Written Answers Nos. 313-335
313. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on CAMHS early intervention in psychosis services; the cost of delivering these services per annum; which catchment areas will be eligible for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18558/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Lucena CAMHS early intervention in psychosis services; which catchment areas will be eligible for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18559/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
315. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there are HSE-funded respite services available to children who solely have a mental health diagnosis; if so, the estimated cost of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18560/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
316. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a HSE report on the death of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be completed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18562/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
317. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health whether in international negotiations on a pandemic treaty the Government have sought to ensure that a TRIPS waiver on vaccines will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18571/24]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her query in relation to the TRIPS waivers and the World Health Organisation Pandemic Agreement (WHO CA+).
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not adequate and requires revision. It also demonstrated the cross-border nature of a pandemic, and that States need to work collaboratively in managing their response to such a threat. As such, Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a central leadership role.
On 1 December 2021, the members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) reached consensus to begin the process of negotiating a convention, agreement, or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, commonly known as the Pandemic Agreement. Ireland supports this WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response, the aim of which is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.
An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established and met for the first time on 24th February 2022. The INB has met nine times to date to progress work on the drafting of this agreement with the most recent meeting taking place in March 2024. It is anticipated that the Pandemic Agreement will be adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.
In relation to the Deputy’s query, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) is an international legal agreement between all the member states of the World Trade Organisation and establishes minimum standards of protection of intellectual property rights that each WTO member must afford to other WTO member states.
At the 12th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in June 2022, WTO Members adopted a Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement (commonly referred to as the TRIPS wavier). The Decision clarified the range of mechanisms available to WTO members to limit the exclusive effect of patent rights in order to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Ministerial Decision is a standalone measure specific to Covid-19 vaccines and is not included in the WHO pandemic treaty.
The TRIPS Agreement contains flexibilities that are available to WTO Members to allow them to take measures to protect public health and the current draft of the Agreement includes measures related to the flexibilities in the TRIPS Agreement. A copy of the current draft is available at apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb9/A_inb9_3-en.pdf .
As the proposed instrument is currently being negotiated, it is not possible at this time to determine the final text or the precise legal ramifications of the instrument, nor has it been determined what form the instrument shall take. I trust that the above information is of assistance to you.
318. 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. [18573/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
319. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to address the lack of dedicated support for mental health in the Donegal town area of County Donegal, and that people are having to travel over 50 miles to Letterkenny for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18577/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
320. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place for residents of a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal, after news emerged that the facility was to close for two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18578/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that this is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
321. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital in County Donegal will become fully operational; the reason the hospital is not currently operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18579/24]
View answer“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
322. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by the SouthDoc service in Skibbereen, by month, from January 2022 to date, in tabular form. [18593/24]
View answer323. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by the SouthDoc service in Bantry, by month, from January 2022 to date, in tabular form. [18594/24]
View answer324. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs working in the SouthDoc service in Skibbereen currently; and the number of GPs who were working in the same service in April 2023. [18595/24]
View answer325. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs working in the SouthDoc service in Bantry currently; and the number of GPs who were working in the same service in April 2023. [18596/24]
View answer326. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by the SouthDoc service in Skibbereen, by week, from 1 January 2024 to date, in tabular form. [18597/24]
View answer327. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by the SouthDoc service in Bantry, by week, from 1 January 2024 to date, in tabular form. [18598/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 323, 324, 325, 326 and 327 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
328. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs currently working in Cork; and the number of GPs who were working in Cork in April 2021, April 2022 and April 2023, in tabular form. [18599/24]
View answerGPs 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. As of the start of this month, there are 2,526 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme, and a further 602 GPs hold some other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services such as services under the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme or National Cancer Screening Service.
In relation to the numbers of HSE contacted GPs working in Cork, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress to date of the strategic taskforce on general practice; when he expects the taskforce to publish its conclusions; to set out the groups and individuals contacted to date in the work of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18604/24]
View answerThe Department of Health and the HSE commenced the Strategic Review of General Practice last year and the review is currently underway. With input from key stakeholders, the review is examining a range of issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, the eHealth Agenda, and the financial support model for general practice. The Review will then identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care as part of a primary care-focused health service.
