Dara Calleary
Question:387. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the pandemic bonus payment offered to frontline workers (details supplied). [5767/23]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic Supports
Questions (387)
Written answers
As 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.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (388)
Patricia Ryan
Question:388. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the GP shortage in Monasterevin, given the only GP in the vicinity of the town is no longer accepting medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5768/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,529 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of January, 32 GMS panels (or just over 1%) are vacant. There are currently no GMS vacancies in Monasterevin.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in the surrounding areas.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.
The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
Furthermore, preparatory work has commenced on a strategic review of GP services to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice in general and in rural areas specifically, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.
These measures will make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Health Services
Questions (389)
Patricia Ryan
Question:389. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health when each day care centre in County Kildare that is currently closed temporarily will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5769/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (390)
Patricia Ryan
Question:390. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting dermatology service in Naas General Hospital; the number waiting for over one, two and three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5770/23]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic and the current pressures on Emergency Departments.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan set targets to reduce both the number of people waiting for care and the length of time they are waiting. Positive progress was made in 2022 in relation to both targets, despite negative impacts throughout the year on scheduled care from continued COVID-19 surges, emergency department pressures and other operational factors, including staff hiring. In 2022, there were c.1.56m patients removed from the Waiting list and c.1.53m patients added to the waiting list – a net reduction of c.30k (4%). Long waiters were significantly reduced in 2022: the number of patients exceeding the 18-month maximum wait time target for new outpatient (OPD) appointments target decreased by c.59.0k (38.5%) and the number of patients exceeding the 12-month maximum wait time target for in-patient day case (IPDC) procedures and GI Scopes has decreased by c3.8k (22.6%) and c.3.5k (86.5%) respectively.
Through the 2022 Plan, €350m funding was allocated to the HSE and the NTPF to provide additional public and private activity to reduce the waiting list backlogs that were exacerbated during the Pandemic, but also as the first stage of an ambitious multi annual approach, to lay the foundations for important reforms that will deliver sustained reductions in waiting lists.
For 2023, funding of €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists, some €360m of which is targeted at acute hospital waiting lists. The plan to utilise this part of the funding is being developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE and NTPF. This will include details of new capacity planned for 2023 as well as important reforms that will improve capacity in the public hospital system.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the information in the attached document, provided to my Department by the NTPF, outlines the total number of patients currently waiting for dermatology service in Naas General Hospital, and the number waiting over 1, 2 and 3 years as at the end of December 2022.
Health Services
Questions (391)
Patricia Ryan
Question:391. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the new services or technologies that have been deployed recently for dermatology in the CHO 7 region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5771/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (392)
Patricia Ryan
Question:392. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if Naas General Hospital has availed of any public or private external services that have been provided to it by HSE acute services in reducing the number of patients on hospital waiting lists for dermatology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5772/23]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Dental Services
Questions (393)
Patricia Ryan
Question:393. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the options that are open to medical card holders who are unable to find a dentist who is taking on new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5774/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge, to medical card holders aged 16 and over. Since May 1st 2022, there has been additional prevention treatments included and a 40-60% increase in fees across most treatment items. Since these measures came into effect, both the numbers of treatments and patients being seen have increased.
I am aware that there are some towns with no or limited DTSS dentists that have sufficient capacity to accept new patients. Where access to a dentist is difficult, local HSE services assist patients who make enquires and make lists of DTSS contractors available to medical card holders. In exceptional circumstances, the HSE assists patients to access emergency dental treatment by directly contacting private contractors or arranging treatment to be provided by HSE-employed dentists.
An additional allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services. This includes €5 million allocated on a one-off basis to support the HSE Public Dental Service to provide care this year, including through a HSE ‘safety-net’ service for adult medical card holders who are in need of emergency care and are still having difficulty accessing a local dentist.
The Government recognises that substantive reform of the DTSS is required, as set out in the National Oral Health Policy. My Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure the establishment of focused implementation structures for the Policy to drive implementation. These implementation structures include the need for new clinical leadership and reform leadership posts in the HSE for which resources will be provided. These implementation structures will help to substantively reform the provision of public oral healthcare services to all ages, in line with the National Oral Health Policy. This will include work on planning new services for medical card holders.
While it will take a number of years to bring reform to complete fruition, there will be an early emphasis in implementation on addressing the current issues, including the reform of the provision of services for medical card holders.
