Written Answers Nos. 1653-1672
1653. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the details of the annual funding for aids and appliances for persons who are blind or vision impaired in CHO 7 in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [37938/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1654. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current average wait time for the emergency department at St. Vincent's University Hospital. [37939/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1655. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare professionals currently on panels in CHO 4, by grade and occupation, in tabular form. [37955/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1656. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number and detail of roles filled by healthcare professionals on panels in CHO 4, by grade and occupation, from 2021 to date, in tabular form. [37956/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1657. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the terms of the recent pay agreement for catering and general support staff between the HSE and SIPTU; the reason certain workers received significant lump sums and others did not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37962/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1658. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns of the private and voluntary nursing home sector with respect to the payments available to them to cover staff and operational costs under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37963/23]
View answer1659. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has had engagement with representatives from the nursing home sector, private and voluntary, with respect to any difficulties that are arising in relation to the operation of the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37964/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1658 and 1659 together.
I recently held a roundtable discussion with private nursing home provider representative groups to ensure that nursing home care continues to be provided to older people that is accessible and affordable for everyone, and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings whilst simultaneously maintaining comfort levels and standards of care.
This also included discussions regarding future options for additional financial support to the sector, which are being considered through the Estimates and Budget 2024.
The Department recognises the importance of upholding constructive dialogue with all stakeholders as we continue to discuss matters relevant to the operation and funding of nursing homes and ongoing matters relating to the operation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.
Both I and officials from the Department have had, and continue to have, engagement with Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) and with The Alliance on an ongoing basis in respect of funding supports, in addition to correspondence from individual nursing home operators.
It is worth noting that the state through Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for Fair Deal which is providing for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.
Overall, nearly €1.5 billion of the total Health Budget for 2023 is allocated to support people under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal).
It should also be noted that the Department of Health and I also have regular interaction with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and have met them to discuss ways to support the sector, where necessary and appropriate, to complement the normal process of negotiating rate increases when contracts are renewed.
Any nursing home which has had a scheduled renegotiation of their Deed of Agreement with the NTPF this year has seen a significant uplift. These new contracts have seen an average baseline increase in price per bed of between 6% and 7%.
The Government is cognisant of private and voluntary nursing homes that are not scheduled to renegotiate their Deed of Agreement in 2023. One of the options under consideration is for nursing home providers to agree to a shorter contract duration with the NTPF.
There is no other mechanism for funding from the public purse for nursing home residents outside the Nursing Home Support Scheme. It is imperative that private and voluntary providers continue to engage in the process as set out in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
In addition, a short term extension to the Temporary Inflation Payment Scheme (TIPS), a scheme introduced to help nursing home providers with increased energy costs due to inflation, is currently under review.
1660. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide the total number of first initial consultations for a termination of pregnancy made in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/23]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter I have referred it to HSE for direct reply.
1661. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who presented at the accident and emergency department at South Tipperary General Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37970/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1662. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmology surgeries carried out at Galway University Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37971/23]
View answerIn 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.
1663. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all primary care centres within CHO 4, specifying whether a general practitioner is operating out of the centre, in tabular form. [37972/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1664. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of treatment bays in the accident and emergency department of Cork University Hospital. [37973/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1665. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE orthopaedic registrars working in Wexford General Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37975/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1666. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of adults with special needs who are currently waiting for dental treatment under anaesthesia at University Hospital Waterford; and the number of adults with special needs who are waiting more than six months. [37976/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1667. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in emergency medicine who are based in Tullamore Regional Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if there are plans to further increase this number. [37977/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1668. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacant nursing posts in Mayo University Hospital as of 15 August 2023; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [37978/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1669. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of private insurance patient forms that were completed on admission to Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2020 to 2023; and the number of claims that were processed in respect of these forms to health insurance companies in each of the years in question. [37979/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1670. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists employed by the HSE working in primary care centres within CHO 3 in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [37980/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1671. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health what governance procedures are in place between the HSE and D-Doc service and its subsidiaries in respect of any financial transfers between the HSE and D-Doc under the SLA. [37981/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1672. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for bone density scans for patients at each hospital in the Saolta University Health Care Group. [37982/23]
View answerIn 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.
