Written Answers Nos. 691-709
691. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year capital and current costs that would be required to increase the opening hours of the heart failure clinic at Nenagh Hospital from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. [7639/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent clinical nurse specialists in stoma care in each of the years of 2020 and 2021 and to date in 2022; and the hospitals in which these clinical nurse specialists are located, in tabular form. [7640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
693. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that currently operate a helipad within their grounds and are able to accept flights on a 24-7 basis; and the hospitals that have a helipad within their grounds but are unable to accept flights on a 24-7 basis, in tabular form. [7641/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
694. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures procured by the National Treatment Purchase Fund in 2021 and to date in 2022, by the type and speciality of each procedure in tabular form. [7642/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) procures capacity for high-volume procedures in order to positively impact waiting time for patients. Such procedures may be procured in both private hospitals (outsourcing), or public hospitals (insourcing). In order to ensure competitive pricing as part of their outsourcing programme, the NTPF works with private hospitals from a panel agreement and engages in procurement processes through e-tender.
In relation to insourcing, a public hospital may have some spare capacity but require further funding in order to utilise it. Such public hospitals may make a proposal to the NTPF, whereby the NTPF pay a fixed price per procedure performed. The amount paid by the NTPF meets the extra costs incurred by the public hospital in performing the procedures.
In relation to the information requested by the Deputy, the attached table provides data in respect of the number of IPDC and GI treatments arranged in 2021.
|
2021 Treatments Arranged IPDC |
|
|
Specialty |
Treatments Arranged |
|
Cardiology |
1,183 |
|
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery |
57 |
|
Clinical Immunology |
100 |
|
Gastro-Enterology |
118 |
|
Gastro-Intestinal Surgery |
40 |
|
General Medicine |
34 |
|
General Surgery |
3,644 |
|
Gynaecology |
751 |
|
Neurosurgery |
356 |
|
Ophthalmology |
6,000 |
|
Orthopaedics |
2,880 |
|
Otolaryngology (ENT) |
1,501 |
|
Respiratory Medicine |
147 |
|
Pain Relief |
835 |
|
Plastic Surgery |
445 |
|
Urology |
4,139 |
|
Vascular Surgery |
713 |
|
Grand Total |
22,943 |
|
2021 Treatments Arranged GI |
|
|
Specialty |
Treatments Arranged |
|
Gastro-Enterology |
5,589 |
|
Gastro-Intestinal Surgery |
375 |
|
General Medicine |
2,197 |
|
General Surgery |
8,745 |
|
Paed Gastro-Enterol |
414 |
|
Grand Total |
17,320 |
695. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his views on the benefits of the participation of five Irish hospitals in the European Reference Network on Rare Diseases; if participation will help further national plans to support persons with rare diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7647/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA ‘rare disease’ is defined in Europe as a life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease affecting no more than 5 people per 10,000. There are an estimated 6-8,000 known rare diseases affecting up to 6% of the total EU population, (at least 30 million Europeans), and perhaps up to 300,000 Irish people during their lives.
It can be a challenge to provide highly specialised treatment or care for patients who have complex conditions. This is especially true when the prevalence of such conditions is low, as is the case for rare diseases. This challenge is due to both the scarcity of expertise and to the scattering of small patient populations across the EU, sometimes in isolated locations where expertise does not exist or cannot be accessed.
European Reference Networks (ERNs) are virtual networks involving healthcare providers across Europe. They aim to facilitate discussion on complex and rare diseases that require highly specialised treatment and concentrated knowledge and resources. European Reference Networks (ERN) create a clear governance structure for knowledge sharing and care coordination across the EU to improve access to diagnosis and treatment, as well as the provision of high-quality healthcare for patients. They are networks of centres of expertise and healthcare providers that are organised across borders.
On Friday 26th November 2021, Ireland received formal notification from the European Commission (DG-Sante) that the 15 applications (involving a number of Centres of Expertise led from five academic hospitals) submitted to join the European Reference Networks were approved.
This is a significant achievement for the Irish Health Service with international approval/endorsement, to facilitate mobility of expertise, virtually or physically and develop and share information, knowledge and best practice and foster developments of the diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment of rare diseases. Very importantly, this is also a very positive development for individuals and families affected with rare diseases for the enhanced cross border provision of highly specialised/rare disease services.
