Written Answers Nos. 242-259
242. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed explanation of the processes, milestones and timelines that led to the recently released tender for Cork University Hospital Clinical Medical School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45626/23]
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.
243. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed timeline of the recent tender for Cork University Hospital clinical medical school progress through the public spending code and associated processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45631/23]
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.
244. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he agrees that there should be a moral obligation on food retail outlets, large or small, to sell fresh fruit, that is, individual fruits, a whole banana, apple, pear, and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45374/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health does not have any remit over what specific products can be sold in individual food retailers. To our knowledge, policy consideration has not yet been given to the option of ensuring that food retail outlets sell individual whole fresh fruit. This could be considered, but would have to be undertaken in partnership across Government and including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as the issues involved extend beyond this Department’s remit.
However there are measures that have been undertaken under Healthy Ireland. This includes a Framework for Improved Health and Well-being 2013-2025, which was launched in March 2013 and is the national Framework supporting the health and well-being of the country. It takes a “whole of Government” and “whole of society” approach to improving health and well-being. The Framework is based on international research, experience and thinking in addressing the broad social determinants of health.
Healthy Ireland seeks to tackle the major lifestyle issues which lead to negative health outcomes, including smoking, alcohol, poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity. It also seeks to address the wider societal and environmental factors that impact on health and well-being, for example, housing, education, transport, and the physical environment. The Framework aims to shift the focus to prevention, seeks to reduce health inequalities, and emphasises the need to empower people and communities to better support their own health and well-being.
‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP)’, was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework. The OPAP covers a ten-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Every sector of our society has a role in reducing the burden of obesity and the OPAP clearly acknowledges this.
Promotion of healthy eating and improving the availability of healthier food options, including the promotion of fruit and vegetable intake, is fundamental to many programmes that are co-ordinated under the OPAP.
Outlined below are some of the initiatives that have been implemented under the OPAP, that facilitate communities to make healthier food and lifestyle choices:
• Healthy eating dietary guidelines for children aged 1-5 years have been produced and resources are available on the Healthy Ireland and safefood websites. Healthy eating guidelines for individuals aged over 65 have also been published as part the Department’s commitments under OPAP.
• Food and Nutrition standards have also been developed for early learning and childcare services, based on the healthy eating guidelines for 1-5 year-olds. These were developed in collaboration with Healthy Ireland, safefood, HSE and Department of Health and are designed to inform the development and implementation of Healthy Eating Policy and practice in Early Learning and Care Services.
• The Health and Well-being team have collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Education, Bord Bia and Agri-Aware on two initiatives “Food Dudes” and “Incredible Edibles”, both of which encourage children to explore tasting, cooking and growing with fruit and vegetables, so that they can be encouraged to include them in their diet.
• The Department of Social Protection has implemented the free school meal scheme to DEIS primary schools. Nutrition Standards were developed to offer food providers meal options that comply with healthy eating guidelines and ensure that children are offered fruit and vegetables daily.
• The HSE runs the Healthy Food Made Easy Programme to encourage communities to come together to develop cooking skills and provide healthy meals for families.
• 19 Community Food and Nutrition Officers have been recruited in the last year, as part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. The role of community food and nutrition workers is to take a cross sectoral approach in areas around the country that have been identified as being socially disadvantaged, to map out existing services and to signpost individuals towards accessing the appropriate supports for their families.
245. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will urge the HSE to reconsider its decision to refuse funding to a cancer support group (details supplied); the reason this group is being denied funding at CHO 8 level despite CHO 8 funding being provided to other organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45384/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 recognises cancer support centres as a valuable resource, providing access to support to cancer patients and their families outside of the acute care setting. The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) works closely with a network of Community Cancer Support Centres, particularly in regard to the psycho-oncology model of care and the implementation of survivorship programmes for those living with and beyond cancer.
Community cancer support centres are voluntary and charity organisations delivering services directly to cancer patients and their families that emphasise the importance of quality of life during and after cancer treatment. These services can be availed of free of charge and in local communities. The NCCP Revised Best Practice Guidance for community cancer support centres was published in March 2022. The Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres was also established in 2022. The Alliance is a HSE initiative which aims to develop a collaborative framework for community-based cancer support centres and services. This programme promotes participation in capacity-building activities and communication and networking forums aimed at ensuring that community-based cancer support services are integrated.
