Written Answers Nos. 400-419
401. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 8 February 2023, if he will provide an update on the introduction of pension increases (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20349/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been requested to respond directly to the Deputy.
402. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the criteria used when deciding a disease or condition is added to the long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20361/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra403. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if his Department is considering widening the list of diseases and conditions currently included on the long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20362/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together.
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.
It is also important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
The significant investment in Budget 2023 will facilitate better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare for people at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on everyone.
In 2023 this will mean:
- an expansion of GP care without charges to people earning no more than the median household income,
- all public in-patient hospital charges abolished since 17 April 2023
- an extension of free contraception to 26-year-old women since 1 Jan 2023, and further extension to 27-30 years old women from 1 September 2023.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
In addition, 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. 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.
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 ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
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%.
404. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of GMS patients attached to a practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20379/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if a medical practice (details supplied) receives the rural general practice grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20382/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 407 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
405. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health what the policy is in an area that has no GP service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20380/23]
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. Currently there are 2,539 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
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. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE puts in place a locum or other appropriate arrangement to maintain GP services to the communities in question.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement the additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. 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 and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices has been increased by 10%.
The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, and a further large increase to 285 is planned for this year. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), it is aimed to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
Furthermore, I recently published the Terms of Reference for a Strategic review of General Practice which is to commence shortly and will be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues around GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.
406. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health what the policy is in an area that has no pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20381/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pharmacy Act 2007 as amended provides for a system of registration whereby any entity wishing to provide community pharmacy services must register as a retail pharmacy business with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) in order to operate in Ireland. Community pharmacies can be owned by individuals or by limited companies and there is no limit on the number that may be owned.
The register of pharmacies is published online, and anyone wishing to open a pharmacy must apply to register that pharmacy at least 60 days before it is due to open. The pharmacy will also be subject to a new opening inspection prior to registration.
Pharmacies must apply on an annual basis for continued registration and pay an annual fee. Each pharmacy must have a superintendent pharmacist and a supervising pharmacist, each of whom must have at least three years’ appropriate experience.
In April 2023 there were 1,913 community pharmacies and 4,692 pharmacists registered as community practitioners with the pharmacy regulator. In Ireland there is no prohibition or geographic requirement that must be met when opening a new pharmacy practice. A recent survey published by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) indicated that 43% of Irish adults live within a kilometre of their nearest pharmacy and more than 7 in 10 adults live within a 2 kilometre radius of their nearest pharmacy. (ipu.ie/ipu-document/public-opinion-research-2021-ba/) .
408. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 572 and 573 of 25 April 2023, if he is aware of research from the University of Bristol and Cambridge University (details supplied) which shows that people smoke more when smoking cigarettes from larger-size packs; if he will commission research into the link between larger packs of cigarettes and added consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20385/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the referenced research examining the links between larger cigarette pack sizes and increased consumption. While there are no plans to commission research at this time my Department keeps the emerging evidence on pack sizes under review and is always open to identifying areas for future research that will support policy interventions to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the population.
409. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the funding streams available to a charity (details supplied) given the difficulty it is facing providing mental health supports due to a drop in charitable donations as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. [20386/23]
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.
410. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused a drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20390/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
411. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an orthopaedic appointment at Galway University Hospital; if they are on the routine or urgent waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20403/23]
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.
412. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update as of April 2023 on the production and publication of a review of the access and reimbursement issues surrounding the availability and access to the drug Cariban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20405/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) are conducting a review of the availability and access to Cariban under the current arrangement, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
413. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for orthopaedic outpatient appointments and surgeries at Galway University Hospital, by length of time, in tabular form; the steps being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20407/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care. On the 7th March, I published the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which is the next stage of a new multi-annual approach to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists, and builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan between September and December 2021, which was followed by the first full year Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, both having reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
The 2023 Plan sets out the priorities to continue to address waiting lists this year. The 30 actions in the Plan, which are governed by the Waiting List Task Force, focus on delivering capacity, reforming scheduled care and enabling scheduled care reform.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to implement longer term reforms and provide additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. This will reduce hospital waiting lists by 10% in 2023 as well as continuing to significantly reduce waiting times in line with Sláintecare recommendations. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With this ambitious 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving our vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
In relation to the particular waiting list query raised by the Deputy, adult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly and is available on the NTPF website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
414. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a fair deal application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20416/23]
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.
415. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to make the new mortuary at UHW available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20423/23]
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.
416. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long to see a consultant neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital. [20424/23]
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.
417. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when GP visit card eligibility will be extended, as announced in budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20429/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra427. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on income thresholds for GP cards (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20466/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra467. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the reduction in income thresholds for GP-visit cards from 23 April 2023; and if this has been actioned. [20676/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 417, 427 and 467 together.
The Government is committed to the extension of GP visit card eligibility to those who earn the median household income or less, as announced in Budget 2023.
In total, approximately 400,000 additional individuals are estimated to become eligible under this expansion. This measure will remove the cost of accessing GP care from those for whom cost is most likely to prevent access; helping reduce the cost of living for young adults and young families in particular.
The necessary planning and administrative development work to provide for the expansion is well advanced in preparation for the commencement of the expansion. Officials from my Department and the HSE are currently engaged in intensive discussions with the IMO regarding the expansion and in particular the IMO concerns on the impact of increased eligibility on general practice and the best use of the additional funding provided in Budget 2023 to support capacity in general practice.
Information in relation to the commencement of the expansion and operational information will be provided when available.
Preparations have been made by my officials and the HSE for the expansion of GP care without charges to all children aged 6 and 7. Engagements were held with the IMO, representing GPs, throughout last year, and engagement is ongoing in relation to the necessary fee structures for this service. It is intended to introduce this expansion as early as possible.
418. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the status of a hoist for a child (details supplied). [20430/23]
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.
419. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the status of a hoist for a child (details supplied). [20431/23]
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.
