Written Answers Nos. 573-593
573. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of times the critical lack of care for diabetes patients in Letterkenny University Hospital has been notified onto the hospitals risk register in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20512/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
574. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the current turnaround for processing of CORU registration for new social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20514/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra575. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, a list of properties leased and used by Letterkenny University Hospital, disaggregated by location, services provided from the property, cost per annum and length of lease remaining in years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20523/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
576. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health to provide, in tabular form, a list of properties leased and used by the HSE CHO1 in County Donegal, disaggregated by location, services provided from the property, cost per annum and length of lease remaining in years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20524/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
577. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the measures he is planning to take to deal with the lack of dental treatment services being delivered in our schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20525/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are challenges in the provision of dental services and patients are waiting longer than they should have to, to access care. Therefore, in addition to the over €200m that the Government invests in public oral healthcare services annually, an additional €17m in one-off funding has been invested since 2019/2020 to address service backlogs.
In the first quarter of 2024, the HSE offered oral examination appointments to 13% more 6th class children and 9% more second class children relative to the same period in 2023. In addition orthodontic waiting lists have been reduced by 8,700 patients, or 44%, between end-March 2019 and end-December 2023.
In the longer-term, the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, sets out a complete transformation of oral healthcare services and expansion of the care available for both children and adults. An implementation plan for the first phase of rollout is being developed between my Department and the HSE, for consultation and then publication in the third quarter of this year.
For children, the HSE is developing comprehensive, prevention-focused oral healthcare packages, starting with 0-2 years olds, supported by €4.75m in additional funding. This will support children to attend a local dentist from birth, representing a significant expansion of care compared to the current model which offers three examination appointments and associated follow-up, starting at second class, in addition to emergency care which is available at all ages up to 16.
578. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the measures he intends to take to eliminate the long waiting list for children awaiting surgery for scoliosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20526/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that waiting lists for scoliosis and spina bifida services are unacceptably long. I am acutely conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
I committed €19 million to children’s orthopaedics to tackle these waiting lists. This investment has led to the hiring of more than 200 healthcare professionals in Crumlin, Temple Street, and Cappagh. This includes nurses, consultants, anaesthesiologists, and radiographers. This investment has also funded a 5th operating theatre in Temple Street, a second MRI in Crumlin, and additional beds.
This has supported a significant increase in the number of spinal procedures carried out in 2022 and 2023, compared to 2019. While waiting lists remain too long it is important to acknowledge that our healthcare workers have delivered an increase in the number of procedures being carried out.
At my request, a dedicated Paediatric Spinal Surgery Management Unit has been established in Children’s Health Ireland. I recently allocated further funding of €1.34 million following a request from the clinical lead of the Unit, for additional staff, outpatient clinics, and MRI capacity.
I have also convened a dedicated stakeholder Paediatric Spinal Taskforce to collaboratively address concerns raised by families and advocacy groups.
I have asked, and expect the HSE and CHI to explore all options to increase capacity for this vital service, including international outsourcing, to reduce the waiting lists and ensure improved access for patients.
579. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of athletes in sports who died by sudden arrhythmic death syndrome from 2019 to the latest date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20527/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
580. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to confirm the opening date for the eating disorder out patient service at Mount Carmel Hospital site in Dublin; the number of staff to be employed in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20529/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
581. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to confirm the number of eating disorder beds to be provided in the new Children's Hospital; to confirm the expected opening date of the new Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NPHDB considers the Q4 2024 substantial completion date, set out by BAM in its programme, to be achievable if the project is adequately resourced and managed by the contractor to meets its own timelines.
Once substantial completion is achieved, the hospital will be handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for a period of operational commissioning of at least 6 months.
In relation to the number of eating disorder beds in the new children’s hospital, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
582. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health pursuant to the Government's commitment to introduce a VICP for Covid mRNA vaccines as far back as April 2021, if he will detail the commencement date for same. [20545/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, work is ongoing to design a proposed model for a vaccine damage scheme and officials in my department are working through related policy matters. The development of such a model needs detailed consideration to ensure that it is appropriately designed. Once the model is developed, I will bring it to Cabinet for approval.
583. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will approve a derogation applied for, to the current recruitment embargo to allow an essential service (details supplied) hire a person, where they carried out recruitment and interviews before the embargo, and the person is needed to fill a vacant role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20560/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
584. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the proposed start date for the implementation of the proposals in the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, and in particular the transfer of care of children aged 8+ years to local private optometrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20590/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSight testing, eye examinations and optical appliances are provided to medical card holders by ophthalmologists, optometrists and dispensing opticians through the Community Ophthalmic Services Schemes (COSS). Patients may access these services following a referral by a healthcare professional such as their general practitioner.
All children, including those not covered by a medical card, receive a vision screen while in national school from a Public Health Nurse. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides optical services free of charge to pre-school children and national school children referred from child health service and school health service examinations who are discovered to have sight problems. These children are referred to the appropriate consultant for treatment. In such circumstances, these services will continue to be provided until the child has reached the age of 16.
The HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group Report, published in June 2017, highlighted the limitations of the current model of service delivery and set out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting. The Report estimated that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.
The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology has developed a model of care which details how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community will be undertaken. Included in current priorities is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists.
A project team with a wide-ranging membership was established in late 2019 / early 2020 to progress this initiative. The work of the team was paused due to the requirement to focus resources on the COVID 19 pandemic. However, the project team has been reconvened and is progressing matters in relation to this initiative. Recently I asked the HSE to prepare a detailed implementation plan in regard to this matter. I have also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.
The HSE is currently in the process of implementing multidisciplinary Integrated Eye Care Teams. These teams facilitate assessment, diagnoses, management and treatment and in some cases pre-op/post-op care enabling most patients to be seen in their own locality. Where necessary, patients can be referred onwards to acute Ophthalmology services to receive the necessary specialist input.
Integrated Eye Care Teams continue to be rolled out nationally. To date, teams have been established in 6 of the 9 CHOs, namely, CHO 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 9. Waiting lists have been substantially reduced in each of these areas as a result. Work is underway to establish teams in the remaining CHOs as well as further expanding the teams in the existing CHOs.
585. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a medical card decision will be made for a cancer patient (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20591/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
586. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance to a person (details supplied) regarding the ongoing issue in relation to funding for a Trekinetic GTE wheelchair; the reason why this funding was denied despite the supporting medical information; what steps are being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20597/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
587. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to urgently expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20599/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
588. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to comment on the heating system at the Central Mental Hospital; to confirm reports that the temperature was set below the HSE comfortable range at night time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20601/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
589. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he can provide contact points for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20602/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2022 Joint Action on prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases and Cancer, EU4H-2022-JA-02, has an overall budget of €95,523,720 and an aim to further the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and cancer by minimising fragmentation and duplication of efforts as well as by engaging national authorities at various levels to enhance the impact of actions taken.
Ireland nominated the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) as Competent Authority for this Joint Action. As Competent Authority, they have become the grant beneficiary with responsibility for the implementation of the entire action. Ireland nominated two Affiliated Entities, the Food Safety Authority, Ireland (FSAI) and University College Cork (UCC). The Affiliated Entities are responsible for implementing part of the actions and must have a legal link with the Competent Authority. Please be aware that the Department of Health has also been granted observer status for the Joint Action on prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases and Cancer.
Contact points for these organisations are as follows:
National Competent Authority:
National Cancer Control Programme - prevention@cancercontrol.ie
Affiliated Entities:
Food Safety Authority, Ireland (FSAI) - info@fsai.ie
University College Cork (UCC) - schoolofpublichealth@ucc.ie
590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update on a person's wait for a hospital appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20615/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
591. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to explain how to establish a Jigsaw individual service in County Westmeath. [20634/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
592. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to the lymphoedema model of care in the years of 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [20645/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
593. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the services purchased by the Mater Hospital under the national treatment purchase plan for the years of 2021 to date in 2024; and the breakdown of services purchased. [20646/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided my Department with the attached table which outlines the specialties for which treatment was procured by the NTPF for patients on waiting lists at the Mater Hospital, for the time periods requested.