The NCCP operates an activity-based funding model for organisations who have joined the NCCP Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres & Services. Funding for current expenditure, including cancer services, is allocated on an annual (single-year) basis through the Estimates process with future levels of funding considered as part of the national estimates and budgetary process.
The HSE will shortly be submitting its National Service Plan to my Department for approval which will set out the level of funding to be provided to the Alliance.
246. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to direct the HSE to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); the reason the HSE has not responded to a number of representations on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45385/23]
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.
247. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and the costs associated with same in each of those years. [45399/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being collated by Department officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy once available.
248. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have attended the minor injuries unit at Nenagh General Hospital in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [45422/23]
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.
249. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the CHOs that currently provide rapid access stabilisation units; and his plans to provide funding for such units. [45423/23]
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.
250. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE advanced nurse practitioner in paediatric rheumatology at University Hospital Limerick in 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [45424/23]
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.
251. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for each HSE weight management clinic, in tabular form. [45425/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
252. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to extend the opening hours of the minor injuries unit at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel to 8am-8pm seven days a week. [45426/23]
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.
253. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45434/23]
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.
254. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if respite services (details supplied) in County Donegal are fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45435/23]
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.
255. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he has been made aware of GPs who will be negatively affected by the recent guidelines issued by the Revenue Commissioners in relation to tax treatment; if his Department will examine these guidelines with a contractual lens to prevent small practices and GP partnerships from closing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45438/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I am aware of the concerns raised regarding new guidance to be issued shortly by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income.
Officials from my Department and the HSE have engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication.
Importantly, the guidance does not reflect a change in tax law, but clarifies how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To assist GPs and GP practices in complying with their obligations under tax legislation, Revenue will publish detailed guidance shortly. This will supplement the guidance issued to tax practitioners, through the Tax Administration Liaison Committee, in July of this year clarifying the correct tax treatment of GMS income. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.
My Department and the HSE are also engaged with the IMO and will remain engaged with them to address the potential operational issues raised.
The Strategic Review of General Practice, which is now underway, will examine the current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, and will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.
256. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the status of ongoing plans in terms of addressing the concerns raised by the general practitioners in Donegal (details supplied); if he will meet them to discuss these concerns as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45443/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUrgent and Emergency Care pressures are no longer just experienced during winter periods and levels of high daily presentations and congestion are now being experienced throughout the year. While significant investment has been driven through Winter Planning and National Service Plans over the past three years, a new approach to Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) planning in now required in response this changing and increasing demand profile.
This approach is twofold:
• The delivery of an operational plan for Urgent and Emergency Care for the remainder of 2023, which was signed off by Government in July; and
• The delivery of a 3-year multi-annual Urgent and Emergency Care Strategy to provide a Vision and Framework for UEC for the next 3 years, which is expected to be submitted to Government in the Autumn.
The Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan 2023 outlines targeted reform activities and initiatives which will run to the end of 2023, utilising current investment in hospital and community settings to ensure better outcomes in Urgent and Emergency Care.
I am aware of the letter received from a group of General Practitioners in Donegal expressing their concerns at the situation at Letterkenny University Hospital. A large number of meeting requests are received by my Office, and the request to meet with the Donegal GPs is being actively considered, and a response will be issued shortly.
257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he will introduce to address the issues outlined by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45444/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved. The recent establishment of the Expert Taskforce to support the expansion of the role of pharmacists in Ireland is evidence of my commitment to that aim.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review.
There has been constructive engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union especially in recent months to advance consideration of the range of initiatives to support an enhanced role of pharmacy.
As the taskforce progresses its work this close engagement needs to continue with my Department and the HSE, with a view to identifying the key enablers to support realisation of the objectives of an expanded scope of pharmacy practice.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
258. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the average wait time from check-in to seeing a clinician at Letterkenny University Hospital emergency department; the national average for this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45447/23]
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.
259. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health to confirm the average wait time from arrival at the emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital to admission; what the national figure is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45450/23]
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.
