Written Answers Nos. 986-1006
986. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if there is a grant for HSE-supplied powered mobility equipment (PME); what the current maximum grant amount for PME is; what the maximum grant amount for PME was in each of the past five years; and how much funding was allocated in the budget in each of the past five years to the HSE for PME. [40300/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
987. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an appointment from a cardiologist and a neurologist from Letterkenny University Hospital; if this person is on the routine or urgent waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40305/23]
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.
988. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the considerations that his Department is giving to the inclusion of the drugs saxenda and ozempic, both now recognised as valuable medications in the treatment of obesity, to the drugs payment scheme or medical card scheme for non-diabetic patients; if there are plans to widen the prescription of saxenda and ozempic to medical card holders with a BMI of greater than 35 as a preventative medicine or to those over 70 years; to outline the current criteria being used to determine prescribing these drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40310/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). I, as the Minister for Health, have no role in these decisions.
Saxenda (Liraglutide) 6 mg/ml solution has been made available for reimbursement support under the community drug schemes on a managed access basis since 1st January 2023. The HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) developed a Managed Access Protocol (MAP) for Saxenda (Liraglutide).
The relevant circular can be accessed at:
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-002-23-saxenda.pdf.
Further information is available on the MMP website at:
www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/medicines-management/managed-access-protocols/liraglutide-saxenda-/liraglutide-saxenda.html.
The HSE have advised that MAPs are used to identify patients or subgroups of patients who would most benefit from the specific treatment approved for reimbursement and for whom the clinical evidence of therapeutic benefit is strongest, and applications are reviewed by the MMP on a case-by-case basis.
Ozempic (Semaglutide) was approved by the HSE in 2018 for addition to the reimbursement list for the treatment of diabetes. Ozempic (Semaglutide) has not been approved for reimbursement for any other indication. Reimbursement support for Ozempic (Semaglutide) for the treatment of diabetes only is available to those with eligibility under the General Medical Services Scheme or the Long-Term Illness Scheme. This medicine is not available on the Drug Payment Scheme.
The relevant circular can be found at:
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/pcrs/circulars/pharmacy/pharmacy-circular-022-20-semaglutide-ozempic%C2%AE-.pdf.
989. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he considers it acceptable, as outlined by the head of the radiology department in Letterkenny University Hospital, that on-call staff at the weekend have no paediatric experience to perform a contrast x-ray on a sick child who requires same (details supplied); the reason that it has taken a year for a report to be given to the family following this complaint being submitted for a response where no recommendations can be made to improve the service for sick children who require local services, where the paediatrician is in support of the family accessing these services locally to avoid unnecessary travel of four hours each way for a 15-minute test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40340/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
990. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the process to be followed to apply for reimbursement for an urgent cataract removal operation which had to be carried out at short notice in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40342/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
991. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all studies, research and reports commissioned by his Department that were outsourced, in each year since the formation of this Government, in tabular form; the names of the companies to which each study, research and report was outsourced; the total cost for each; the number of reports finalised and presented to him that have yet to be released by his Department; the dates on which any such reports yet to be released were first provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40373/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
992. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric heart transplant and kidney transplant procedures that have been performed to date in 2023. [40398/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
993. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing two additional HSE air ambulance helicopters on a 24-7 basis. [40399/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
994. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the latest update on the rollout of oral immunotherapy for children; the location of each facility in which the treatment is dispensed; and the funding and timeline for same. [40400/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
995. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE clinical nurse specialists in the heart failure clinic at the Mater Hospital in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [40401/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
996. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the new services or technologies that have been deployed recently for neurology in CHO9. [40402/23]
View answerAs the issue raised relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
997. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant neonatologists based at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [40403/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
998. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when a 15-year-old child in Donegal (details supplied) who has been on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in Letterkenny since January 2022 will receive urgently needed orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40412/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
999. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for orthodontic assessments and for orthodontic treatment in Donegal and in every other county in Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40413/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1001. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health for an update for a progress report on the provision of primary care centre for Mayfield and Glanmire in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40419/23]
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.
1002. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the amount of revenue generated through parking charges at Cork University Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; what the money was spent on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40420/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1003. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide funding to a person with a disability in County Kerry (details supplied) to carry out essential works, not covered under the local authority grant scheme, to their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40422/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1004. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm which department the issue of non-medical costs associated with caring for a child with a life-limiting illness falls into.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40430/23]
View answerThis Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
On 1 November 2020, the statutory prescription charges payable under the GMS Scheme were reduced to €1 per item for those over 70 (with a maximum cap of €10) and to €1.50 per item for those under 70 (with a maximum cap of €15).
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In 2022, a range of other measures were delivered which also reduced medical costs. These include the abolition of public inpatient hospital charges for children and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
The significant investment in Budget 2023 has also facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged under 8 and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare, thus reducing the overall financial burden associated with ongoing medical costs.
In addition to these measures introduced by the Department of Health, other Government departments, including the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, may have schemes or arrangements that assist families with the issue of non-medical costs associated with caring for a child with a life-limiting illness.
Finally, individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1005. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40436/23]
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.
1006. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the mental health budget to 10% of the total health budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40437/23]
View answer1009. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding in Budget 2024 across a range of mental health areas, namely dual diagnosis, self-harm/suicide, early intervention in psychosis, eating disorders, ADHD and perinatal mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40440/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1006 and 1009 together.
The Department of Health is currently engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the HSE in relation to the 2024 Estimates. Until these discussions are concluded it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter. However, I am committed to ensuring the continued enhancement of mental health services through the allocation of additional funding for mental health in 2024.
The Government’s clear commitment to enhancing mental health services is shown by significant mental health funding increases in recent years. I would note that 2023 saw a record budget for mental health of €1.2bn. Budget 2023 delivered almost €58m in additional funding, and a further €10m in once-off funding for much needed minor capital works across the mental health system.
Funding allocated to mental health services in recent years has allowed for the continued investment in the mental health national clinical programmes and models of care, which has led to significant service improvements, including the full implementation of specialist perinatal mental health network provided for and the on-going expansion of specialist mental health teams for eating disorders, ADHD in adults, and dual diagnosis.
Importantly, as budgets increase, we need to ensure that we have plans and strategies in place so that those resources are used effectively and efficiently to the benefit of people using our mental health services. All aspects of mental health services are being improved and developed in the short to longer term through our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. Sharing the Vision aims to enhance the provision of mental health services and supports across a broad continuum, from mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention to acute and specialist mental health service delivery, during the period 2020-2030.
