Róisín Shortall
Question:332. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of community registered general nurses in each CHO at present, and in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form. [42308/24]
View answerHealth Services Staff
Questions (332)
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 Waiting Lists
Questions (333)
Róisín Shortall
Question:333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents on a waiting list for primary care speech and language therapy services by wait time, age and CHO, in tabular form. [42309/24]
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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 (334)
Brendan Griffin
Question:334. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health what initiatives his Department is taking to assist people with asthma and severe asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42311/24]
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The GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and was rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period. At present, the chronic conditions included in the programme are Type 2 Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease and Asthma. In addition to the CDM Treatment programme, patients may be diagnosed with Asthma or another chronic disease under the programme’s Opportunistic Case Finding initiative. Those not diagnosed but who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes are entered into the CDM Preventive Programme.
To support patients in managing their chronic condition(s), under the CDM Treatment Programme, each patient receives two scheduled reviews with the GP in a 12-month period, each preceded by a practice nurse visit. The CDM programme supports care for chronic diseases in the community and aims to reduce hospital attendance by patients with one or more of the specified conditions.
Under the 2023 GP Agreement, GP visit card eligibility was expanded from all children under 6 years of age to all children under 8 years of age and to all those who earn up to the median household income. In addition to the provision of GP services, the now Under 8s GP Contract provides for periodic wellness assessments at ages 2 and 5 and for an Asthma Cycle of Care programme.
The Asthma Cycle of Care programme required GP contract holders to maintain a register of all child patients aged between 2 and 5 years with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma, and to provide services for those patients in accordance with the agreed cycle of care set out within the contract. As part of the 2023 GP Agreement, the annual review provided for under the Asthma Cycle of Care will continue to be provided until the registered child patient has reached 8 years of age.
The Irish College of General Practitioners provides an Asthma reference guide to support GPs. As well as provide guidance for the management of patients with Asthma, the guide provides detailed information for the diagnosis and assessment of Asthma.
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for operational matters relating to service delivery, I have also asked them to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (335)
Brendan Griffin
Question:335. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if increased funding will be provided to make medicine affordable to assist people with asthma and severe asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42312/24]
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) administer two schemes, on behalf of the State, which assist people with their medical costs. These are the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, and the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS).
The Government has also introduced measures that have facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults and children, and an expansion of access to free GP care to include more adults and children.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the GMS Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for those who are not eligible for a medical card but incur ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Health Services
Questions (336)
Brendan Griffin
Question:336. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the diagnostic process will be improved and hastened to assist people with asthma and severe asthma receive diagnoses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42313/24]
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As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (337)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:337. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42321/24]
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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 (338)
Bernard Durkan
Question:338. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which treatment for cataracts has been offered to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42347/24]
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (339)
Bernard Durkan
Question:339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when modification to her wheelchair can be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42348/24]
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.
Question No. 340 answered with Question No. 303.
Question No. 341 answered with Question No. 303.