report on the operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 was published on the website of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth on 13 January 2023.
My Department and 18 of the 19 aegis bodies under the Department of Health participated in the consultation process. The Department of Health assessed itself to be partially compliant with the relevant provisions of the Act. Of the aegis bodies under the Department that completed the self-assessment of compliance: three bodies were compliant, nine bodies were partially compliant, four bodies were non-compliant and three bodies stated that it was not applicable.
Overall, the report found a need for improvement in awareness, and understanding – in both the public and public bodies – of the scope and definitions of the Act, and which public bodies the Act applies to.
My Department intends to review the findings of the report and will consider next steps in line with a whole of Government approach to the recommendations to strengthen the implementation of the Act.
617. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8251/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Health commenced the Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in line with statutory and Government commitments.
The Review is assessing the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
The Review is being led by an independent Chair Marie O’Shea and comprises of 2 main phases. As part of the first phase of the review, information, and evidence on the operation of the Act has been collected from women who use the service, and from health professionals that provide the service; the views of the public were also sought.
A very substantial amount of work has been completed to date and very informative data collected, which is feeding into the review.
The final Report of the Review is expected to be submitted to the Minister before the end of February.
The Report will then be considered by the Minister and published as soon as possible thereafter.
