Marian Harkin
Ceist:163. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health when the register for opting out of organ donation will be up and running. [15613/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOrgan Donation
Ceisteanna (163)
Freagraí scríofa
The Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 was passed by the Dáil on 21 February 2024 and signed into law by the President on 28 February 2024.
The Act is a composite piece of legislation that includes provisions around organ donation and transplantation, post-mortem practice and procedures, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death. Crucially, it embeds in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive areas.
The Act provides, for the first time, a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland. In doing so, it introduces a soft opt-out system of consent for organ donation meaning that when a person dies it is presumed that they would wish to donate their organs after their death unless they have made a statement of objection to donation. However, it is important to stress that family members will always be consulted before any action is taken.
Furthermore, under the legislation, those who object to organ donation, for whatever reason, can record their objection on a new Register that is to be established. The wishes of individuals on the Register will be respected in full, and their family will not be approached on the issue of organ donation.
I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention to commence the provisions of this Act at the earliest opportunity. There are a number of necessary elements which must be in place before this legislation can come into operation, e.g. supporting legislation, guidelines, and relevant codes of practice. Work is underway with my officials and in the HSE to prepare for the commencement of this legislation at the earliest possible opportunity.
It should be noted that the various Parts of the Act deal with somewhat discreet areas and I will have due regard to this when looking to commence the various provisions of the Act.
Until the Act is commenced, the conditions for organ donation and transplantation in the State remain unchanged. Before any changes to the law take effect, there will be an information campaign to inform the public of the changes and give guidance on how an objection to donation can be registered.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (164)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:164. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health on what date he was notified by the HSE that it was not opening the new community nursing home in Nenagh in 2024. [15621/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (165)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:165. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the expected final cost of the full construction of the new Nenagh community nursing home (including land costs).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15622/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (166)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:166. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15623/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (167)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:167. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a service provided by a group (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15649/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (168)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:168. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to restore the chiropody visits for older medical card holders to four visits per year, as older people, especially diabetic patients, are experiencing mobility issues caused by the extended time between appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15680/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disabilities Assessments
Ceisteanna (169)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:169. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether there are any plans to provide community occupational therapy services to private nursing homes, as these visits cost a minimum of €500 per assessment and are often beyond the means of residents who would badly need them. [15681/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (170)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health to clarify the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not provide mental health services to private nursing homes in Kildare, but does provide that service in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15682/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (171)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:171. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken to address the issue where private nursing home residents do not have access to transport to attend out-patient appointments and/or small day-ward procedures, meaning they have to use taxis and/or ambulances (if necessary) at great personal expense (approximately €800 per case), such expenses are not covered by the Fair Deal Scheme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15683/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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; and
* Laundry service.
Costs not covered by the NHSS include therapies, more specialised aids and appliances, social activities, transport and individual items and services such as specialised laundry, newspapers and hairdressing. 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.
Residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services for which they are eligible as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24-hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community. It is important to acknowledge that older people living at home are expected to arrange transport to and from medical appointments, which in the majority of cases is provided by family and friends. Similarly, it is understood that in most cases in nursing homes, family members bring residents to medical appointments.
The Department of Health does not currently hold data relating to additional charges in private nursing homes; these vary according to each individual nursing home depending on the services offered. It is private nursing homes who hold responsibility for delivering care to their residents in line with their terms of registration and the relevant regulations under the Health Act 2007. It is clear that under the terms of the NHSS Act 2009, private nursing homes should not levy additional charges on NHSS residents for services coming within scope of the Nursing Home Support 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.
It is hoped that a number of recent initiatives will improve the integration between nursing homes and the broader health system, which may lead to a reduced need for out-patient appointments. From March 1 of this year, a new community based mobile X-ray service will be available to residents in nursing homes and Community Nursing Units nationwide. This service aims to reduce the number of older patients attending Emergency Departments.
In addition, it is expected that all patients transferring from acute hospitals to nursing homes will be assessed by, and necessary care interventions delivered by, ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older People) and the wider care team, as appropriate. It is anticipated that these interventions will have an impact on unnecessary transfers from nursing homes to acute hospitals.
