Written Answers Nos. 998-1017
998. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 707 of 11 June 2024, if the HSE pricing and reimbursement application process with regard to the drugs payment scheme has been completed; if melatonin will now be covered under the scheme and the justification if not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43931/24]
View answerUnder 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.
999. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the HSE intends to no longer prescribe a treatment for Covid-19 in high-risk patients (details supplied); the basis for this decision; the engagements he has had with patient representative groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43935/24]
View answerAs the Deputy's question refers to an operational matter which is the responsibility of the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1000. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position on whether a person with type 1 diabetes will be approved for a Dexcom sensor in Cork city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43936/24]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medical products; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1001. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason Ireland does not have a regulatory authority overseeing homecare companies; the reason Ireland does not have a register for health care assistants; the reason the homecare companies are not regulated unlike their European counterparts; if he will ensure that these steps are taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43938/24]
View answerEnsuring that all home support users are provided with high quality care is a priority for my Department and the Government as a whole. As such, considerable work has gone into developing a regulatory framework for home support providers. This work comprises of primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, regulations for home support services which will set out the minimum requirements that a provider must meet to obtain a licence, and HIQA national standards.
My Department is focused on developing the regulatory framework for providers of home support services. It aims to ensure that all service users are provided with high-quality, regulated care. The new system of regulation for home support will ensure that the public can be confident that the services provided are of a high standard and will bring Ireland in line with best international practice. This will comprise of primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, regulations for home support which will set out the minimum requirements that a provider must meet to obtain a licence, and HIQA national standards. Work is ongoing within the Department to progress this commitment.
The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill will regulate home support services in Ireland by establishing a licensing system for providers of home support services, under which it will be an offence to operate a service without a license. Under the legislation, HIQA’s Chief Inspector for Social Services will be the licensing authority with responsibility for monitoring and assessing compliance with regulations and HIQA national standards. The Bill will confer on HIQA, the authority to grant, amend and ultimately revoke a license if home support providers fail to meet minimum requirements. The objective of the proposed licensing system is to improve the safety and quality of home support services by ensuring that registered home support providers do not operate below the standard set by Ministerial regulations and that those regulations are applied in a consistent and systematic way. The development of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services will ensure that all service users are provided with high quality care with the same minimum standards wherever and however it is provided.
The legislation to establish a licensing framework for home support providers is at an advanced stage. In May 2024, the General Scheme was approved by Government and has been published on the Department of Health website along with the Regulatory Impact Analysis. The General Scheme includes details of the proposed structure of the regulatory framework and sets out the transitional arrangements for existing home support providers. The Joint Committee for Health has concluded its pre-legislative scrutiny (PLS) of the general scheme with the final report published on the Committee’s website. The General Scheme has now been referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and final drafting is underway.
Draft regulations for providers of home support services set out minimum requirements which have been informed by a public consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Department of Health has been working closely with HIQA, who will act as the regulator under the proposed licensing framework, regarding the scope of regulation and the development of HIQA quality standards which will go out for public consultation in 2024.
Whether further regulation, including for example a register for health care assistants, is needed will remain under consideration. My officials are in the process of developing a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en . It should be noted that there are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
1002. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of an issue (details supplied) with applying for the hardship scheme in relation to the need for a consultant to sign the forms, given the huge waiting lists to see consultants; and if he will provide a resolution by changing the application process. [43946/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1003. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no healthcare professional (details supplied) at a particular hospital; the status of this post; if a replacement is being sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43956/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1004. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health to outline the process for applying for the hardship scheme for medication not covered under the drugs payment scheme; if he is aware in some cases, patients have been informed by a chemist to get both a GP signature and needing a consultant’s referral to get a consultant’s signature; if the application process to the scheme will be simplified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43962/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1005. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the reason a medication (details supplied) is excluded from the drugs payment scheme if it is a necessary medication for children and people diagnosed with autism suffering with sleeplessness; if this medication will be considered under the Drugs Payment Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43963/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1006. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has sought to resolve the issue regarding the loss of medical cards due to the pension increase in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43965/24]
View answerEligibility 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. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed guidelines are available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie .
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. The weekly gross medical card income thresholds for people aged 70 and over are currently €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
As of 1st October 2024, 1,570,945 people have medical cards and 702,467 people have GP visit cards. This means that more than 42% of the population have access to free GP care.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, for example:
• Discretionary medical cards issued to patients with significant medical expenses but who do not satisfy the means test.
• Emergency medical cards are issued to patients that are terminally ill, or are seriously ill, and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford.
