Written Answers Nos. 1610-1631
1610. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the current prosthesis and bra entitlements for those who have had breast cancer surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37671/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1611. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has established an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations made in the Report of the Independent Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the chair and membership of the group and its relationship with the Clinical Advisory Forum on termination of pregnancy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37675/23]
View answerThe Report of the Review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was considered by Cabinet at the end of April. The Report made a range of recommendations, most of which are operational in nature with some proposing legislative change.
Government agreed that the HSE would establish an implementation group to progress the operational recommendations.
Significant progress is being made in respect of various recommendations in the Report. The HSE has advised that a significant number of additional sites will be introducing termination services in the coming months. Legislation providing for safe access zones has been initiated in the Houses and it is my intention to enact it before the end of the year.
The proposals around legislative change have been referred to the Joint Committee on Health for consideration.
1613. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and rectify the lack of ambulance and GP services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37684/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1614. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health how he will ensure the HSE delivers on its commitment in line with Climate Action Plan 2023 and legally binding commitments under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015-2021. [37691/23]
View answerThe Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out the energy efficiency and energy related Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets which Public Sector Bodies in Ireland are legally obliged to meet.
The Department of Health and the bodies under its aegis, as with all public bodies, provide regular reports and updates in relation to their progress in achieving the objectives set out in the Climate Action Plan.
In addition, the HSE launched their own Climate Action Strategy 2023-2050 in June 2023, which outlines a broad approach to climate adaptation and mitigation, building on the actions and targets set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023 and providing a clear Climate Action roadmap for the HSE.
The HSE strategy was developed in a collaborative manner, with engagement from internal and external stakeholders, including the Department of Health.
The delivery of the Strategy’s ambitious objectives is overseen by an overarching Climate Action Steering Group which reports directly to the HSE Executive Management Team and Board. An implementation plan, which will drive action across workstreams which align with the Strategy’s key priority areas of work and strategic objectives, has also been developed. This will be supported by a communications & training function as well as a measurement function.
The HSE is committed to complying with the actions and targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023. Their programme of work will also be continuously reviewed against any emerging legislation, World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, and against emerging national and sectoral policies.
1615. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting on a hospital appointment in the Mater hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37693/23]
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.
1617. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting on a cataract operation in the Mater hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37696/23]
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
1618. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if he will address the anomaly (details supplied) in the regulations capping expenditure on outpatient medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37698/23]
View answerUnder 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.
It is a condition of the DPS that no individual or family grouping will pay more than 12 co-payments in a full year. A second co-payment (in the same pharmacy) should arise only in the case whereby an individual is intentionally purchasing the next month’s supply because they will be travelling or for some other such reason.
To ensure that an individual or family grouping who are dispensed a 28 day supply each month make no more than 12 payments in a year, once in a 12-month period a further 28-day supply can be given. The packaging will influence how this can be achieved and quantities dispensed should correspond with the valid prescription recognising that clause 4(2) of the Community Pharmacy Contractor Agreement allows for professional judgement and discretion.
1619. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health how many dentists in County Laois will take medical card payments in view of the fact many people, especially children and elderly people, do not have access to or cannot get to the facility in Tullamore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37699/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1620. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who following a referral to the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, in Limerick, has yet to receive any correspondence on an appointment date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37703/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1621. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 265 of 12 July 2023, if he will advise if consideration has been given to extending the 30-minute visitation timeframe; if this could be considered on a case-by-case basis where appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37706/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1622. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek a full update from the HSE in respect of all of the health-related recommendations made in the Drogheda Implementation Plan which have been completed to date and yet to be completed, in tabular form, with reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1623. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a person (details supplied) receiving a placement in a special school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37731/23]
View answer1624. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37732/23]
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.
1625. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1436 on 25 July 2023, the engagements between his Department and the Department of Health both North and South, Queen's University and Ulster University, including any discussion on the introduction of additional modules to courses (details supplied), so as to satisfy and speed up the process of applying for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and registration with CORU. [37737/23]
View answerMy Department has been in touch with CORU to seek clarity and the process for the recognition of qualifications received outside the State and registration with CORU including the above courses offered in Northern Ireland. CORU has confirmed that its analysis shows that the existing programmes in Northern Ireland have a good alignment with the Irish standard for these professions.
