Tuesday, 7 Nov 2023

Medicinal Products

Ceisteanna (1312, 1313, 1314)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1312. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48564/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1313. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he plans to expand a scheme (details supplied) to people with endometriosis or chronic pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48565/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1314. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants who work with patients on a scheme (details supplied); how many patients on that scheme they have under their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48566/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1312 to 1314, inclusive, together.

The MCAP is currently undergoing an evidence synthesis review in relation as to whether evidence exists to expand the number conditions covered by the programme. This work has been undertaken by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. The evidence synthesis review will be peer reviewed after which a clinical group will review the evidence synthesis to ascertain whether evidence exists to expand the scope of conditions covered by the programme. This is expected to be completed by end of 2023/early 2024.

To date, 14 consultants have made applications to be entered on the Cannabis for Medical Use Register for the treatment of 50 patients.

Question No. 1313 answered with Question No. 1312.

Question No. 1314 answered with Question No. 1312.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (1315)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1315. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants who work with patients on a scheme (details supplied); how many patients on that scheme they have under their care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48567/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis-based products for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.

334 Ministerial Licences have issued to date pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977.

Ministerial Licences have issued to 35 clinicians for the treatment of 77 different patients since the programme began in December 2016.

Currently there are 16 clinicians treating 31 patients under the Ministerial Licence programme.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (1316)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1316. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider expanding the medical card support for those who have obtained a ministerial licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48568/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Medical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.

Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie.

Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. This increase helps to ensure that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over qualify for a medical card. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

I can assure the Deputy that, in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues, including the current medical card income thresholds, under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1317)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Ceist:

1317. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health what is meant by a term (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48570/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (1325)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1325. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for counselling services by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [48586/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (1326)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1326. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for dietetics by CHO, age category and time waiting, in tabular form. [48588/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (1327)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1327. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for home care packages; the number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital due to a delay accessing home care; and the waiting lists for home care packages community healthcare organisation, CHO, and local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [48589/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (1328)

Marian Harkin

Ceist:

1328. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if treatment for retrograde cricophalyngeas dysfunction (R-CPD) will be made available on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48591/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health Act 1970, as amended, provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others).

Adults with full eligibility (medical card holders) can currently access a range of services including GP services, prescribed drugs and medicines, public in-patient hospital services, including consultants’ services, out-patient public hospital services including consultants’ services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances, and maternity and infant care service.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1329)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

1329. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of invitation letters issued for BreastCheck appointments, and the number of attendances at BreastCheck appointments, by county, for the period 2016 to 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48592/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Healthcare Policy

Ceisteanna (1330)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

1330. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to extend the cycle of care for children aged under eight years with an asthma diagnosis, to all people under the age of 18 years, with or without a GP card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48594/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and their family can qualify for a medical card or GP visit card. Certain groups, including all those under 8 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.

GP care without charges for all children under 6 years of age was introduced from July 2015. In addition to the provision of GP services, the Under 6s Contract also provided for periodic wellness assessments at ages 2 and 5 and for the Asthma Cycle of Care programme.

The Asthma Cycle of Care programme required GP contract holders to maintain a register of all child patients aged between 2 and 5 years with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma, and to provide services for those patients in accordance with the agreed cycle of care set out within the contract.

As part of the 2023 GP Agreement, the annual review provided for under the Asthma Cycle of Care will continue to be provided until the registered child patient has reached 8 years of age.

Healthcare Policy

Ceisteanna (1331, 1356)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

1331. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expand access to the chronic disease management programme to all adults aged 18 years or over, with or without a GP visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48595/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

1356. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if equality of care can be offered to COPD sufferers without a medical card in order that they can access services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48784/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1331 and 1356 together.

Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and their family can qualify for a medical card or GP visit card. Certain groups, including all those under 8 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period. The specified chronic conditions included in the Programme are Type 2 Diabetes; Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cardiovascular Disease (including Heart Failure, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Atrial Fibrillation).

The CDM programme is an entirely new healthcare service in Ireland that has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and it aims to reduce hospital attendance by patients with one or more of these specified conditions.

People who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card access their GP service on a private basis. As such, clinical care decisions and the fees charged for services to private patients are a matter of private contract between the patient and their GP.