Written Answers Nos. 135-153
135. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test, given that 28 June is International Neonatal Screening Day; how many diseases babies born today in Ireland are currently being tested for; when he will decide on including spinal muscular atrophy in newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31393/23]
View answer160. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health given that 28 June is International Neonatal Screening Day, the progress he is making on expanding the national heel-prick test; how many diseases babies born today in Ireland are currently being tested for; when he will decide on including spinal muscular atrophy in new-born screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31497/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 160 together.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been progressing work on this expansion.
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. As you will appreciate, these are lengthy and complex processes.
However, I am glad to note that significant progress has been made on expansion over the past year. Since May 2022, babies are now screened for nine conditions following a recommendation from the NSAC to add ADA-SCID to the Programme.
In January 2023, I approved a recommendation from the Committee for the addition of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based screening for all types of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NBS programme. The Committee made its recommendation to me based on their consideration of a comprehensive Health Technology Assessment report from HIQA.
The HSE is now undertaking an extensive body of work to prepare for implementation. Provision for this addition will be included in the relevant HSE service planning processes in line with HSE budgeting procedures.
A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the addition of an eleventh condition to the NBS programme, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is now underway by HIQA. I am advised that the NSAC expect HIQA to complete this process over the coming months and that the HTA will be presented to and considered by the Committee at a meeting before the end of this year.
I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee following their consideration of the HTA once it is available.
136. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is on the HSE waiting list for a procedure. [31395/23]
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.
137. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of cognitive behavioural therapists in CHO9; the average waiting time for a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31398/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
138. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of reports of alleged sexual abuse of residents in residential nursing homes that HIQA has received since 2021 directly through unsolicited concerns and through its inspection work; the breakdown on the source of the allegations; the number of said reports that HIQA subsequently reported to An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31405/23]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority's older people's services inspection team is legally responsible for the monitoring, inspection and registration of designated centres for older people, such as nursing homes, in Ireland. HIQA is currently collating the information requested by the Deputy but will need some more time to complete this piece of work. I will reply to Deputy when the information is provided to my Department.
139. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if the changes made on foot of the McHugh Report on student nurses have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31409/23]
View answer162. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will issue guidance relating to the €500 allowance for student nurses and midwives, as announced by Government following the McHugh Report; and if he will indicate when student nurses and midwives will be able to access this allowance [31515/23]
View answer174. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the €9 million in additional supports promised to student nurses and midwives; when nurses and midwives will receive the €500 increase (details supplied); if this will be backdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31360/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 162 and 174 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13th December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives, €5.4m of which has been allocated to the HSE to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements.
Work is ongoing and I have asked my Department to arrange a meeting with the HSE, to take place next week, so that payments to student nurses and midwives can be progressed.
140. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [31410/23]
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.
141. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on expanding the national heel-prick test; the number of diseases babies born today in Ireland are being tested for currently; when spinal muscular atrophy will be included in newborn screening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31411/23]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot (NBS) Programme is a priority for me, and the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been progressing work on this expansion.
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms. As you will appreciate, these are lengthy and complex processes.
However, I am glad to note that significant progress has been made on expansion over the past year. Since May 2022, babies are now screened for nine conditions following a recommendation from the NSAC to add ADA-SCID to the Programme.
In January 2023, I approved a recommendation from the Committee for the addition of T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based screening for all types of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the NBS programme. The Committee made its recommendation to me based on their consideration of a comprehensive Health Technology Assessment report from HIQA.
The HSE is now undertaking an extensive body of work to prepare for implementation. Provision for this addition will be included in the relevant HSE service planning processes in line with HSE budgeting procedures.
A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the addition of an eleventh condition to the NBS programme, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is now underway by HIQA. I am advised that the NSAC expect HIQA to complete this process over the coming months and that the HTA will be presented to and considered by the Committee at a meeting before the end of this year.
I look forward to receiving a recommendation from the Committee following their consideration of the HTA once it is available.
142. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of providing adult incontinence pants and inserts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31413/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) have responsibility for the provision of aids and appliances, including incontinence wear, under the Community Funded Schemes, I have asked HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
143. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health to provide information on the palliative care service in Wicklow; the hours that this service is available; if there are plans to increase the arrangements to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31415/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
144. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of palliative care teams and staff members in CHO6 and CHO7 Wicklow at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31416/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the status of funding to support counselling psychology training places; if the offer to counselling psychology trainees will be equivalent to the offer to educational psychology trainees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31444/23]
View answerAs you will be aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.
I am focused on supporting counselling psychology students in an equitable way and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is still being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are required between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.
146. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if funding will be provided for the remaining four places on the counselling psychology doctorate in Trinity College Dublin, equivalent to the ten places already funded by CHO6 and 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31445/23]
View answerAs you will be aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.
I am focused on supporting counselling psychology students in an equitable way and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is still being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are required between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.
147. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will detail for each individual public/voluntary hospital the number employed in wholetime equivalent terms in each category (details supplied) in each hospital in May 2023, in tabular form. [31448/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
148. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, which has been taken on recommendation two of the final report of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response by carrying out a review into the impact of nursing home privatisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31449/23]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for Mental Health and Older Persons, I acknowledge that the nursing home sector has evolved over the last 30 years from a predominantly State led service to a situation today where approximately 80% of nursing home services are provided by the private sector. I am aware of the investment trends in the Irish residential care market, the growing consolidation of the sector, and the complex investment and ownership structures that now exist. I am also equally aware of the potential risks and unintended consequences associated with the level of care services currently being provided by the private sector.
While it is the Government’s overarching policy to provide a greater level and volume of care in the community and to support older people to live at home for longer, it is recognised that nursing home care will continue to be an important part of the continuum of care into the future. It is therefore important that all aspects of the nursing home sector are scrutinised over the coming years to ensure that service delivery and configuration meet the needs of service users in a sustainable and safe manner. In this context, the issue of provider configuration and the extent of private provision may need to be addressed further in public policy and, where appropriate, legislation.
COVID-19 has highlighted the important need to move to new models of care for older people. This will involve short and long-term reform across Government in order to provide new housing models, new ‘home-first’ care models, and where long-term care is needed, ensure that it is provided with innovative designs that can meet infection prevention and control requirements and provide an appropriate home for those who need this type of care. For those who avail of long-term residential care, it is also critical that public investment in this infrastructure is maintained at a level that enables the appropriate standards to be met and that public residential care capacity is increased in the coming years.
149. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds provided by each voluntary NGO provider; the location, by CHO; the costs of this provision per nursing home for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each nursing home in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31450/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds provided by each private for-profit provider; the location by CHO; the costs of this provision per nursing home for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each nursing home in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31451/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds provided directly by the State; the location by CHO; the costs of this provision per nursing home for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each nursing home in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31452/23]
View answerAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of alcohol and drug treatment centres provided by each voluntary NGO provider; the location of each centre; the costs of this provision per centre for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each centre in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31453/23]
View answer154. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of alcohol and drug treatment centres provided directly by the State; the location of each centre; the costs of this provision per centre for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each centre in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31455/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 154 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
153. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of alcohol and drug treatment centres provided by each private for-profit provider; the location of each centre; the costs of this provision per centre for 2021 and 2022; the bed capacity of each centre in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31454/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
