Written Answers Nos. 716-738
716. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 28 February 2024, what proportion of autistic people start on hormone therapy with the National Gender Service. [24847/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
717. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 28 February 2024, what medical literature underpins the National Gender Service's statement that unsupported autism can lead an increase the risk in a decline in the context of a medical transition. [24848/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 14 February 2024, if the National Gender Service will commit to collecting statistics on how many referrals are triaged as "New Gender Clinic". [24849/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
719. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 23 May 2024, if, in the intervening two years, the HSE will be taking any actions to decrease the number of GPs who are refusing to work in partnership with their transgender patients to order relevant blood tests. [24852/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
720. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an urology appointment in Cork University Hospital for a medical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24857/24]
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.
721. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive an appointment for a surgical procedure in Cork University Hospital, as their condition is affecting their day-to-day living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24858/24]
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.
722. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to increase bed capacity at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin considering the statement made by the CEO of Dublin Midlands Regional Hospital Group that the hospital is in urgent need of extra bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24861/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
723. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant urologists based at University Hospital Limerick in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24873/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons attached to each hospital part of the South-South West Hospital Group that are only dealing with public-only patients in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24874/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE sonographers working in Tipperary University Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24875/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
726. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant cardiologists attached to each hospital part of the South-South West Hospital Group that are only dealing with public-only patients in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24876/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
727. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric rheumatologists based at Cork University Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24877/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of authorised officers currently available for assisted admissions within the health service in Waterford city and county; if he considers this an adequate number; the steps he will take to ensure there is an adequate number of authorised numbers available in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24901/24]
View answer729. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of authorised officers for the purposes of assisted/involuntary admissions under the Mental Health Act 2001 currently within the health service, by county and by CHO, in tabular form. [24902/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
730. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason the waiting-list initiative in operation in the Cork primary care child and adolescent psychology services; the date this initiative commenced; how it differs from standard efforts to work through waiting-lists in those services; if it constitutes a separate waiting-list; and if so, the number of clients and wait-times that apply to it. [24905/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
731. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists, and their grade, recruited to the Cork primary care psychology waiting-list initiative for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the form of recruitment used that is, local or national panel; the rationale in each case; if psychologists were recruited to this waiting-list initiative, in each case, from other Cork primary care psychology services; and if not, if additional staff were recruited from external services. [24906/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
732. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when he intends to conduct a review in respect of the extra funding that is required for private nursing homes to keep their doors open with many closing as they struggle with business costs,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24908/24]
View answerThe Government is conscious of the financial challenges faced by the nursing home sector, especially smaller and voluntary nursing homes that may not have access to the same economies of scale as larger homes or groups.
I have regular meetings with private nursing home provider representative groups where the issues of Government policy and support for the sector are on the agenda. I have committed to continued engagement with the sector.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is the body designated, under Section 40 of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, to negotiate with persons carrying on the business of a nursing home, for the purposes of reaching an agreement on the maximum prices to be charged for nursing home care, and are based on the NTPF’s cost criteria. These criteria include costs reasonably incurred by the nursing home, local market prices, historic prices and overall budgetary capacity.
I have regular interaction with the NTPF to discuss ways to support the sector, where necessary and appropriate, to complement the normal process of negotiating rate increases when contracts are renewed.
A significant change that the NTPF have made to their negotiation process is to offer nursing home providers contracts of a shorter duration, which will aim to ensure that NTPF rate increases stay aligned with any cost pressure increases that occur over the course of the contracted period. This has allowed for more surety in the sector.
As of the end of April, 420 nursing homes have agreements with the NTPF under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal). The NTPF is expected to negotiate 389 Deeds of Agreement in 2024. As of end of April, there were 301 still remaining.
For 2023, there were 257 full Deeds renegotiated, with a further number of mid-Deed uplifts in addition to this (this is where Deeds were negotiated with a 2-stage uplift: one at the start and another uplift that comes 6, 12 or 18 months after but still within that Deed of Negotiation).
It should be noted that the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (or Fair Deal) was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to ensure equal access to nursing home care based on what they could afford. This gives certainty to people and families.
Increases in year-on-year funding for the NHSS continues and will reach €1.5 billion this year. Budget 2023 saw over €40 million in additional funding for the scheme. I am cognisant that the budget must support all participating nursing home residents for the full calendar year.
It is therefore imperative that private and voluntary providers continue to engage in the process as set out in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
An additional €45.6 million has also been allocated to support nursing homes in Budget 2024, including a new €10 million fund to support private and voluntary nursing homes with HIQA compliance.
The Resident Safety Improvement (RSI) Scheme has been introduced and is designed to target and support structural improvements in nursing homes to assist their meeting HIQA compliance plans in respect of protection against infection and fire precautions. It is active as from 1 January 2024 and can be backdated for eligible works to 1 January 2020.