These 5 academic hubs will be pivotal to and drive innovation, training and clinical research for highly specialised care in collaboration with the established momentum of the ERN model which incorporates the most talented clinicians and investigators in the European Community.
696. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a meeting was held with persons (details supplied) in 2003 that led to the decision to halt a review into missing samples from a family in Askeaton, County Limerick; and if pressure was brought by the persons to stop the review going ahead. [7657/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo meetings were held in 2003 between the then Minister for Health, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D., and Mr. de Búrca relating to a review into missing samples from the family concerned.
697. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021; if he plans to propose an extension of its provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7658/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2021 extended to 31 March 2022 the period of application of certain emergency provisions that have been key to the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Act makes provision for one extension of these provisions, for a maximum period of three months, by way of resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. No decision has yet been made in relation to the latter issue.
698. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to make the long-acting antibody treatment Evusheld available for the prevention of Covid-19 in immunocompromised patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7672/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA National Therapeutics Advisory Group has been established by the HSE to evaluate, advise, and provide recommendations on all therapeutics with potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 in Ireland. This encompasses a range of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies currently awaiting, or having recently received, EMA approval.
In parallel, a Therapeutics Operational Group, to be informed by the recommendations of the Therapeutics Advisory Group, has been established to develop the arrangements for provision of these treatments and work is ongoing to establish and develop the most efficient pathways to identify those patients who may benefit from their use. It is important to note that these treatments are not for widespread use, and the benefit will be limited to particular cohorts of high-risk vulnerable patients.
Disease epidemiology, and development of treatments, continue to evolve rapidly, and as new clinical evidence emerges, additional therapeutics may also be considered, and Ireland intends to participate in all EU initiatives, including EU JPAs, which are considered to be of benefit in the fight against COVID-19 in the future.
699. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if home care workers employed by private companies to care for HSE clients as part of a home care package will be eligible for the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7700/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services but did not work in such exposed areas. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
700. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7701/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services but did not work in such exposed areas. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which frontline healthcare workers faced.
701. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the full membership of the programme board for implementation of Sláintecare; the dates on which it has met; the business conducted at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7702/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare projects is now devolved to a senior leadership team within my Department. To ensure that implementation is fully embedded across the Department and that the drive for universal healthcare is embedded across both the Department of Health and the HSE, a new Programme Board has been established. Reporting to me, the Board is co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and also comprises senior members of the Department’s Management Board and the HSE’s Executive Management Teams responsible for the delivery of specific Sláintecare projects and programmes. The Secretary General, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is also a member of the Board.
The first meeting of the Programme Board took place on 15 December 2021. Agenda items discussed included Waiting Lists, Regional Health Areas, Enhanced Community Care and the Sláintecare Integration Fund. The attendance list for this meeting is set out below.
|
Department of Health |
HSE |
|
Robert Watt |
Paul Reid |
|
Tracey Conroy |
Dean Sullivan |
|
Muiris O’Connor |
Yvonne Goff |
|
David R Smith |
Pat Healy |
|
Caroline Pigott |
Yvonne O’Neill |
|
Muriel Farrell |
Liam Woods |
|
Bob Patterson |
The Programme Board is expected to meet on a bi-monthly basis. The second meeting took place on 14 February. Agenda items under consideration at this meeting included the 2021 Progress Report on the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan, 2021-2023, Waiting Lists, Enhanced Community Care, Elective Hospitals and the public-only Consultant Contract. The attendance list is set out below.
|
Department of Health |
HSE |
|
Robert Watt |
Paul Reid |
|
Greg Dempsey |
Dean Sullivan |
|
Tracey Conroy |
Anne O’Connor |
|
Muiris O’Connor |
Pat Healy |
|
Caroline Pigott |
Yvonne O’Neill |
|
Gary Martin |
|
|
Bob Patterson |
|
|
Muriel Farrell |
|
|
Jack Nagle |
702. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if private nursing homes are responsible for providing medical equipment such as air mattresses and specialist chairs or whether patients are responsible for purchasing these items for themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person
- Bed and board
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living
- Laundry service
A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.
