Written Answers Nos. 1543-1562
1543. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to add amyloidosis as a condition to the schedule of long-term illnesses in the context of being eligible for public healthcare supports. [15003/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, 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 in-patient 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, further measures have facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including 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. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
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%.
1544. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he plans to add a medicine (details supplied) to the schedule of items covered by the long-term illness card. [15015/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
Ozempic® (Semaglutide) is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Ozempic® (Semaglutide) is not licensed or reimbursed for the treatment of weight management in a non-diabetic population.
Therefore, reimbursement support for Ozempic® (Semaglutide) for the licensed indication only is available to those with eligibility under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme or the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. Ozempic® (Semaglutide) is not available on the Drugs Payment Scheme.
1545. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health what plans the HSE has for the building in Laytown, County Meath that previously housed the Laytown Healthcare Unit; if the building could be released by the HSE for community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15027/24]
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.
1546. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/24]
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.
1547. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will get an appointment with the pain team in the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15061/24]
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.
1548. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of CAMHS public patients that have been seen since January 2024 to date by consultants (details supplied) in their own respective outpatient clinics within their own catchment areas in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15064/24]
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.
1549. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health how many patients were seen extra contractually during a consultant's (details supplied) period of leave in 2023; the name of each consultant that covered the consultant's leave; the full cost of each consultant providing this cover, per consultant; if he will specify if these extra contractual payments were in addition to their salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15065/24]
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.
1550. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health how many patients of TEAM 1 CAMHS in South Tipperary are still being seen extra contractually following a consultant's (details supplied) return from leave; to outline the consultants continuing to provide extra contractual cover to CAMHS Team 1 following the consultant's return; the cost of this extra contractual cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15066/24]
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.
1551. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if, as per the Mental Health Commission's recommendation, practice managers have been put in post in South Tipperary CAMHS; to list the improvements that have been made to the CAMHS teams in South Tipperary; the reasons families have been sent away from out patient clinics appointments due to lost files; the number of appointments that have been cancelled for this reason; the steps that will be taken to rectify this matter immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15067/24]
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.
1552. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason parents report difficulties getting to speak with clinical staff on the CAMHS teams in South Tipperary and can only speak with admin or reception staff; what steps are being taken to improve access to clinical staff on the CAMHS teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15068/24]
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.
1553. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children connected to each of the two CAMHS teams in South Tipperary; the current wait lists for each team; the number of public outpatient clinics per team per week; the number of patients being seen at each outpatient clinic on each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15069/24]
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.
1554. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a clinic in Cork (details supplied) is currently not staffed; if provisions will be made to allocate another staff member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
1555. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address details in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15078/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
1556. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary measures to ensure that the paediatric diabetes service in the Regional Hospital Mullingar will be kept open for those 145 children who avail of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15088/24]
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.
1557. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health what plans he has in place to address the staffing crisis impacting the paediatric diabetes service in Regional Hospital, Mullingar, thereby ensuring the children of the Midlands are afforded the option to receive the best care close to home and not put under unnecessary stress. [15089/24]
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.
1558. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE critical care nurses in both CHI Temple Street and CHI Crumlin in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased this year. [15101/24]
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.
1559. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE radiation therapists working in each of the public hospitals at the end of March in the years 2021 to 2024, in tabular form. [15102/24]
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.
1560. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant nephrologists and nephrologist registrars working in each hospital part of the RCSI Group in the years 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [15103/24]
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.
1561. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of WTE vacancies of public health nurses, by health centre and primary care centre, within the Cavan-Monaghan area; and the expected timeframe for which these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [15104/24]
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.
1562. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what will happen to the high-risk diabetes patients that are currently attending the podiatrist in the Gate Lodge at Letterkenny University Hospital when that position is vacated later in April 2024. [15107/24]
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.