• Medical cards issued to patients who are terminally ill with a prognosis of 24 months or less do not require subsequent means assessment and are not reviewed.
• In addition, as per the HSE's medical card guidelines, should a person's sole income be derived from a social welfare payment, a medical card will be granted even when the social welfare payment is above the income thresholds.
• I can assure the Deputy that my Department keeps medical card issues under review in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs. Over the course of 2024 and 2025, we will review the existing eligibility framework to clearly assess what is working well and to inform policy proposals to enhance eligibility and access to services based on robust evidence. This is an important step towards delivering on universal healthcare in Ireland.
1007. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) has applied to the HSE to have a service level agreement considered with it; when a decision will be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43968/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
1008. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to improve handover times for the National Ambulance Service at hospitals, which is currently impacting service. [43976/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1009. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the level of investment being directed to the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43977/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, this Government has a consistent track record of investment in the National Ambulance Service (NAS), with significant increases in funding since 2019. The HSE National Service Plan allocation for the NAS in 2024 was €231 million, representing an increase of €63 million, or more than 37%, from its 2019 allocation of just over €168 million.
As a direct result of this investment, NAS total staffing rose to 2,363 WTEs at the end of August 2024, which is an increase of 22% or 430 WTEs since December 2019.
This funding comes in recognition of the significant growth in demand for NAS services. In 2023 the NAS received almost 400,000 calls, a 14% increase on 2019 figures. In the year to end of August the NAS has received 228,284 emergency calls compared to 206,586 calls received in the same period in 2023, representing an almost 11% increase.
Despite increases in demand for pre-hospital emergency services, NAS emergency response time performance nationally has improved when compared to the previous year, showing the impact of continued Government investment in our National Ambulance Service.
Budget 2025 reconfirms this Governments commitment to continued investment in the NAS, with an additional allocation of €8m for new service developments in 2025. Increased funding in 2025 will provide for 180 additional NAS staff, including paramedics to support the delivery of essential frontline services, facilitate the expansion of alternative care pathways and the continued development of specialist services such as the NAS Critical Care Retrieval Service. Budget 2025 will also deliver further investment in the HSE National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) to improve capacity to treat more patients.
I trust this information has been of assistance to you.
1010. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made to both CAMHS teams in County Tipperary in 2024; the number of referrals accepted; the number of referrals rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43978/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1011. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the current WTE positions, filled and vacant, in each of both south Tipperary CAMHS teams, broken down by discipline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43979/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1012. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the total number of children referred for dental extraction under general anaesthetic, per CHO area, for the years 2018 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43981/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1013. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the total number of children referred for four or more dental extractions under general anaesthetic, per CHO area, for the years 2018 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43982/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1014. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the total number of children referred for ten or more dental extractions under general anaesthetic, per CHO area, for the years 2018 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43983/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1015. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health what service is available and accessible for children require restorative dental treatment under general anaesthetic in CHO 6, CHO 7 and CHO 9 and are not able to receive this care in Children’s Hospital Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43984/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1016. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Connolly Hospital paediatric dental general anaesthetic unit in James Connolly Hospital which was due to open in 2019 but has not opened since its construction and has remained idle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43985/24]
View answerOfficials in my Department engage with the HSE on an ongoing basis to understand and address the challenges in the provision of oral healthcare services. Some patients may require access to care under sedation to enable them to accept oral healthcare and treatment - which may include Inhalation Sedation, IV Sedation and General Anaesthetic.
General anaesthetic services for primary care oral healthcare patients are facilitated in a number of
locations. Most locations are HSE hospitals but in some cases lists are carried out in private
hospitals through local arrangements or access may involve the patient travelling to an
adjacent health region. Children with complex medical needs or who are under the age of 2
are referred to Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, and Temple Street Hospital.
The development of Oral Healthcare Services under General Anaesthesia at the Urgent Care Centre at Connolly Hospital is a joint development between HSE Oral Healthcare Services and Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) - who will provide clinical governance and continuity in patient pathways between primary care patients and those whose treatment is more appropriately provided through the CHI Consultant Oral Healthcare Service.
As an interface service between the HSE Oral Healthcare Services and CHI, completion and
commissioning of the unit requires the development of new patient care pathways, staffing
arrangements and service guidelines, the development of which is being undertaken against
a background of consolidation of existing children’s hospital units into a single service, as well as the transition to the Health Region model.
A level of investment in infrastructure and equipping has been completed, however, remaining
clinical governance and staffing arrangements for anaesthetic and nursing care need to be established in order to complete commissioning of the unit.
1017. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies of whole-time equivalent general dental surgeons, per CHO area, for the years 2018 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43986/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