1626. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the optimal level of staffing required for medical scientists to fully staff HSE laboratories nationwide; and the current number of medical scientists employed in HSE laboratories nationwide. [37741/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1627. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 773 of 13 July 2023, the number of staff working in the HSE orthodontic service in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the grade of the staff working in these regional services; and the staff vacancies in each of these regional services, in tabular form. [37743/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1628. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing polio survivors with a discretionary medical card (details supplied). [37753/23]
View answerMedical Card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.
The issue of granting medical or GP visit cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
The HSE also has a compassionate system in place for the efficient provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e., where persons are in need of urgent ongoing medical care or when a patient is receiving end of life treatment. In these cases, a medical card is issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and completed medical report by a healthcare professional. In addition, since March 2021, persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less are now also awarded a medical card on an administrative basis. This measure delivered the Programme for Government commitment to extend eligibility for medical cards to persons with a terminal illness and work is continuing to develop a legislative framework to underpin this administrative scheme. Medical cards awarded on end of life grounds are never re-assessed by the HSE thereby providing reassurance and comfort to patients and their families.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
1629. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views on the plea from persons with disabilities in relation to section 39 organisations providing services to people with disabilities, namely, that Government action is needed to bring the section 39 issue to resolution (details supplied). [37754/23]
View answerThere is currently no plan for a general review of the Health Act (2004).
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 and Section 56 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee. There is currently multi annual funding provided for these organisations through Service Level agreements and Grant aid.
On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers.
DPENDR agreed that officials in DCEDIY/DOH could negotiate in good faith with the unions within the following parameters: Engaging with the unions representing Section 39 and Section 56 workers, through the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), with a view to providing additional funding to their employer organisations to address the staff recruitment and retention issues currently affecting the sustainable provision of front line services commissioned through these organisations. DPENDR agreed that officials have scope to negotiate within the parameters agreed in other sectors, including an increase in funding to these organisations of no greater than 5%.
Officials from the Department of Health, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the HSE and Tusla attended a voluntary WRC process on the 31st of July. This process culminated in an offer being made in line with equal offers accepted by staff in similar sectors. The offer to people working hard in this sector amounted to a 5% increase in funding for pay effective from November 2023 with 3% backdated to April 2023. Increases would be made available in 2023. This process culminated in an offer being made by the funders to the unions in line with similar offers that have been accepted by staff in related sectors. This offer was not accepted.
As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
1630. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health to report on his response to the latest wave of Covid-19; if he will support a renewal of the vaccine programme and PCR testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37784/23]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccination Programme's scope continues to be based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The HSE is currently conducting operational planning for the Autumn/Winter programme and the rollout will see a further booster rolled out to the following cohorts;
•those aged 50 years and older
•those aged 5-49 years with immunocompromise associated with a suboptimal response to vaccination
•those aged 5-49 years with medical conditions associated with a higher risk of Covid-19 hospitalisation, severe disease or death
•health and care workers
The NIAC has also advised that pregnant adolescents and adults should receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine once in pregnancy if it is more than six months since their previous COVID-19 vaccine or infection.
The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.
The public health rationale for testing, case finding and tracing of infection to reduce COVID-19 transmission is now focused on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19 for those most vulnerable to the disease and those with risk factors who may benefit from specific interventions.
The HSE has implemented changes to move the COVID-19 testing programme towards a longer-term, sustainable model similar to the model that exists for other respiratory diseases. Testing continues in acute hospital settings according to prevailing public health advice. Similarly, testing is also carried out when deemed necessary by Public Health in relation to the management of an outbreak or specific public health risk, such as in Long-Term Residential Care Facilities. GPs may also carry out a COVID-19 test based on a clinical assessment that the result of a test is necessary to contribute to the diagnosis and management of an individual patient.
With this, a more targeted approach for COVID-19 testing is now in place to support clinical assessment, diagnosis and management of individual “at risk” patients, while moving simultaneously to a disease surveillance-based model in line with public health guidance.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1631. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an urgent request by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37798/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