Further to external stakeholder engagement with the IMO and the ICGP, the Strategic Review has also engaged with, and received submissions from, the following organisations: the IMNO (Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation), Nursing Homes Ireland, the AUDGPI (Association of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland), the IGPNEA (Irish General Practice Nurses Educational Association), the ICGP NEGs (Network of Establishing GPs) Group, Deep End Ireland, the IAANMP (Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners) and GP ANP (Advance Nurse Practitioner) Ireland group. Further individuals and groups may be contacted or provide submissions prior to the Review's completion.
The review is to be completed this year. Following its completion, a report is to be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.
330. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of single-person GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS; the number of two-person GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS; the number of larger GP practices, by county, registered with the GMS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18605/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
331. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if there is a central register of locum GPs available for general practice in the State; the number of locum GPs paid from the GMS in 2023; if he is satisfied that there is adequate locum GP cover available to meet requirements in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18606/24]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE to provide services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or a GP visit card. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for the provision of those services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service.
GPs contracted under the GMS scheme with a panel size of 100 patients or more receive a contribution towards the cost of securing locum cover for certain types of leave such as annual leave and sick leave.
While the HSE provides a contribution towards locum expenses for leave taking purposes to GPs under the GMS contract, as private practitioners, locum cover is arranged by the GP concerned as necessary. The HSE does not maintain a central register of locum GPs. The relevant HSE Community Health Organisation may assist a GMS GP in providing locum cover where possible.
In recognition of the challenges faced by GPs in rural areas in obtaining locum cover, the GP Agreement 2023 provides for the implementation of a HSE/IMO pilot initiative to support GPs in receipt of the Rural Practice Support Framework to source locum cover for approved leave periods. Development of this initiative is ongoing.
332. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to examine an outstanding Covid pandemic payment yet to be issued (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18609/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
333. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns and proposals raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18620/24]
View answerThe HSE's National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) is finalising the National Framework for Endometriosis in collaboration with the ICGP.
This Framework sets out a defined clinical care pathway for women with endometriosis with the care pathway spanning primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care through multidisciplinary teams.
This Model of Care will ensure that women receive timely, and effective treatment through 2 supra-regional specialist centres in Tallaght and Cork supported by 5 regional endometriosis hubs in The Rotunda, Coombe, NMH, Limerick and Galway. All hubs and supra-regional sites are currently operational and taking referrals.
GP referrals for the endometriosis care pathway will be through general gynaecology services. Patients can then be referred for care to the hubs/supra-regional sites if clinically required.
The framework is expected to be published in the coming weeks following final consultations with stakeholders.
An Endometriosis Quick Reference Guide is currently in development, by the ICGP. This QRG will be disseminated amongst GPs to promote awareness of endometriosis and the increase the ability of GPs to recognise endometriosis.
The HSE National Clinical Guideline for Management of Endometriosis is also in final stages of development.
The availability of this evidence-based guidance will support the management of endometriosis in both the primary and acute sectors.
334. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if medication can be secured for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18621/24]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE advise that the following pain relief patches are currently available on the reimbursement list:
• Durogesic DTrans Transdermal patches
• Fental Matrix Transdermal patches
• Matrifen Transdermal patches
• Fentadur Transdermal patches
• Butrans Transdermal patches
• Versatis plasters (subject to a managed access system, indicated for post-herpetic neuralgia)
Patients prescribed Versatis plasters are reviewed by the Medicines Management Programme (MMP) for reimbursement approval, on foot of an application by the patient’s clinician, through the HSE online system.
In exceptional circumstances, Versatis plasters may be approved for supply for unlicensed uses. If an application is refused, the clinician may make an appeal to the MMP by email, making a clear clinical case for the patient.
This process ensures that post-shingles patients, and other patients as clinically appropriate, can continue to have this specific treatment.
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 HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
335. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to a previous Parliamentary Question, if he will expedite a date for a cataract operation for a person (details supplied). [18622/24]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, further to the Deputy’s previous Parliamentary Question, the patient concerned had their treatment outsourced to a private hospital through the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) Commissioning process.
The NTPF has advised that once a patient has accepted an offer of outsourcing, there is an onus on the referring public hospital to ensure the outsourced patient’s healthcare records are transferred to the treating private hospital. Once the patient’s healthcare records have been sent, the patient’s care commences with the treating private hospital. The treating hospital shall treat the patient within 6 weeks of receipt of the patient’s healthcare records. If the patient experiences any delays, they can contact their referring public hospital or the NTPF directly and the NTPF commissioning outsourcing team can investigate the delay.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to follow up on this case with the referring public hospital and respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
