Wednesday, 19 Apr 2023

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (169, 170, 171)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have been treated in long-Covid and post-acute clinics since they were established, by clinic, in tabular form. [18517/23]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people on a waiting list for long-Covid and post-acute clinics, by clinic and wait time, in tabular form. [18518/23]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the existing staffing levels in each of the long-Covid and post-acute clinics, by role, in tabular form; the number of vacant posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 171, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.

Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 169.

Question No. 171 answered with Question No. 169.

Legislative Programme

Questions (172)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

172. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the date at which he intends to commence the Health (Amendment) Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18520/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As part of Budget 2023, I announced my commitment to abolish all public inpatient hospital charges this year. The Health (Amendment) Act 2023, signed into law by the President on 4 April 2023, removes the acute public in-patient charge of €80 per day for people accessing care as a public patient in public hospitals. This measure came into effect from 17 April 2023.

The removal of these charges is an important step towards reducing the healthcare costs of patients and families. This measure builds on the abolition of public in-patient charges for children, which I introduced in September last year, and is another significant step in ensuring that people have access to affordable healthcare services when needed.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (173)

Charles Flanagan

Question:

173. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the timeframe of the proposed new development at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Mountmellick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18569/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As 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.

Pension Provisions

Questions (174)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been requested to reply directly to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (175)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in issuing all remaining pandemic recognition payments, with particular reference to cases that were upheld on appeal and eligible for payment; if a timeline for payment can be indicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18571/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (176)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health why a vital service (details supplied) was not available in County Kerry on 12 April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/23]

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Written answers

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.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Questions (177)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

177. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to introduce emergency access pathways for those who already hold medical cards to be reimbursed via the primary care reimbursement scheme for those who have been approved by ministerial licence for access to medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18590/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Irish-registered medical practitioners may apply to the Minister for Health for a licence to access cannabis for medical use for a named patient under their care. Applications for this Ministerial licence can only be accepted from:

• An individual patient’s medical consultant, where evidence of an established doctor-patient relationship exists, or

• From the individual patient’s GP where the application is also accompanied by a written endorsement for the cannabis treatment from the patient’s medical consultant.

The Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) allows medical consultants to prescribe specified cannabis-based products for patients with certain medical conditions who have exhausted all other available medical treatment options. Those medical conditions are:

• Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis

• Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

• Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy

Patients treated under Ministerial licence may have one of these conditions or they may have a different condition. The HSE will only reimburse eligible patients who access a cannabis product under the Ministerial licensing route if prescribed for one of the three medical conditions included in the MCAP.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (178)

James Lawless

Question:

178. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the case of a family (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18593/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of health services, such as the GMS contract for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders.

Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.

People who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card access GP services on a private basis in which the Minister has no role and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.

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, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022, with a further significant increase planned for this year. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.

These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

Furthermore, a strategic review of GP services is to commence shortly and will be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.

Disease Management

Questions (179)

Holly Cairns

Question:

179. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to provide funding for individuals who need to seek medical treatment for oesophageal cancer which is currently unavailable in the State. [18605/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I understand the Deputy may be seeking further information on the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS).

The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for people entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:

• among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;

• not available in Ireland;

• not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease;

• medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;

• a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;

• provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;

• is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.

The HSE provides further information for patients on the HSE TAS website:

www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/treatment-abroad-scheme/

Patients are advised to contact the HSE TAS office directly, for advice on making an application for treatment abroad, in advance of travelling abroad. Contact details are available on the TAS Website:

www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/treatment-abroad-scheme/

General Practitioner Services

Questions (180)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a GP can be assigned to an infant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18610/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Certain groups, including all those under 6 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.

Where a GMS patient, a patient that holds a medical card or GP visit card, experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list. Likewise, a parent on behalf of a child GMS patient who experiences difficulty in finding a GP that will accept their child as a patient can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit also.

Neither myself or the HSE have any role in assigning patients who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card to a GP's patient list, as these patients access GP services on a private basis. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (181)

Colm Burke

Question:

181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what progress has been made to date on the building of a new dental school and hospital in Curraheen, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

UCC submitted their Dental School project to the Higher Education Authority for consideration under the Higher Education Capacity Building process.

This process was developed to identify opportunities in the Higher Education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine programmes.

The HEA have recently submitted their recommendations to me. I will now consider the recommendations and consult with colleagues across government on the opportunities for expansion identified and associated funding priorities.

Dental Services

Questions (182, 183, 184)

Colm Burke

Question:

182. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what action his Department is taking to increase the number of available places to dental students at the two dental schools in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin; if consideration would be given to the provision of additional funding to invest and expand the two dental schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/23]

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Colm Burke

Question:

183. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what action his Department is taking to increase the number of available places for dental hygienist students in the two dental schools in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, in view that approximately 25 dental hygienists graduate from the two dental schools annually which as per a report (details supplied) is not enough graduates annually to address the dental workforce crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18365/23]

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Colm Burke

Question:

184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what action his Department is taking to address the current shortage of qualified dental nurses in the dental workforce nationally; if consideration would be given to the allocation of additional training places for dental nurses to deal with this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18366/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 184, inclusive, together.

The matter of health workforce planning and ensuring an appropriate pipeline of qualified healthcare workers within Ireland, including all suitably qualified dental professionals, is a major priority for my Department.

I have just recently received recommendations from the HEA in respect of the Expressions of Interest process in which were sought submissions regarding possible expansion of places in five disciplines – Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary. I am currently reviewing the opportunities identified by this process and will be looking to engage further with the Minister for Health and other relevant Departments in the coming weeks.

As I am still reviewing the submission from the HEA, it is not possible to say how many further places may be delivered at this time, or in what specific areas these places may be made available. The Minister for Health and I will consider opportunities for new programme provision alongside options for current programme expansion to determine a final list of options.

My Department and the Department of Health will be engaging closely on this matter to consider these options, having regard to workforce plans and projected demand for graduates.

Question No. 183 answered with Question No. 182.

Question No. 184 answered with Question No. 182.