The Government is aware of the investment trends in the Irish residential care market, the growing consolidation of the sector, and the complex investment and ownership structures that now exist.
I welcome the recent publication of the ESRI report ‘Long-term Residential Care in Ireland: Developments since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic’ which brings into focus the challenges facing the long-term residential care sector in Ireland that the Government has been, and continues to, address to provide short-term stability and long-term growth to this sector.
In the context of the ongoing reform of older persons services, including long-term residential care, over the coming years, it is important that all aspects of the nursing home sector continue to be scrutinised. I am committed to ensuring that service delivery and configuration in the sector meets the needs of service users in a sustainable and safe manner.
Ensuring that the welfare and safety of residents is secured when nursing homes close continues to be of the utmost importance and work to alleviate the concerns of residents must continue.
14 private nursing homes closed in 2022 (of which 7 repurposed to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection), 14 private nursing homes closed in 2023. One private nursing home closed in 2024. A further three private nursing homes, which are currently active, have notified closure.
These closures must be put in context of new nursing homes opening. Four new centres opened in 2022, 10 new centres opened in 2023 and 2 new centres opened to date in 2024.
As per the most recent HIQA report, overall, 2022 saw a net addition of 112 registered beds to total national capacity of private beds, 2023 saw a net addition of 490 beds to total national capacity of private beds and 2024 has seen an increase of 117 beds to date.
This is due to the relatively larger size of new nursing homes compared to closures and the addition of capacity in existing homes.
In addition, in 2023, the Department of Health convened a steering group to develop and publish design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people. Among the considerations of the group is the optimal size of nursing homes. A public consultation closed on 15 February 2024 and submissions are being analysed to inform the final version of the Design Guide.
I recently welcomed the completion of the national rollout of a new community based mobile X-ray service which aims to reduce the number of older patients attending Emergency Departments (EDs). Following a pilot launched in 2022, from 1 March 2024 this free, community-based service is available to all residents in nursing homes and Community Nursing Units nationwide. It should also be noted that a nursing home resident'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. This means that nursing home residents who also have medical cards have the same access to GMS services regardless of whether they reside in their own homes or in a nursing home.
Furthermore, in late February, it was announced that over €3.2 million in State support will be provided for over 440 registered nurses in private nursing homes to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing.
All of these measures are intended to find the right balance between delivering value to the taxpayer, affordable access to long-term care for citizens and a sustainable nursing home sector which ensures that people who require care can continue to receive high quality services in the most appropriate settings.
In 2015 a comprehensive review of the operation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was completed and subsequently published. This review identified a number of recommendations for immediate implementation and a number of other complex issues that were deemed to require more detailed consideration.
Emerging from this review, several subsequent reviews and actions incorporating different elements of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme have been completed, the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs in 2021 and also in 2021 a review of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) pricing system. The Department of Health continues to take forward the recommendations that arose from both reviews. The final report of the Safe Staffing Pilot, which aims to develop an evidence-based framework that will determine staffing levels and skill-mix requirements in nursing homes and which will take account of dependency levels of residents, is expected to conclude in 2024.
While work continues on delivery of the recommendations from both the VfM Review and the Pricing Review and the Department continues to analyse the findings from both the ESRI report and the Safe Staffing Pilot final report, there are currently no plans to conduct an additional root and branch review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.
Given the size, complexity and cost of the NHSS, implementation is complex and any changes in policy direction need to be carefully assessed and kept under review. The Department of Health is consistently seeking to identify improvements and introduce enhancements to the scheme, where feasible, which aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is sustainable, accessible and affordable for everyone and that people continue to be cared for in the most appropriate settings.
733. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on a case (details supplied); and when the person concerned can expect an appointment at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin. [24914/24]
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.
734. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently engage with the HSE to allow a nurse (details supplied) returning from a career break resume their role in UHL. [24915/24]
View answer735. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify if the HSE owns the land at a location (details supplied); if there are any future plans for the land when the hospital is fully built; if so, what it may be used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24919/24]
View answer736. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24923/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
737. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to regulate for the over-labelling of non-Irish health warnings on vaping products, which is fuelling a grey market in such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24926/24]
View answerLabelling and health warnings for electronic cigarettes are regulated under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (Directive 2014/40/EU), which is transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 271/2016).
Under these Regulations, a person may not place on the market electronic cigarettes or refill containers unless each unit packet and any outside packaging carries the following health warning:
“Cuimsíonn an táirge seo nicitín, ar substaint an-andúile é
This product contains nicotine which is a highly addictive substance.”
There are no plans to attempt to alter these requirements via domestic law. Enforcement of these regulations is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Service of the HSE.
738. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan 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. [24930/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
