David Cullinane
Question:371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing GP trainee places by 50%; and the number of places this would create. [30381/24]
View answerGeneral Practitioner Services
Questions (371)
Written answers
To increase the number of GPs working in the country and thereby improve access to GP services, the annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by 80% from 2015 to 2023. Last year, there were 286 new entrants to GP training, and 350 places for new entrants have been made available for this year. The ICGP, which is responsible for training GPs, stated that 968 applications were received for 2023, while 1,311 applications were received for this year.
The annual year one cost of a doctor on the GP training programme is approximately €105,000, accordingly the cost of increasing the number of GP training places by 50%, a further 175 places to 525 places for next year, would be approximately €18.4 million.
However, it is important to note that capacity to increase the number of GP trainees must be built through the health service, as for the first two years of training GP trainees rotate through a variety of hospital specialties. Expanding the number of such places available for GP trainees may also carry additional costs which cannot be quantified at this time.
Mental Health Services
Questions (372)
David Cullinane
Question:372. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing trainee clinical, counselling, and education psychology places by 50%; and the number of places this would create. [30382/24]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (373)
David Cullinane
Question:373. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the training and net additional pay costs of increasing the percentage of advanced nurse practitioners to 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% of the nursing workforce; and the number of nurses this corresponds to. [30383/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (374)
David Cullinane
Question:374. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in capital cost of a new operating theatre. [30384/24]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (375)
David Cullinane
Question:375. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of implementing the National Ambulance Service’s strategic plan and workforce plan. [30385/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, since the last NAS Strategic Plan, 'Vision 2020', the NAS has been engaged in a continuous process of strategic reform to transform the service from a traditional emergency response and conveyance service to a clinically led and agile mobile medical service. The NAS are also increasing capacity to treat patients at the most appropriate level of clinical need, including in their homes and community settings in line with the overall aims of Sláintecare. These reform measures include the continued development of alternative care pathways, such as the "Hear and Treat" NEOC Clinical Hub and "See and Treat" Pathfinder and Community Paramedic pathways. Approximately 1,000 patients per week are now being treated through a NAS administered alternative care pathway, of which almost 40% avoid unnecessary conveyance to a hospital ED, leading to a better experience for the patient as well as reducing pressures on acute hospitals. The NAS is also continuing to address identified front-line capacity requirements. The NAS enrolled 196 Student Paramedics into the NAS college in 2023 and 144 newly qualified Paramedics graduated from the NAS college in 2023. A total of 410 students are currently at various stages of training at the NAS College with further recruitment planned this year following recent recruitment campaigns.
Other NAS strategic initiatives in recent years have included the establishment of the NAS Critical Care Retrieval Service (CCRS), which amalgamated neonatal, pediatric and adult retrieval services and the establishment of the NAS Intermediate Care Service (ICS) to undertake low acuity ambulance transfers to help preserve emergency front-line capacity for more appropriate work. The NAS ICS now carries out on average 80% of all inter-hospital patient transfers.
The total NAS budget this year of over €230 million represents a rise of €63million or 37% from the 2019 allocation, and continuous year-on-year increases in government funding has allowed the NAS to grow its staff to 2,360 full time equivalent employees, of which well over 2,100 staff are deployed in the provision of direct patient care.
A new draft National Ambulance Service Strategic Plan, incorporating a new workforce plan, is being finalised. The new Strategy will build upon the significant achievements already made to date to align the NAS with wider healthcare needs.
Ambulance Service
Questions (376)
David Cullinane
Question:376. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of doubling paramedic training places; the number of places this would create; and the current number of places. [30386/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Questions (377)
David Cullinane
Question:377. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in revenue and new build capital cost for each type of health service bed, based on recent projects, that is, acute inpatient, community transitional care, palliative care, community nursing unit, CAMHS, social inclusion and rehabilitation beds, in tabular form. [30387/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Funding
Questions (378)
David Cullinane
Question:378. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of funding provided to and through Healthy Ireland in each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form. [30388/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Health and Wellbeing Programme in my Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Healthy Ireland which is the National Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025.
Healthy Ireland is based on evidence and experience from around the world which clearly shows that to create positive changes in health and wellbeing takes the involvement of the whole of Government and all of society working together. Given the wider “health in all policies” approach of Healthy Ireland, investment across multiple sectors, through Government Departments and their agencies and in wider society, all contributes to broad health and wellbeing in line with the Healthy Ireland Framework.
The funding for Health and Wellbeing in my Department currently and over the last five years, is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount (€mil) |
|
2019 |
7.5 |
|
2020 |
7.33 |
|
2021 |
12.45 |
|
2022 |
15.39 |
|
2023 |
14.51 |
|
2024 |
16.84 |
The €16.84 million budget for 2024 covers actions that support local communities, including the Healthy Ireland Fund and the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. Funding is allocated for National programmes including Age Friendly Ireland, Sport Ireland, the Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme and Children's and Young People’s Service Committees (CYPSC). The allocation will also be used to promote citizen engagement in the Healthy Ireland framework. The Healthy Ireland Survey and a contribution toward the Health Behaviour in School Aged Children is also funded from this budget. Several settings-based initiatives are funded, including Healthy Campuses, Workplaces , Clubs and Prisons. Finally, the allocation will be utilised to develop various guidelines and policies, including Mental Health Promotion.
There is overwhelming evidence that investment in prevention is cost-effective in both the short and longer term. In addition, investing in public health generates cost-effective health outcomes and can contribute to wider sustainability, with economic, social and environmental benefits. Healthy Ireland is a core framework for the implementation of Sláintecare and provides the central platform to address the social determinants of health that impact how well people live their lives.
Health Services Staff
Questions (379)
David Cullinane
Question:379. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in cost of 100 WTE public health nurses. [30389/24]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (380)
David Cullinane
Question:380. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in cost of 100 WTE clinical nurse specialists. [30390/24]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (381)
David Cullinane
Question:381. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in cost of 100 WTE advanced nurse practitioners. [30391/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (382)
David Cullinane
Question:382. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in cost of 100 WTE dental surgeons. [30392/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (383)
David Cullinane
Question:383. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the all-in cost of 100 WTE dental nurses. [30393/24]
View answerWritten answers
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
Questions (384, 385)
David Cullinane
Question:384. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the medical card basic threshold by €10,000, €15,000, €20,000, €25,000 and €30,000 per annum, in tabular form; and the estimated number of newly eligible people and households. [30394/24]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:385. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing medical card thresholds on par with GP visit card thresholds. [30395/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.
Eligibility for a medical card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. Current medical card income thresholds can be considered generally in terms of cohorts aged 70 or older, and under 70 years of age, with separate thresholds and assessment criteria for each.
Regarding the Deputy's proposals, the information to respond to these requests is not readily available and it is not feasible to provide an estimate within constrained timeframes available. I have therefore requested officials in my Department to undertake further analysis in this area and to respond to the Deputy directly with additional relevant information as soon as possible.
Question No. 385 answered with Question No. 384.