Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1726. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant public health nurse posts in each county and area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1566/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Staff
Ceisteanna (1726)
Freagraí scríofa
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (1727)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:1727. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for a hospital procedure for a person (details supplied) is likely to be rescheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1575/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Under 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (1728)
Kathleen Funchion
Ceist:1728. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what funding is available to support an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1580/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 models 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 CCSCs 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. I have allocated additional funding of €3 million in 2024, which will support members of the NCCP Alliance of CCSCs. This funding will be allocated by the NCCP this year.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1729)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1729. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1587/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (1730)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:1730. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate the proportion of nursing costs paid by the State and by residents and their families under the fair deal scheme, distinguishing payments by families made immediately and payments recovered later from property sales. [1605/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (1731)
David Cullinane
Ceist:1731. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of the National Ambulance Service fleet for the period 2019-2024, inclusive, in tabular form; and the number of vehicles, by type. [1611/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (1732)
David Cullinane
Ceist:1732. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of the National Ambulance Service staff for the period 2019-204, inclusive, by grade, in tabular form. [1612/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1733)
John McGuinness
Ceist:1733. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide age-appropriate products (details supplied). [1617/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1734)
Noel Grealish
Ceist:1734. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the State on the 31 December in each of the years 2013 to 2023; the number of hospital ICU beds in State-funded and private hospitals in each year; his views on the implementation of the Government's stated intention to increase the provision of ICU hospital beds in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1618/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Cabinet in December 2020, aims to provide for long term increases in critical care capacity to meet current and future needs. The increases provided for in the Strategic Plan exceed the recommendations of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review, which had set out a requirement for 430 critical care beds by 2031.
Before the pandemic, there were 258 adult critical care beds. Very significant funding of €78.2 million has been provided by Government since 2021 to add an additional 94 beds in Phase 1 of the Strategic Plan to bring funded capacity to 352 critical care beds.
Today, there are 329 Critical Care beds in place, an increase of 71 beds. The remaining beds are due for delivery once fit-out and recruitment processes are completed.
Phase 2 of the Strategic Plan will provide further critical care capacity with developments at five priority sites and will exceed the number of critical care beds numbers recommended by the Health Service Capacity Review.
The following data is included in the annual National Audit of Critical Care Capacity and Activity Census (2013-2021) and HSE data (2022-2023).
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Date |
N/a |
30/4/14 |
30/9/15 |
30/9/16 |
30/9/17 |
N/a |
30/9/19 |
30/9/20 |
30/9/21 |
31/12/22 |
31/12/23 |
|
Bed Nos. |
234 |
234 |
238 |
237 |
240 |
249 |
255 |
255* |
302 |
323 |
329 |
Capacity in private hospitals is a matter for the individual private hospitals themselves. The Minister for Health does not have a role to play in relation to critical care capacity in private facilities.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (1735, 1773)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:1735. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility for the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips (insulin and metformin) to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; if he agrees with the decision to remove them from the scheme; if he will reverse that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1619/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Peter Burke
Ceist:1773. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility to the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips (insulin and metformin) to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; if he agrees with the decision to remove them from the scheme and if he will now reverse that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1804/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1735 and 1773 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 conditions 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. Gestational diabetes is not a permanent or long-term illness and is, therefore, not covered by the LTI scheme. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is 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.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
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 under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. 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.
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%.
Departmental Records
Ceisteanna (1736)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:1736. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy in each of the years 2018 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1620/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1737)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:1737. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he expects the new St. Marys Hospital in Drogheda to be fully operational; if the HSE moratorium has impacted on the progress of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (1738)
Michael Ring
Ceist:1738. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when funding will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in order that they can live independently in a council house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1626/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (1739)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:1739. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding his Department and the HSE have provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [1628/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.