Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Written Answers Nos. 648-662

Hospital Staff

Questions (648, 651)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

648. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health given the acute challenges facing public hospitals when it comes to recruiting medical scientists, if he will enact legislative change to allow CORU to broaden the scope of qualifications eligible for registration with the Medical Scientist Registration Board, specifically to update S.I. 46/2019 and S.I. 305/2022 to introduce and allow a division of the register for medical scientists who are qualified, proficient and competent in a single laboratory discipline, for example, histopathology-specific medical scientist grade, based on agreed educational requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25596/23]

Ivana Bacik

Question:

651. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the challenges associated with recruitment of medical scientists, he will enact legislative change to enable CORU to broaden the scope of qualifications eligible for registration with the Medical Scientist Registration Board; if he will update S.I. 46/2019 and S.I. 35/2022 to allow a division of the register for medical scientists who are qualified, proficient and competent in a single laboratory discipline, based on agreed educational requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25600/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

I propose to take Questions No. 648 and 651 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards.

The Medical Scientists Registration Board was established in 2016 and the register of medical scientists opened on 31 March 2019. The Medical Scientists Registration Board has statutory responsibility for setting the minimum standards for entry to the profession and is an independent decision-making authority in matters relating to professional registration of medical scientists within the context of the Health and Social care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended).

The CORU executive are examining all options available within the current legislation to establish pathways for increased recruitment of Medical Scientists, with due consideration to CORU’s public protection remit. Given the challenges and risks involved with amending regulatory legislation, along with the requirements of the EU's Proportionality Test Directive (transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 413/2022 - European Union (Regulated Professions Proportionality Assessment) Regulations 2022), this is deemed the best current course of action.

CORU has been working intensely to identify solutions within the context of the current legislation and the standards established by the Medical Scientists Registration Board. One pilot mechanism to streamline recognition is already underway while another mechanism focussed on recognition of third country qualifications is in development. However, it is acknowledged that legislative change may be required and this will become clearer in due course.

Hospital Staff

Questions (649)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

649. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, and on implementation of the recommendation of the extension of the qualification allowance CNM3 grade, in particular. [25597/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report on the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery in March, 2022. I have accepted all 47 recommendations. Their implementation will address identified pay anomalies, support nurses and midwives to continue to learn and develop in professional roles and enable delivery of Sláintecare priorities.

I have committed to establishing a process to oversee the implementation of the 47 recommendations which is being led by the Chief Nursing Officer in my Department. The Expert Review Body Implementation Oversight Team, with key stakeholder representation, was established in Q4 2022. Work is progressing, through Implementation Action Groups, on the many priority recommendations identified. These priorities relate to nursing and midwifery education, workforce, digital health capacity and capability and also leadership and governance. This work will encompass a review and reform of nursing and midwifery undergraduate training programmes. As well as delivering on workforce capacity, the work will align training needs with the healthcare reform agenda and increasing postgraduate training in community care. The recommendations, when implemented, will enhance care through digital solutions as well as addressing the challenges with recruitment and retention of senior nursing and midwifery leaders.

Currently, a process considering implementation of the Expert Review Body's recommendations related to three of the pay recommendations, including recommendation 46 regarding CNM grades, is underway.

Hospital Staff

Questions (650)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

650. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his views on the shortage of medical scientists working in acute hospitals; his plans to rectify the shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Question No. 651 answered with Question No. 648.

Health Services

Questions (652)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

652. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason an 83-year-old with haemochromatosis cannot have their blood taken as they are over 80 years of age; the reason for this decision by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25603/23]

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.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (653)

Willie O'Dea

Question:

653. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the GP clinic at the dispensary in the village of Murroe will be re-established (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25607/23]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (654)

Seán Canney

Question:

654. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that many healthcare workers who worked in care homes during the Covid pandemic and who were of the understanding that they would receive the pandemic special recognition payment for non-HSE and non-Section 38 organisations are now being informed that they will not receive the payment and are being informed that this only applies to homes which are registered with HIQA, while many homes do not fall under the remit of HIQA; if he is aware of the difficulties that this is causing for these healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25619/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.

Emergency Departments

Questions (655)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

655. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ease the continuing overcrowding issues at emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25631/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country.This Government is doing a huge amount to increase capacity in our health service by funding an unprecedented increase in staff and beds. We are delivering on this although more needs to be done. We experienced a very challenging winter and our EDs continue to see prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion. Overcrowding is now a year-round challenge and consequently, I have asked the HSE to develop a year-round urgent care plan. The HSE is currently developing a three-year urgent and emergency care programme to deliver sustainable improvements to unscheduled care. A key priority for my Department is the improvement of Patient Experience Time (PET) and reform of service delivery across the entire health system is a key part in achieving this. 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.

Health Services

Questions (656)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

656. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the spending that a hospital made to a company (details supplied) for each month in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25637/23]

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.

Health Services

Questions (657)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

657. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have availed of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare cross-Border initiative who have not had all of their expenses fully covered; the number of persons who have had to pay in excess of €1,000, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25640/23]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (658)

Réada Cronin

Question:

658. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that staff functioning under the aegis of an organisation (details supplied) for essential front-line work done in the pandemic will be awarded the PRSP payment on the same basis as other qualifying cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25654/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.

Medicinal Products

Questions (659)

John Lahart

Question:

659. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if the working group that is to review governance arrangements to support HSE drug reimbursement process has been set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25663/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In February, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. I fully support the recommendations contained in the Mazars report around improving the process, increasing transparency, providing easier access, and supporting value for money.

An implementation group has been established between my Department and the HSE to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in the Report. The Group has met and will shortly engage with stakeholders including patient groups and industry, in seeking to bring about further improvements to the reimbursement process.

The membership of the Group includes representatives of the Drugs Group, the HSE, the NCPE, and the Department of Health.

Ambulance Service

Questions (660)

Matt Carthy

Question:

660. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if the visit by representatives of the National Ambulance Service to Israel was officially sanctioned; if so, by whom and for what reason; the cost associated with the visit; if he considers such a visit to be appropriate, given the ongoing breaches of international law by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25666/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Following the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine WADEM Conference in 2022, the NAS was invited to visit Magen David Adom (MDA) in Israel to learn from the joint work underway between MDA and the Jordanian Red Crescent.

The National Ambulance Service consulted with my Department and The Department of Foreign Affairs in advance of this visit. Ireland’s bilateral relations with Israel encompass cooperation and exchanges across a wide range of sectors and the visit of the National Ambulance Service to their counterparts was important in this context. All such official cooperation strictly respects the delineation between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

With regard to the further detail requested by the Deputy, as these operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly as soon as possible.

Disability Services

Questions (661)

Matt Carthy

Question:

661. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 25 April 2023, when a response from the HSE will issue. [25667/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has advised me that a response to Parliamentary Question No. 462 of 25th April 2023, was issued to the Deputy on the 26th May 2023.

Mental Health Services

Questions (662)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

662. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the stage the look-back review into North Kerry CAMHS is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25674/23]

Written answers

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.