Written Answers Nos. 673-692
673. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30842/23]
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.
674. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if any assistance can be given to a person (details supplied) towards the cost of a power pack for a wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30845/23]
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.
675. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal did not get fully reimbursed from the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30848/23]
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.
676. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1130 of 13 June 2023, if he accepts that patient safety is of paramount importance and introducing a temporary short-term digital solution for the community that does not integrate with the hospital, as a substitute for a fully functioning electronic health record and which in his reply he acknowledges is critical for safer and more integrated care, the objectives of the ECC's two Integrated Care Programmes, the ICPCD and ICPOP, are seriously compromised and as a consequence pose a clinical risk to patient safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30849/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, your additional queries are informed, considered and well made. In our opinion, what is being proposed as a short term measure for ECCs may be too limited in its capability, hence comments in response to previous PQ. Equally, the time and effort to deploy enterprise wide EHR solutions, whilst very capable, is significant and hence can take a long time. There is a middle ground that is more than capable of addressing the needs of the ECC programme, is more joined up with the rest of the system, but not something that will take too long to deliver. Furthermore, a solution with this level of capability would provide a glide path towards a full EHR solution in the future. This is the path we propose to travel as we secure resource commitments to the longer term solution/s. I trust this explains the situation more clearly.
677. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1130 of 13 June 2023, when he anticipates the fully functioning electronic health record will be introduced and operational within the HSE, which he acknowledges is critical for better, safer and more integrated health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30850/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health are currently developing a new Digital Health and Social Care Strategic Framework (2023-2030) and are collaborating with the Health Service Executive, who will produce a corresponding implementation plan. The new Framework aligns with the Government’s digital health strategy “Harnessing Digital” and the Slaintecare programme.
Included in the new Digital Health and Social Care Strategic Framework 2023-2030 and associated implementation plan, is a roadmap which guides the programme of work required to deliver on eHealth initiatives including a national electronic health record. It outlines how digital records will be introduced on a phased basis starting with the roll-out of summary care records, shared cared records and building on both of those initiatives to work towards a national electronic health record.
Our engagement with other countries internationally and those who are considered leaders in digital health and have considerable experience in deploying EHRs, indicate that deploying electronic health records is a complex undertaking that requires enablers including ? clinical leadership, strategy, policy and legislation, robust governance, sustained commitment, significant resources, and expertise in technology.
The rollout of digital health record solutions will complement the existing work being undertaken to progress more extensive EHR deployments such as those at St. James Hospital, our maternity hospitals, the new children’s hospital, the national rehabilitation hospital and the national forensics hospital. Progress has been made to procure a similar solution that that is suitable for deployment in the community healthcare setting.
The New Children’s Hospital hospital-wide electronic health record is underway with a contract now in place and staff being recruited to support its roll-out. When complete, this will be the most extensive EHR deployment in Ireland to date. The New Children’s Hospital has been designed as a digital hospital and requires a functional electronic health record as a core element of its operations. The deployment of electronic health records at the New Children’s Hospital builds on the success of other major eHealth programmes such as the EHR deployment at St James Hospital ? the largest acute hospital in Ireland ? which has an electronic health record system in place since 2018 and is now embedded in how care is delivered to patients at St James. With the aim of reducing risk to new-born babies and their mothers, there is now an electronic health record deployed across three major maternity hospitals (plus the maternity unit at University Hospital Kerry), with plans to cover the two remaining large maternity hospital by 2024. By 2024, 70% of babies will have an electronic health record assigned at birth.
Importantly, electronic health record deployments are part of a much wider network of digital health projects, with 700 funded eHealth projects currently underway across acute, community and primary care settings.
The Department of Health is now working closely with the HSE, given the emergence of the Regional Health Areas, to develop a procurement approach, a phased deployment plan and a hosting model, suitable for the deployment of EHRs.
678. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has received the pre-budget 2024 submission of an organisation (details supplied); if so, his views on the submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30852/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the details supplied for this PQ relates to Disability Services, it is more appropriate for DCEDIY to answer.
680. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 23 February 2023, if there is any further development in the provision of a pathway for a person to claim compensation for what they believe to be illegal nursing home charges paid between 1977 and 1979, who has not as of yet made any claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30855/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Repayment Scheme was a statutory scheme established under the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 to repay specified pre-2005 charges for in-patient services imposed on certain persons with full medical card eligibility in public long stay facilities, including public nursing homes. As the Scheme closed to new applications on 31 December 2007 in accordance with the provisions of the Act, no new applications can be made under the Scheme.
To date, the HSE has processed almost 35,500 claims under the Scheme and has issued repayments of approximately €453 million to over 20,300 claimants.
Upon the raising of issues earlier this year about how the State has approached legal challenges taken against it in relation to pre-2005 legacy nursing home charges, the Government moved quickly to establish the facts surrounding these issues, which go back many decades, by requesting the Attorney General to prepare a Report on the litigation management strategy. This comprehensive Report was published on 7 February 2023 and may be accessed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/22adc-attorney-generals-report-on-nursing-home-charges-and-disabled-persons-maintenance-allowance/
As committed in February, the Minister is considering the Attorney General’s report and briefing prepared by the Department further and hopes to revert to Government shortly.
681. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health whether a review of policy to prohibit former nursing homes registered on 1 September 2022 converting to accommodation for Ukrainian refugees has been completed; if there has been any change to the policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30856/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government takes the closure of nursing homes very seriously. Ensuring that the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is of the utmost importance. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close or cease participating in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, that residents and their families must be consulted with, and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and residents can move in a safe, planned way. There is a legal requirement that providers must give at least six months’ notice to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) if they intend to close. This provides residents, families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively. It became apparent in late August last year that a small number of active nursing homes had chosen, or were seriously considering, to convert into accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Other active nursing homes were known to be in official negotiations or to be considering this approach. Given the challenges currently being faced in the nursing home sector and noticing a small trend emerging, Minister Donnelly and I agreed with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, to change the procurement guidelines around accommodation for persons under temporary protection in order to remove from consideration active nursing homes that were still registered operators with HIQA on or after the date of 1 September 2022. The intention behind this position has been to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date remained unaffected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers. Following review of the policy at the end of April, the decision has been made to adopt a more flexible approach and to allow the conversion of nursing homes into accommodation centres for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protections after 18 months following deregistration from the Health Information and Quality Agency Chief Inspector’s register.This allows for an appropriate closure process for residents and staff of nursing homes, while preventing facilities from being empty indefinitely where they might provide a source of accommodation for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protection. The Government continues to prioritise the best interests of nursing home residents to ensure that their welfare, care and well-being is ensured whilst simultaneously ensuring that nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
682. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the average wait from accepting a job application to starting work for people applying for work permits from abroad in each hospital under HSE management; how many of these have not started work after accepting a place, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30858/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
683. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown, by CHO of the provision of optometry services for all ages; what is and is not covered; the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30859/23]
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.
684. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment for an ear, nose and throat, ENT, procedure in Sligo University Hospital, if he is on the routine or urgent waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30864/23]
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.
686. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been called for a procedure in University Hospital Waterford; if they can obtain the procedure through the treatment purchase scheme, the cross-Border directive or the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30875/23]
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 query raised by the Deputy as to why a particular individual has not been called for a procedure, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
I wish to clarify that the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
The HSE currently operates three schemes that facilitate patients accessing treatment abroad.
The EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland.
An alternative where the treatment is available in Ireland is the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD). The EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level.
Additionally, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021 having been introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The current administrative scheme enables persons ordinarily resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
The HSE provides further information on its website about how each of the schemes operates, including the criteria for eligibility:
www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/
687. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not yet been called for a procedure in University Hospital Limerick; if they can obtain the procedure through the treatment purchase scheme, the cross-Border directive or the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/23]
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 query raised by the Deputy as to why a particular individual has not been called for a procedure, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
I wish to clarify that the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
The HSE currently operates three schemes that facilitate patients accessing treatment abroad.
The EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland.
An alternative where the treatment is available in Ireland is the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD). The EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) provides rules for the reimbursements to patients of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State, and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level.
Additionally, the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021 having been introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The current administrative scheme enables persons ordinarily resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.
The HSE provides further information on its website about how each of the schemes operates, including the criteria for eligibility:
www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/
689. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in respect of the establishment of a primary care centre in Maynooth, County Kildare (details supplied); and the outcome of consideration to deliver a centre for Maynooth or whether an expanded centre in Leixlip is the preferred pathway forward. [30896/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
690. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measure he and his Department are taking to ensure supply of HRT medicines following shortages of utrogestran and oestrogen patches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30912/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLaboratoires Besins International has advised of a shortage of Imvaggis 0.03 mg Pessary, impacting multiple markets. The company stated the reason is manufacturing delays and supply is expected towards the end of July.
Alternatives are available. Many Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) are authorised for use in Ireland in various formulations (e.g., oral tablets, transdermal patches, gels, and sprays) and strengths. For the vast majority of HRT products authorised, including transdermal patches and gels, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has not received any notifications of current shortages. This includes all but two of the above mentioned authorised products outlined in the HSE’s clinical guidance for HRT (hyperlink below).
MMP guidance for prescribers on HRT shortages – September 2022 (hse.ie)
Unfortunately, medicine shortages are a feature of modern health systems worldwide which have been exacerbated by recent worldwide events. There are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues. Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicine shortage framework in place, coordinated by the HPRA, to prevent, wherever possible, and to manage medicine shortages when they occur. The Department of Health maintains regular contact with the HPRA regarding medicines shortages.
The HPRA publishes a list of medicines currently in short supply on its website (Medicines Shortages (hpra.ie) with the reason for the shortage and expected dates for the return of supply. The information is available to assist healthcare professionals in managing medicine shortages when they arise and reduce their impact on patients. The information relating to shortages on the HPRA website is dynamic and changes depending on the current information.
The HPRA will continue to liaise with suppliers of HRT medicines over the coming weeks with a view to securing updates and commitments regarding the restoration of normal supplies for patients as soon as possible.
The supply Utrogestan Vaginal 200mg Vaginal Capsule which had been in short supply resumed on 20 June.
Patients are advised to discuss their treatment and alternative options with their doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
691. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the processes to mediate the pay concerns of workers within section 39 organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30921/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the key role that Section 39 organisations and staff have in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. A follow up engagement took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May. A further engagement is due to take place at the WRC in the coming weeks. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
The Department notes that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.
692. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the after-hours GP service for Mallow, Fermoy and Mitchelstown; if his Department will intervene to find GPs who will work late shifts to keep this important service operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30923/23]
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.
