Written Answers Nos. 326-335
326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the degree to which provision is being made for patients in need of scoliosis treatment as soon as possible in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2323/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra328. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the proposals to reduce waiting lists for patients expecting scoliosis treatment in the shorter term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2325/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 328 together.
I want to acknowledge that waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida services are unacceptably long. I am acutely conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I have committed €19 million under the 2022 and 2023 Waiting List Action Plans to tackle these waiting lists. This investment has supported an increase in the number of spinal procedures undertaken in both 2022 and 2023, 509 and 464 respectively, compared to 380 in 2019. So, while waiting lists remain far too long, it is fair to acknowledge that there is an increase in the number of patients being treated. My Department and the HSE are working hard to make progress in this area including improvements to the organisation, management, and delivery of the services.
In 2024, I have secured €332 million for the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan, under which scoliosis and spina bifida services are a priority area. This 2024 Waiting List Action Plan is currently being developed by my Department and the HSE.
327. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the promised phase of the Naas hospital development plan will be activated in accordance with the original projections; when the facility will be completed and opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2324/24]
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.
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.
329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate what steps have been taken to ensure that patients seeking treatment for cataracts can expect to have their needs met in the shortest possible timeframe, whether the national treatment purchase scheme is being used to assist the most urgent cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2326/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures are too long and continue to be impacted 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.
The NTPF approved 3 insourcing cataracts initiatives for funding in 2023, which facilitated treatment for 2,900 patients on cataracts waiting lists. The NTPF also approved 4 outpatient ophthalmology initiatives for funding in 2023, facilitating treatment for 8,600 patients on ophthalmology waiting lists. There were a total of 7,718 treatments arranged in 2023 for cataracts procedures by the NTPF.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan built on the foundational work done in previous plans, achieving significant progress in relation to waiting lists, including advancements made on overall waiting list reduction for the second year in a row, and progress made in addressing long waiting times.
The Department of Health is working with the HSE to finalise both the End of Year Report against the 2023 WLAP as well as the new WLAP 2024, which will take account of learnings from 2023 as well as the funding envelope provided for 2024.
For 2024, funding totalling €407 million is being allocated to tackle waiting lists with €332 million of this allocated to the 2024 WLAP, and the remaining €75 million targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
The funding will encompass core HSE activity, additionality provided through both the NTPF and the HSE, as well as progressing new service developments to further reform elective care, and will facilitate the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care for everyone, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
330. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the degree to which he and his Department continue to evaluate the needs of patients seeking various treatments such as cardiology, oncology, endoscopy, urology and neurology treatments; the efforts being made to ensure urgent patients are being treated as quick as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2327/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the immediate efforts that continue to be made to review the most acute hospital waiting lists throughout the country on a regular basis in order to target those areas particularly affected by long waiting lists and delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2328/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 331 together.
The multi-annual approach to reforming and reducing waiting lists and waiting times, which began in Q4 2021, is a key reform initiative under Sláintecare.
The core target of achieving a 10% reduction in the number of patients breaching the Sláintecare waiting times was exceeded, with an 11% reduction achieved, and the target of removing approximately 1.66 million patients from waiting lists in 2023 was exceeded by 5%. This covers inpatients, day case, outpatients and GI scopes.
Since the pandemic peaks there has been a 27% reduction in the number of people waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets, which equates to nearly 170,000 people.
However, when compared to both 2022 and the pre-pandemic period of 2019, the level of additions to our waiting lists also increased significantly last year. Despite this, 2023 was the second year in row that our total waiting lists fell, with over 177,000 more patients removed from the lists than 2022. They also fell in 2022, which was the first annual decrease in national hospital waiting lists since 2015.
Officials in my Department have continuous engagement with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) on the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. A particular focus of this engagement is on the continued implementation models of care, developed under the Strategy, which set out patient pathways in cancer care services.
Under the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, several reform initiatives are being progressed by the HSE to support improvement in operational efficiencies in hospitals, to create a sustainable system to maximise capacity within Outpatients.
In 2024 a further €407 million in funding will be allocated across acute hospital and community services. This includes €332 million for the 2024 WLAP, which is currently being developed by my Department and the HSE.
332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the action being taken to ensure there will be an adequate number of GPs in all areas throughout the country to ensure universal access to healthcare when needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2329/24]
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 2,518 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
For GMS patients unable to locate a GP themselves, the Health Service Executive may assign an eligible person to be included on a medical practitioner's GMS list, in accordance with the GMS contract.
The Government has undertaken several measures to increase the number of GPs working across the country and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement 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 was increased by 10%.
The GP Agreement 2023, which provided for the expansions of GP care without charges to those who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services also.
These measures help make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors. Figures recently released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates have applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on last year and higher than any previous years.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places planned for new entrants for this year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% from 2015 to 2023, and the number of new entrant places to be available this year is a 22% increase on last year's intake alone.
Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint non-EU GP Training Programme between the HSE and ICGP. It was planned to bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023, and it is now intended to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024. The programme will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access.
Lastly, my Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and when completed will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
333. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the extent to which adequate mental health provision is being provided to ensure the availability of an adequate number of residential places to meet the current and ongoing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2330/24]
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.
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.
334. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the action being taken to ensure the retention of junior medical doctors and nurses once qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2331/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
335. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the progress to date in filling all positions available including maternity leave cover in the CH07 area; the number of position likely to be filled in the near future to ensure continuity of care for the local community ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2332/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
