Written Answers Nos. 616-638
616. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health for clarification on the method undertaken to create the endometriosis framework; when we can anticipate a release date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20735/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) is finalising the National Framework for Endometriosis in collaboration with the ICGP.
This Framework sets out a defined clinical care pathway for women with endometriosis with the care pathway spanning primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care through multidisciplinary teams.
The framework is expected to be published in the coming weeks following final consultations with stakeholders.
With regards to the first part of your the question regarding clarification on the method undertaken to create the endometriosis framework, as the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) who was allocated an additional four hours of care in 2022, funded by the HSE, and is still waiting to have these hours fulfilled two years later; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20759/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra618. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health where a person (details supplied) is on the waiting list for additional hours of care. [20760/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy’s question is an operational matter for the HSE. However, the HSE requires details of the applicant’s Date of Birth and Address in order for it to progress the question.
If the Deputy would like to supply this information, I will arrange to have it forwarded to the HSE for direct reply to yourself.
619. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reimbursement status of the drug ravulizumab for paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome; when he expects this drug to be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20786/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
620. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 31 January 2024, how the needs of the National Gender Service’s patients are increasingly complex; what statistics can be shared around the change in the proportion of clinical time spent on follow-up compared to previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20789/24]
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.
621. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 31 January 2024, if psychiatrists are a bottleneck for assessments, as indicated in the National Gender Service's July 2023 clinical governance committee minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20790/24]
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.
622. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 31 January 2024, if the National Gender Service will provide a recent example of the sort of situation where it was necessary to meet with non-clinical groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20791/24]
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.
623. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 31 January 2024, how meeting no such organisations in 2023 is in line with the National Gender Service model of care's commitment that "patient support and advocacy organisations will be involved in governance and service development”; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20792/24]
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.
624. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 31 January 2024, if the National Gender Service considers the care it provides to be gender affirming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/24]
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.
625. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 31 January 2024, if the National Gender Service will clarify which definition of gender affirming it meant with "promoting a gender affirming model of care" in a newspaper article in September 2023 (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20794/24]
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.
626. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the State-funded bereavement services that exist for children and adults; if he will consider allocating additional funding to these services for the provision of supports for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for bereavement counselling and associated services are assigned across a variety of service areas. The HSE National Counselling Service is an essential part of HSE mental health provision and provides a professional, confidential, counselling and psychotherapy service. The service is available in all HSE Community Health areas and operates from over 240 locations throughout Ireland.
The HSE provide a range of bereavement supports while also working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. The Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid is a framework to guide those working with and supporting bereaved people across the country. It was developed through a national collaborative process, managed by the Irish Hospice Foundation and supported by the HSE. Support is provided in line with the Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid which highlights four levels of support that people may require following a bereavement. Levels of support range from Level 1 (community support, self-help resources) to Level 4 (specialist counselling). For adults requiring Level 3 and 4 supports, the HSE provides bereavement counselling through Counselling in Primary Care across the country.
The voluntary organisation First Light provides therapeutic services to suddenly bereaved parents and family members across Ireland. First Light received €50,000 in in 2021 and 2022 from the HSE and provided professional counselling to over 200 individuals in 2022.
Anam Cara is a charity founded by bereaved parents to ensure all bereaved families have access to information and support. They provide a wide range of bereavement support services and peer support which are available to all parents regardless of the age or circumstances of their child’s death. Anam Cara also received €50,000 in 2021 and 2022.
Both organisations have been allocated recurrent funding of €75,000 each since the HSE National Service Plan in 2023. This will further enhance bereavement supports for parents after the death of a child.
The Irish Hospice Foundation in partnership with the HSE provide a bereavement support helpline which is available to the general public. It provides a confidential safe space for individuals who have lost a loved one, friend or colleague, to talk about their loss and grief.
Within the area of children’s palliative care, Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice provides bereavement counselling on a national basis to families in need. In 2022, Laura Lynn provided bereavement support to over 200 families. In 2023, €800,000 was provided in additional recurrent funding increasing Laura Lynn’s base funding to €2.3 million per year.
In relation to supports for children, the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network provide information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families. Rainbows and Barnardos also provide bereavement supports for children and young people.
627. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health to outline any future plans for Maynooth Health Centre in Leinster Street; what plans are in place for a primary care/health centre unit in Maynooth suitable for the needs and expectations of the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20808/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
628. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to amalgamate the Maynooth and Leixlip health services; and if so, if these services will be located in Leixlip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20809/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
629. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the awards made following a tender process to external non-medical consultants, by firm, by the Health Service Executive, in 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [20817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra630. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the awards made without a tender process to external non-medical consultants, by firm, by the Health Service Executive, in 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [20818/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 629 and 630 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
631. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the awards made following a tender process to external non-medical consultants, by firm, by his Department in 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [20819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. A full response is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. This will be provided to the deputy directly within 10 working days.
632. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the awards made without a tender process to external non-medical consultants, by firm, by his Department in 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [20820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available.
A full response is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
This will be provided to the deputy directly within 10 working days.
633. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline, in tabular form, all HSE expenditure on outside firms, including outsourcing of care, assessments, recruitment, diagnostics, legal, professional and consultancy fees and any other service delivered for the HSE by a non-HSE organisation (not including Section 38 organisations) for the years 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [20821/24]
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.
634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to outline, in tabular form, all expenditure by each Section 38 organisation on outside firms, including outsourcing of care, assessments, recruitment, diagnostics, legal, professional and consultancy fees and any other service delivered for that organisation by a non-public organisation for the years 2016 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [20822/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dept of Health Finance does not hold the specific information requested for this PQ. As this PQ relates to expenditure at an operational level, I have referred to the HSE for direct response
635. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if a private supplier has been sourced to manage the new CNU in Nenagh as a stepdown facility for UHL. [20825/24]
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.
636. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be called for an ADHD assessment through CAMHS in the primary care centre, Mullingar. [20845/24]
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.
637. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health to provide data in respect of all HSE regions in Ireland (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20846/24]
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
638. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if, given the significant number of people diagnosed with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, there are any plans to include it on the long-term illness scheme, considering that the medication required to treat this condition is a considerable expense to those who suffer from it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20870/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework. This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public in-patient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, further measures have facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, including an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30 (further extended to those aged 31 from 1 January 2024). These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
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 General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
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. 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 Drug Payment Scheme (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 families and individuals with 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%.
