Written Answers Nos. 1192-1208
1192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate the ongoing plans, if any, to have the athletic therapy profession in Ireland regulated, given the ARTI was formed in 2009 and serves as the governing body for certified athletic therapists in Ireland; if athletic therapy can be included within the regulation process with a view to provision of care services within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/23]
View answerA number of representative bodies for unregulated professions, including the body representing athletic therapists. have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. It is important in this context to point out the issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex.
In light of this, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/).
My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en.
It should be noted that there are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
Statutory regulation forms a part of a system of assurance that the Department utilises to mitigate risk posed to the public by the practise of health and social care professions. The public health service employs a mix of regulated and non-regulated professions. Whether a profession is regulated or not is not a determining factor to employment. For example, among the health and social care professions, audiologists, clinical engineers, clinical measurement physiologists, medical physicists, play therapists and play specialists, and perfusionists (amongst others) are some of the non-regulated groups which are currently employed by the HSE.
As demands on the health service evolve, so too will the professions and grades required to deliver services. For a new profession/grade to be established for use by the public health service, the standard way to do this is by way of a strong business case, prepared by the HSE as the employer. The business case is then submitted to the Department for consideration. Professions not employed in the HSE should engage with the HSE and the Department of Health regarding their potential contribution to the provision of care in Ireland.
My officials met with representatives of the professional body for athletic therapy recently to provide an update on the Department’s work on the future policy framework and to reiterate that at present there are no plans to include any further professions in the CORU regulation process.
1193. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if overspending across his Department will result in any delay to the works required to bring Wexford General Hospital back to full operational capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27768/23]
View answerAs 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.
1194. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the creation of a mobile dentist unit to provide dental care for housebound people with oral problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27769/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1195. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if he will ascertain from a company (details supplied) when payment will issue to a person given that they have raised this issue directly with their employers to no avail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27791/23]
View answerAs 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.
1196. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications currently being assessed by the CHO4 Resource Allocation Group. [27797/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1197. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average wait, from time of prescription to allocation of funding, by the CHO4 Resource Allocation Group. [27798/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1198. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the situation around the housing of beneficiaries of temporary protection in disused nursing homes which are no longer in use; if it is the case that these premises are not being considered for accommodation; if he will clarify in detail the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27802/23]
View answerThe Government takes the closure of nursing homes very seriously. Ensuring that the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close is of the utmost importance. It is essential that when nursing homes are intending to close or cease participating in the Nursing Home Support Scheme, that residents and their families must be consulted with, and given appropriate notice so that new homes can be found and residents can move in a safe, planned way.
There is a legal requirement that providers must give at least six months’ notice to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) if they intend to close. This provides residents, families and public health authorities appropriate time to respond effectively.
It became apparent in late August last year that a small number of active nursing homes had chosen, or were seriously considering, to convert into accommodation centres for beneficiaries of temporary protection. Other active nursing homes were known to be in official negotiations or to be considering this approach.
Given the challenges currently being faced in the nursing home sector and noticing a small trend emerging, Minister Donnelly and I agreed with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman TD, to change the procurement guidelines around accommodation for persons under temporary protection in order to remove from consideration active nursing homes that were still registered operators with HIQA on or after the date of 1 September 2022.
The intention behind this position has been to avoid unintentionally incentivising active nursing homes to leave the market. Former nursing homes that had already ceased operation and were deregistered prior to this date remained unaffected if they wished to enter into contracts as accommodation providers.
Following review of the policy at the end of April, the decision has been made to adopt a more flexible approach and to allow the conversion of nursing homes into accommodation centres for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protections after 18 months following deregistration from the Health Information and Quality Agency Chief Inspector’s register.
This allows for an appropriate closure process for residents and staff of nursing homes, while preventing facilities from being empty indefinitely where they might provide a source of accommodation for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protection.
The Government continues to prioritise the best interests of nursing home residents to ensure that their welfare, care and well-being is ensured whilst simultaneously ensuring that nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
1199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital pension for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27823/23]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
1200. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if additional funding could be provided for the expansion of a service (details supplied) to enable people to attend more frequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27828/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1201. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be seen under the school dental programme for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27829/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1202. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) is waiting so long to get their appointment in Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27830/23]
View answerUnder 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.
1203. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 590 of 24 January 2023, if any price agreement has been reached between the HSE and a drug company (details supplied) for Sunosi in the treatment of narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnoea; if so, if he will provide an update and indicate a timeframe when the drug will be available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27844/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In October 2022, the HSE approved the drug Sunosi® (solriamfetol) for reimbursement under High Tech Arrangements subject to managed access for adult patients with narcolepsy (with or without cataplexy), in accordance with the proposed place in therapy as a second-line treatment.
However, the company that holds the marketing authorisation for Sunosi® (solriamfetol) has not yet launched the product in Ireland.
1204. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the GMS contract in place in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, requires the contracted GP to have a practice located in the town, or if there is leeway whereby patients can be seen in a practice beyond the town. [27851/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1205. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider leasing or purchasing a vacant commercial unit in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, for the provision of community-level healthcare in this populated centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27852/23]
View answerAs 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.
1206. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if grants are available to help a GP set up a new practice facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27853/23]
View answer1207. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if there is any funding stream by which a community can undertake capital works to facilitate the establishment of a GP practice in their locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27854/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1206 and 1207 together.
GPs 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.
General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services, and GP practices also receive a range of financial supports.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria will qualify for an annual rural support allowance. In addition, contributions are made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.
Other than the practice supports provided under the GMS scheme, financial supports specific to the establishment of practices are not provided.
The Government has taken a number of steps in recent years, and provided for significant additional funding for general practice, to increase the number of GPs practising in the State and thereby increasing access to GP services.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m, which provides, amongst other things, for increased practice supports. The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased in recent years, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, with 285 new entrants places made available for this year and 350 places now planned for next year. Furthermore, the joint HSE and ICGP programme to bring 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access.
In April, I published the Terms of Reference for a Strategic review of General Practice which will commence shortly and is to be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues around GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice. Issues in regard to practice establishment and succession planning are specific areas that will be examined under the review.
It is worth noting that some GP practices operate from Primary Care Centres (PCCs). PCCs are modern, purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for a primary care team to work from. PCCs support the delivery of integrated care by facilitating closer coordination and cooperation between health professionals from across different disciplines, and act as a single point of access to services, including GP services. There are currently 167 Primary Care Centres operational nationally and a further 13 currently in construction, with 10 of these due to open during 2023.
1208. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with an appointment for a lung function test with the lung specialist in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27866/23]
View answerUnder 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.
