Duncan Smith
Question:468. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant anaesthetists working in Tallaght University Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [37470/24]
View answerHealth Services Staff
Questions (468)
Written 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
Questions (469)
Duncan Smith
Question:469. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of funding allocated to drug addiction services in Wicklow in 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [37471/24]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (470)
Duncan Smith
Question:470. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant radiologists at Mullingar Regional Hospital to date in 2024. [37472/24]
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
Questions (471)
Robert Troy
Question:471. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason the minor injury unit at Ballinderry, Mullingar, County Westmeath will not treat patients under the age of 16 years when this service is offered in other minor injury units such as Roscommon; and if he will ensure that this policy is changed and that treatment is offered to under-16s at this unit. [37473/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Service Executive
Questions (472)
Pearse Doherty
Question:472. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if it there are plans to offer a HSE-owned property (details supplied) to State stakeholders, for sale to the community or for private sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37478/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (473)
Ged Nash
Question:473. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he plans to review the threshold for the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37491/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
• From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
• From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
Therefore, currently, under the DPS, no individual pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for people with ongoing expenditure on medicines. Consideration of further changes to the DPS threshold will be made in the context of current healthcare priorities and the budget available.
Health Services
Questions (474)
Leo Varadkar
Question:474. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health if he is making contingency plans for the possibility of having to provide health services for a wave of refugees coming to Europe and Ireland from Sudan due to the war, famine and humanitarian crisis unfolding there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37503/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to delivering a humanitarian response to people seeking international protection. The Department of Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) are co-ordinating the provision of healthcare services for more than 110,000 Ukrainians (BOTP), together with an additional 41,000 International Protection Applicants (IPA) who have arrived in Ireland since 2022.
Our healthcare service has had to adapt and increase resources to meet the health needs of Ukrainian and International Protection Applicants. A total of €124 million has been made available for the provision of healthcare service for refugees and migrants since 2022, including €50 million for 2024. This funding is used to deliver a suite of healthcare services that are responsive to areas of higher demand and local health service factors, and include health assessments, catch-up immunisation clinics and additional GP sessions where local capacity challenges are identified.
The HSE has developed a refugee primary care health model to provide a flexible healthcare response to address the health needs of IPAs and BOTPs who are living in temporary accommodation, including designated arrival centres.
The model is flexible insofar as it can adapt to delivering health services in areas where there are high concentrations of TPs. The model also includes GP sessional clinics to alleviate capacity challenges that have resulted from significant increases in demand for services.
I am committed to ensuring that healthcare services for refugees are provided in a coordinated and flexible manner.
Health Services
Questions (475)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:475. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists employed by CAMHS in the Meath area; the number of psychologists working in CAMHS in the Meath area; the size of the waiting list for access to CAMHS services in the Meath area; the average time waiting to secure an appointment with a psychologist in the Meath area; the average waiting time to access CAMHS services in the Meath area in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37507/24]
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 Staff
Questions (476)
Martin Browne
Question:476. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to specify the causes behind the reduction of patient and client care practitioners at the University of Limerick Hospital (UHL) Group between December 2019 and May 2024; if this has been taken into account throughout the reports into UHL and the service provision in the mid-west, particularly emergency department care and failings therein; the specific roles that experienced a reduction in staff in this area of staffing, with reference to the specific hospitals; if he was aware of this reduction in staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37511/24]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question on the reporting of figures, the HSE publishes monthly workforce reports, based on the health service personnel census. These reports include Patient and Client Care Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) staff figures.
As the rest of the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 477 answered with Question No. 409.
Health Services
Questions (478)
Robert Troy
Question:478. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to follow up on an approval request by a company (details supplied) who wish to be granted access to Healthlink HL7. [37529/24]
View answer
Awaiting reply from Department.
Legislative Programme
Questions (479)
Mark Ward
Question:479. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 746 of 5 March 2024, if his office or Department have had consultation (details supplied) in relation to examining the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023; what these consultations would consist of; when they will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37530/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, was before Second Stage in the Dáil on 27 February 2024.
No consultation between officials in my Department and the Deputies is required before the Amendment Bill can proceed to Committee Stage.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Mental Health Bill was at an advanced stage of drafting when the Amendment Bill was before Second Stage earlier this year.
Officials in my Department considered the contents of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023 in the drafting of the Government’s Mental Health Bill and were satisfied that the aims of the Amendment Bill are addressed in the Government’s Bill and that no consultation was required to further reflect the aims of the Amendment Bill in the Government's Bill.