Although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing. In recognition of this, anyone in receipt of financial support under the NHSS retains at least 20% of their income. The minimum amount that is retained is the equivalent of 20% of the State Pension (Non-Contributory). An operator should not seek payment from residents for items which are covered by the NHSS, the medical card or any other existing scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.
Registered providers of nursing home care are obliged to provide an accessible and effective complaints procedure. Concerns about additional charges should in the first instance be taken up with the nursing home provider. The Office of the Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies and, from 24 August 2015, complaints relating to the administrative actions of private nursing homes. The Office of the Ombudsman normally only deals with a complaint once the individual has already gone through the complaints procedure of the private nursing home concerned.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is an independent statutory body with a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland. CCPC’s mission is to promote competition and enhance consumer welfare. The CCPC has published consumer protection guidelines for contracts of care in long-term residential care services for older people. The guidelines set out the obligations and responsibilities that providers must adhere to under consumer protection law and are aimed at providing greater transparency, clarity and certainty for consumers.
703. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if an urgent CAMHS assessment can be immediately provided for a person (details supplied); the referral pathway in order that these acute and urgent cases may be triaged and the pathways for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
704. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a preschool assignment and a psychological assessment by an organisation (details supplied) based in south-west Dublin. [7739/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
705. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be given a date for a psychological assessment by an organisation. [7741/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
706. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of making nicotine replacement therapy free of charge to all those enrolled in smoking cessation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7750/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
707. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to ensure that women with hyperemesis can access the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7751/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra708. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high cost that women with hyperemesis are facing in accessing the drug Cariban; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that generic alternatives are not available in Ireland; the steps he will take to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7752/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra928. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a medication universally recommended for acute morning sickness (details supplied) is not covered under the GMS or the drug refund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8452/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 707, 708 and 928 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
709. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the work undertaken by his Department to promote research in the third-level education sector on genetics and genomics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the Deputy's question about genetics and genomics research, given the growing importance of such research and innovation for decision-making and treatment by clinicians, delivering real impacts to patients and their families. I also note growing awareness and interest in this topic, which derives in part from the current focus on genetic mutations in the SARS-Cov-2 virus, and genetic sequence-based surveillance which is informing public health measures globally.
I am pleased to say that the Health Research Board, our lead agency with responsibility for supporting clinical, population health and health services research, is active in this agenda. Their new strategy for the years 2021-2025 contains an action to “engage with the Department of Health, the HSE and others to explore opportunities and interfaces for current and future investments in genomic research and personalised medicine”.
In December 2021, the HRB convened stakeholders (including Science Foundation Ireland, researchers, clinicians, patient organisations, and the HSE) to discuss current opportunities and challenges for Ireland in genomics medicine, research and innovation. The HRB is coordinating an application from Ireland to join a Digital Europe funding programme call to support member states to develop the necessary data infrastructure (and skills and standards) to collect, store, manage, share and analyse genomic datasets within and across EU member states, in a secure, transparent and trusted manner. The consortium will secure European funding to allow authorised data users, such as clinicians and researchers, to advance our understanding of genomics for more precise and faster clinical decision-making, diagnostics, treatments and precision medicine, and for improved public health measures that will benefit citizens, healthcare systems and the overall economy.
This is an important step to ensure that investment in Ireland in genomic medicine and research is appropriately governed, acceptable to citizens, and will enable global research efforts towards improving healthcare.
The HRB will establish a national mirror group to follow these developments in the EU (including the One Million Genomes Project and the Beyond 1 Million Genomes project) and will strive to connect researchers (clinicians and funders) in areas that will benefit from being able to share and analyse genomics data, in particular rare diseases and cancer, where the HRB is also actively supporting research at national and EU-level.
Genomics and personalised medicine will be important issues to consider in the context of the new National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I am committed to working with other Government departments and agencies to this important agenda to capitalise on our collective national investments and plans in genetics and genomics research, to sustain efforts in capacity-building, and to plan for adequate research infrastructure to support these developments. By working together towards a coherent framework and common principles, we can foster a vibrant portfolio of research in genetics and genomics, amenable to academic and industry partnerships, and which will support and drive advances in healthcare for our citizens.
