Written Answers Nos. 468-489
469. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will address the issues highlighted by an organisation (details supplied) in recent correspondence; the number of nursing vacancies currently unfilled in Tipperary University Hospital; when these positions will be filled; when the recruitment moratorium will be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23949/24]
View answerThe current position is that, for 2024, the Minister for Health has secured funding for the recruitment of an additional 2,268 staff.
The Minister has approved the New Developments allocation of the resources relevant to the health budget and plans to recruit these 2,268 additional staff are now in motion. This will enable the HSE to set out its recruitment targets in each area for 2024 and will inform decisions at local level on the filling of available posts.
With regard to the Deputy’s specific question on the number of nursing vacancies that are currently unfilled in Tipperary University Hospital, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
470. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure proper care is provided for people who continue to suffer from long Covid; if the specific case (details supplied) of a person with long Covid will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23959/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
471. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding the HSE provides to an organisation (details supplied) specifically towards patient services, excluding funding for awareness campaigns; and his views on whether this amount is sufficient to support the approximately 600,000 heart and stroke patients living in Ireland, with 80,000 people discharged with a cardiovascular condition each year. [23960/24]
View answerThanks to continued investment in Health Services, Ireland has seen a decline in the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since 2012, the mortality rate from heart disease has been reduced by 38%, mortality from stroke has been reduced by 48%.
However, CVD remains a significant challenge claiming 9,000 lives annually.
The Government acknowledges the vital support, education, and advocacy offered by the Irish Heart Foundation and other patient support groups.
Many patient services are embedded in policy, including the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 for which the government has provided over €7m to date.
Partnerships and collaboration are and will continue to be, enablers of our commitment to promoting the cardiovascular health of our nation.
In 2022 and 2023, the HSE's National Heart Programme, supported through the Enhanced Community Care Programme, sponsored two CVD risk prevention projects with the IHF.
The State, via the HSE, provides funding to the IHF, and other cardiovascular support agencies of approximately €530,000 through Service Level Agreements and Grant Aid Agreements of which €380,000 was allocated to IHF in 2024.
In 2024, the HSE advise that an additional once-off sum of €400,000 has been allocated to the Irish Heart Foundation's for a High-Risk CVD Prevention Programme which has demonstrated its effectiveness by enhancing healthcare provision, clinical outcomes, and health behaviours in patients living in deprived communities.
472. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the funding to protect existing heart and stroke patients via community support services in the State, including those provided by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23961/24]
View answerThanks to continued investment in Health Services, Ireland has seen a decline in the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since 2012, the mortality rate from heart disease has been reduced by 38%, mortality from stroke has been reduced by 48%.
However, CVD remains a significant challenge claiming 9,000 lives annually.
The Government acknowledges the vital support, education, and advocacy offered by the Irish Heart Foundation and other patient support groups.
Many patient services are embedded in policy, including the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 for which the government has provided over €7m to date.
Partnerships and collaboration are and will continue to be, enablers of our commitment to promoting the cardiovascular health of our nation.
In 2022 and 2023, the HSE's National Heart Programme, supported through the Enhanced Community Care Programme, sponsored two CVD risk prevention projects with the IHF.
The State, via the HSE, provides funding to the IHF, and other cardiovascular support agencies of approximately €530,000 through Service Level Agreements and Grant Aid Agreements of which €380,000 was allocated to IHF in 2024.
In 2024, the HSE advise that an additional once-off sum of €400,000 has been allocated to the Irish Heart Foundation's for a High-Risk CVD Prevention Programme which has demonstrated its effectiveness by enhancing healthcare provision, clinical outcomes, and health behaviours in patients living in deprived communities.
473. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of funding provided to community drug and alcohol and rehabilitation services in Waterford in 2019 to 2024, inclusive, in tabular form. [23966/24]
View answerAs this refers to a service matter, I have sent this PQ to the HSE for direct response. As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
474. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if the spouse of a recently deceased former employee of the HSE is entitled to a surviving partner’s partial pension payment (details supplied). [23978/24]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
475. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 661 of 30 April 2024, if his attention has been drawn to concerns that Ireland is falling behind other EU member states regarding the newborn screening process and the number of diseases assessed at this milestone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23979/24]
View answerThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme remains a key objective of mine as Minister for Health. As outlined in the reply to the Parliamentary Question referenced, work continues to progress in this regard.
I am glad to confirm that officials in my Department are continuing to collaborate with the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of two new condition to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme that I recently approved - Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). This will bring the number of conditions screened for in Ireland to 11, once the implemented, and will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
It is important to stress that Ireland is not taking longer than other countries to assess and implement additions to the newborn bloodspot screening programme and patient advocates and clinicians are involved in these processes. Careful consideration must be given to the expansion of any screening programme and this can take time. It is important that decisions are made based on internationally accepted criteria and scientific rigour to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The expansion of newborn bloodspot screening is being continually reviewed across Europe, where the number of conditions screened for varies significantly. It should also be noted that the NBS programmes in some European countries operate on a regional rather than national basis. This complicates the comparison between Ireland with other European countries with structurally different screening systems.
476. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a definite date for a knee operation will be scheduled in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will expedite the matter. [23980/24]
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.
477. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of psychiatry staffing in each emergency department; the number of existing posts, by staff grade; the number of vacancies; and the number of consultant psychiatrists who should be in place in each emergency department, in tabular form. [23981/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23982/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
479. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to providing access to the medical cannabis access programme for cerebral palsy; if so, the outcome of that consideration; the list of conditions that were or are being considered for addition; the status of those considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23983/24]
View answerWhen I took the decision for a clinical review of the MCAP in order to examine whether sufficient evidence existed to expand the scope of the programme no specific conditions requiring the use of cannabis products for use under MCAP were considered above any others. The first stage of the process - the gathering and synthesis of evidence emanated from treatment or trials of any condition and the process has continued along these same lines. Evidence of this is available from the Health Research Board's publication "The efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in adult populations: An evidence review", as published in January of this year. www.hrb.ie/publications/publication/the-efficacy-and-safety-of-medicinal-cannabis-in-adult-populations-an-evidence-review/returnPage/1/
A clinical review of the evidence, to ascertain if there is necessity to broaden the scope of the programme, will be commencing shortly.
480. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on progress in tackling the backlog at University Hospital Waterford histopathology laboratory (details supplied); the current number of patients waiting for test results; and the average length of wait. [23984/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
481. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of actions related to female genital mutilation in the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23988/24]
View answerAction 2.4.12 of the Implementation Plan for the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence is the responsibility of the HSE and as such, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.
482. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider funding for an increase in fees to community optometrists and for a national public eye care programme for patients over the age of eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24007/24]
View answerThe Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.
Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.
All children, including those not covered by a medical card, receive a vision screen while in national school from a Public Health Nurse. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to preschool children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.
Increasing the fee payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS (to ensure parity with that payable for the same exam under the Department of Social Protection’s Treatment Benefit Scheme) is a priority for my Department, and work with stakeholders is ongoing in this regard.
The Department has also been meeting with Optometry Ireland to discuss the contribution that optometrists provide to our healthcare service and how this contribution could be further expanded.
The HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, published in June 2017, highlighted the limitations of the current model of service delivery and set out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting. The Report estimated that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.
The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology developed a model of care, also published in 2017, detailing how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community will be undertaken.
Included in current priorities is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists. A project team with a wide-ranging membership was established in late 2019 / early 2020 to progress this initiative. The work of the team was paused due to the requirement to focus resources on the COVID 19 pandemic. However, the project team has been reconvened and is progressing matters in relation to this initiative. I have asked the HSE to prepare a detailed implementation plan in regard to this matter.
There will be engagement between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform during the Estimates 2025 process in regard to the funding needed to progress healthcare priorities, including the provision of eye care.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community optometrists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded ophthalmic service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs and improve access to public health services while ensuring value for money.
483. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the reason for the decision to close a nursing home (details supplied); the person who made this decision; where the residents will be relocated to; when this will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/24]
View answerI am deeply concerned to learn that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) had to cancel the registration of Lucan Lodge Nursing Home. This cancellation, which followed concerns for the care and welfare of residents, took effect from 10:00 on 17 May 2024.
The HSE has taken interim charge of the nursing home from 10:01 Friday, 17 May 2024. The HSE will act as the interim registered provider to support residents and their families during this time.
This is an evolving situation, and all options are being explored. Regular engagements are taking place between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). HSE staff are on-site and committed to regular communication with residents and their families.
Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents is secured is of the utmost importance, and work to alleviate the concerns of residents, their families and staff is a priority during this difficult time.
484. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the services available, or planned, to provide consultation and assessment clinics for adults with ADHD in the Cavan-Monaghan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24017/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
485. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision by an organisation (details supplied) to no longer collect centre-specific data for a large proportion of west Cork, as was established practice; if a reasoning for the limitation of data collection has been provided to his office; his views on whether localised data collection is essential to understanding the challenges facing healthcare clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24019/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
486. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all SouthDoc clinics and services included under west Cork data; and the number of patients seen per month in each clinic from June 2022 to date, in tabular form. [24020/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
487. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the criteria for determining the level of accessibility and usability of any doctor's offices for disabled persons, who have attended for appointments having ticked the ‘special assistance needed’ box only to find that essential equipment, hoists and so on are not available at the doctor's offices, resulting in lost time and cost to the person concerned and to the practice. [24026/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
488. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if new patients are being accepted at the STI clinic in University Hospital Waterford; if not, the reason; the extent of waiting lists, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24029/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
489. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 452 of 18 May 2023, the reason no response has issued from the HSE to this query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24038/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