The Government’s position on the Amendment Bill then and now is that the provisions of the Bill did not achieve its stated aim, which was to extend the Commission’s regulatory function to regulate community CAMH services.
It is the Government’s position that its Mental Health Bill sets out a much more robust legal framework for the regulation of all community mental health services for adults and for children, and includes adequate enforcement measures to address any issues of non-compliance by services.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government’s Mental Health Bill was published on 31 July last and completed Second Stage in the Dáil last week. The Bill will now proceed to Committee Stage. If the Deputy is of the view that the aims of the 2023 Amendment Bill are not adequately addressed by the Government’s Bill, amendments can be proposed at Committee Stage and will be given due consideration by Government.
Medical Cards
Questions (480)
Bernard Durkan
Question:480. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reasons a discretional medical card was removed from the daughter of a person (details supplied); if their card will be reinstated as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37533/24]
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.
Emergency Departments
Questions (481)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:481. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if the new emergency department for Beaumont Hospital has proceeded to the developed design stage; if an application for planning permission has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37547/24]
View answerWritten answers
The proposed new Emergency Department (ED) at Beaumont Hospital, (which includes the reconfiguration of the existing ED), is a large and complex capital proposal.
The HSE has advised that a report on the scheme design (Design Stage 2A) of the proposal is with it, and a review of this report is currently ongoing.
The process for the Beaumont ED proposal is being managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department of Health or Government for consent. This is in line with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform’s updated Infrastructure Guidelines.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (482)
John McGuinness
Question:482. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an operation that was scheduled in 2022-2023 will be expedited for a person (details supplied) given the circumstances. [37551/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (483)
John McGuinness
Question:483. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action his Department is taking to ensure the continuous supply of the drug, pancrease, to patients that do not get relief from substitute drugs such as creon; if pancrease will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37554/24]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Gender Recognition
Questions (484)
Paul Murphy
Question:484. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2247 of 23 July 2024, the reason the transgender clinic in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda uses the 2014 guidelines provided by psychiatrists rather than the 2017 guidelines from endocrinologists for hormone serum concentrations. [37555/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Questions (485)
Paul Murphy
Question:485. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2033 of 23 July 2024, if the transgender clinic in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda is aware that the guidelines do make statements in relation to the duration of GnRHa therapy (details supplied). [37556/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (486)
Paul Murphy
Question:486. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 2 July 2024, when the treatment abroad scheme changed to requiring evidence of multidisciplinary sign off for transgender surgery; and who made this decision. [37557/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (487)
Paul Murphy
Question:487. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2225 of 23 July 2024, what means activists have used to attack the National Gender Service. [37558/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (488)
Paul Murphy
Question:488. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2227 of 23 July 2024, if the National Gender Service tracks the number of patients it "often says not right now" to. [37559/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (489)
Paul Murphy
Question:489. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2230 of 23 July 2024, which specific elements of transgender healthcare can be delivered by GPs. [37560/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (490)
Paul Murphy
Question:490. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2230 of 23 July 2024, if it has already been decided that initiation of transgender hormone treatments can only be done in liaison with specialist HSE services, and not by GPs alone. [37561/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Questions (491)
Paul Murphy
Question:491. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there are no plans to restrict the access to puberty blockers, including via EU prescriptions. [37563/24]
View answerWritten answers
A new clinical programme for gender healthcare is being initiated by the HSE. Over the next two years, the programme will develop an updated clinical model of care for gender healthcare services for the Irish population.
A small number of young people are referred for gender specialist assessment, support and diagnosis to the NHS children and young people’s gender service with the assistance of the HSE’s Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS). This service is currently delivered in 2 hubs in the UK and not in Northern Ireland.
The prescribing of puberty blockers for young people is only one aspect of gender healthcare and is a clinical decision made by the treating endocrinologist, informed by a multispecialty team, and in consultation with the patient and their family. Clinical decisions are made on a case-by-case basis for each individual patient.
In Ireland, a very small number of young people who are patients of Children’s Health Ireland are currently receiving puberty blockers in the public health system. The prescribing of puberty blockers for children is a clinical decision made by the treating endocrinologist with the patient and their family.
This practice is not changing at this time, and I am advised that the HSE will keep evidence under review to inform this.
The dispensing of EU prescriptions by Irish pharmacists is provided for under EU law (EU Healthcare Directive) and the national Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended.
There are currently no plans to legislate to prohibit the dispensing of EU prescriptions in the Republic of Ireland.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (492)
Paul Murphy
Question:492. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health for a list of the subject matter expert colleagues who are assisting the clinical lead for transgender services in reviewing the Cass review. [37564/24]
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.