Furthermore, it is noted that the CEO of the HSE has indicated his intention for primary care services that are available to people living in their own home to be equally available to people living in nursing homes, both public and private.
Finally, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence with regard to additional charges and a focused piece of work to examine the issue is underway. There are a number of separate factors driving this issue and potential actions to address each of these are being considered.
Fire Safety
Ceisteanna (172)
Patricia Ryan
Ceist:172. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify, with regard to HIQA and fire safety requirements in nursing homes/care facilities, which authority is authorised to give fire safety clearance certificates: the local fire services inspection officer or a HIQA-appointed fire safety officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15684/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Chief Inspector of Social Services within HIQA assesses compliance with the regulations set under the Health Act 2007, one of which is ‘Regulation 28: Fire Precautions’. HIQA has no role in Fire Safety or Building Regulations Certification. That responsibility lies with the local authorities. Assigned certifiers issue certificates of compliance on completion of any relevant works. However, to support providers in meeting their statutory obligation under the Health Act 2007, the Chief Inspector of Social Services has produced a Fire Safety Handbook. This was issued to each designated centre and is also available on HIQA’s website at the following address www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/guide/fire-safety-handbook-guide-registered-providers-and-staff/.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (173)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:173. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a HSE appointment for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Ceisteanna (174)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:174. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on the closure of elective surgeries in the mid-west region; how the increase in demand due to closures will impact on service delivery in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15737/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled. While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
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 follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In the last week, I have agreed a package of new measures with the HSE to alleviate the pressures being experienced at University Hospital Limerick. I have directed the HSE to undertake a range of actions relating to hospital performance, as well as agreeing a range of measures to increase capacity across the region. This includes improvements and increases in beds, staffing, patient flow and access to Medical Assessment Units across the Midwest.
Hospital Overcrowding
Ceisteanna (175)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:175. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans in detailed timeline with respect to recent measures announced for the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15738/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have agreed a range of new measures with the HSE in order to alleviate the pressures being experienced at University Hospital Limerick. I have directed the HSE to undertake a range of actions relating to hospital performance, as well as agreeing an extensive package of measures to increase capacity in terms of beds, staffing, patient flow and access to Medical Assessment Units in the region.
As delivery of these measures is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (176, 177)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:176. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he has confidence in the CEO of the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15739/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraViolet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:177. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he has confidence in the Senior Leadership Team at the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15740/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
As the Deputy will be aware from her Parliamentary Questions from January 2024 (PQ3632/24 and PQ3631/24), under the Health Act (2004) and the subsequent Health Service Executive Governance Act (2013 and 2019), the HSE is accountable to the Minister for Health. Pursuant to the Health Act (2004), it is the responsibility of the HSE to manage and deliver health services, and in doing so appoint persons to be its employees and determine their duties. This includes the CEO and management of the University of Limerick Hospital Group.
The Deputy will be aware that last week I announced a package of measures to alleviate overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. As part of this package, I have agreed a range of measures with the HSE to reform work practices and improve performance at University Hospital Limerick.
My Department continues to work with and support the HSE to ensure improvement of services for all patients in the Midwest region.
Question No. 177 answered with Question No. 176.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (178)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:178. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to reform the senior management structure at the UL Hospitals Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE is already currently implementing a reorganisation of service delivery into six new health regions that will provide a structured support to the integrated solutions needed to deliver health services to the public. The Midwest Regional Executive Officer, responsible for the Midwest region (incorporating the University of Limerick Hospital Group), was appointed by the HSE in December 2023.
Additionally, the Deputy will be aware that last week I announced a package of measures to alleviate overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. As part of this package, I have agreed a range of measures with the HSE to reform work practices and improve performance at University Hospital Limerick.
My Department continues to work with the HSE to ensure improvement of services for all patients in the Midwest region.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (179)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:179. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress of an application submitted for the €9.95 million upgrade of the theatre complex and sterile services department at Ennis Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15742/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (180)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:180. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of births that took place in County Clare in the years 2019 to 2024 to date inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (181)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:181. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 580 of 27 February 2024, what the ratio of public health nurse to population is in Clare; whether it is below the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (182)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:182. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider rolling out public health nurse clinics in areas not covered by a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15747/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.