Health Services
Questions (394)
Duncan Smith
Question:394. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists and the average length of time spent on waiting lists as of 31 December 2022; and his proposals for addressing this for specific HSE primary care services (details supplied). [5784/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (395)
Duncan Smith
Question:395. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of staffing, by CHO, as of 31 December 2022 (details supplied). [5785/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (396)
Duncan Smith
Question:396. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a medical procedure (details supplied). [5786/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (397)
Pearse Doherty
Question:397. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to provide more ophthalmic services in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5787/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (398)
Pearse Doherty
Question:398. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of patients travelling from Donegal to receive treatment for age-related macular degeneration at the ophthalmic clinic in Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5788/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (399)
Pearse Doherty
Question:399. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of patients travelling from Donegal to receive treatment for diabetic-related macular degeneration at the ophthalmic clinic in Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5789/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (400)
Pearse Doherty
Question:400. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if private clinics offer age and diabetic-related macular degeneration ophthalmic services in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5790/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Policy
Questions (401)
Róisín Shortall
Question:401. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the increased recreational use of nitrous oxide canisters, commonly known as laughing gas, particularly by young people and in view of its growing extensive use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5802/23]
View answerWritten answers
All drug use is potentially harmful, whatever the context.
Reports emerged in 2019 and early 2020 regarding the use of nitrous oxide use in some Dublin communities. At the time, the HSE engaged with local communities to obtain information on user groups to inform tailored responses, including webinars and information factsheets. Harm reduction materials were developed and shared through the Drugs.ie and HSE social media channels.
The HSE continues to monitor the use of nitrous oxide and to tailor appropriate and targeted messages. Targeted ads are shared every few weeks on the topic of nitrous oxide with audiences over the age of 18, as well as messages which aim to create awareness of long term use, which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency in some individuals, and signs of concern which people can look out for.
The European drugs agency (EMCDDA) recently conducted an EU wide review of nitrous oxide and highlighted a number of key issues regarding the prevention of use including the role of youth workers, the targeted distribution of messaging, and the role of parents.
In line with EMCDDA recommendations, the HSE continues to provide a targeted approach to address the use of nitrous oxide, working together with Drug and Alcohol Task Forces around the country. As part of this tailored approach parents are being offered information on nitrous oxide in various formats by the HSE. An important goal is that parents are well-informed about nitrous oxide, and specific information is available on drugs.ie and via a bespoke parent factsheet. To complement this new content, a series of webinars on substance use and prevention and education for parents are in development and will be delivered in Q1 2023.
For people who use nitrous oxide, impartial harm reduction information regarding nitrous oxide is available on drugs.ie. The HSE has developed a harm reduction factsheet on use of nitrous oxide including the risks, effects and harm reduction advice. The factsheet has been disseminated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, student unions, and at festivals and third level institutions.
In addition, a series of educational webinars on nitrous oxide aimed at staff have been rolled out in collaboration with Drug and Alcohol Task Forces with information on the emerging trend of nitrous oxide.
Drugs.ie and social media channels provide nitrous oxide content that is informative, helpful and shareable. The HSE social media team respond directly to people’s questions about substances including nitrous oxide through direct messages on all channels. HSE social media posts drive traffic to its dedicated nitrous oxide web content on drugs.ie.
Strengthening the prevention of drug and alcohol use among children and young people is a strategic priority in the remaining period of the national drugs strategy. An allocation of €1.5 million was provided for a three-year drug and alcohol prevention and education programme. The funding program is a key deliverable under the national drug strategy, which aims to strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use, and related harm among children and young people. The programme also fulfils a commitment to the Government Program and aligns with actions in the EU Drugs Action Plan.
I am committed to continuing to resource harm reduction and education campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the risks of nitrous oxide and other drugs among children and young people.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (402)
Niamh Smyth
Question:402. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for a chiropodist appointment in the primary clinic in Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5805/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (403)
Róisín Shortall
Question:403. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE psychology managers with the specific title of "area principal psychology manager"; the CHOs in which they are based; the difference between this title and "principal psychology manager"; how the title was conferred and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5807/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (404)
Róisín Shortall
Question:404. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE psychology managers with the specific title of "director of psychology"; the CHOs in which they are based; the difference between this title and "principal psychology manager"; how the title was conferred and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5808/23]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.