Claire Kerrane
Ceist:643. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of people on outpatient eye-care appointments by CHO, in tabular form. [21794/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (643)
Freagraí scríofa
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. 644 answered with Question No. 543.
Legislative Programme
Ceisteanna (645)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:645. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in commencing the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023, which was signed into law on 2 May 2023; the timeline he is working towards for commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21805/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 provides a legislative framework for a number of important patient safety issues, including the mandatory open disclosure of a list of specified serious patient safety incidents that must be disclosed to the patient and/or their family, and the expansion of HIQA’s remit into private hospital services. The Act was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President on 2nd May 2023.
Prior to commencement of the Act, there are a number of preparatory steps required. These are currently being progressed and significant multi-stakeholder engagement has been taking place across the health system.The Act establishes a mandatory requirement for the notification of certain serious patient safety incidents. To facilitate this notification process, a new module to the existing National Incident Management System (NIMS) must be designed, tested and implemented before this provision can be commenced. Work with key stakeholders, including the HSE, State Claims Agency, HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, is nearly complete.The HSE advise that work is underway to finalise and roll out their new open disclosure training policy and communications plan to all staff regarding the new disclosure and notification requirements under the Act, before its implementation can be rolled out.The Patient Safety Act also mandates open disclosure of patient requested review of cancer screening and the implementation of a communications programme regarding such reviews. The HSE and the Screening Services are currently finalising these processes.Once these preparatory steps have been completed, the intention is to commence the Act at the earliest possible date.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (646)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:646. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible for the oversight and accuracy of deaths reported in the HSE monthly maternity patient statements; if all maternity hospitals are recording baby deaths; if not, the repercussions for not doing so; if discrepancies between CSO and HSE data in respect of baby deaths has been reviewed; if so, the reason these sets of data do not correlate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21806/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (647)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:647. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the annual total numbers of reported serious incidents on the national incident management system is not reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21807/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (648)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:648. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of baby deaths, maternal deaths and catastrophic birth injuries reported on the national incident management system in each of the years since 2013, by category, in tabular form; the number of cases where the open disclosure field within NIMS was populated; the number that led to an inquiry; the number of where open disclosure occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21808/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (649)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:649. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the source of his advice in relation to 21 baby deaths (details supplied); if he or his source of advice had sight of the names of the 21 babies before a radio interview; if he is aware that this list has grown to 45 babies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21809/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
When taking decisions in relation to clinical matters the Minister for Health relies on advice given to him by clinicians with specialist knowledge of the area under consideration. In the matter of maternity and neo-natal care that advice is provided to the Minister by the National Women & Infants Programme in the Health Service Executive (HSE), who have access to the highest level of clinical expertise in this area, and the National Patient Safety Office (NPSO) in the Department of Health who manage patient safety issues across the full range of care provided by our health service. In this instance, two issues were considered together in advising the Minister.
Comprehensive and individual patient safety reviews and coroners’ reviews are conducted when required. In addition, there are significant and robust mechanisms which Ireland has in place to monitor the quality and safety of our maternity services. These mechanisms include data sources such as the National Perinatal Epidemiological Centre (NPEC) Reports and the Irish Maternity Indicator System (IMIS) that provide National Reports for National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWHIP). To clarify, these reports have not specifically identified trends in relation to baby heart monitoring. While trending data is one source of information and no specific trends are identified in the national reports this is not considered in isolation. It is also well recognised clinically that failure to adequately interpret a cardio-tachograph (CTG) is often cited as a contributory factor in adverse event reviews, and in some coroner’s cases. It is also acknowledged, nationally and internationally, that CTG is an imperfect tool, that there are variations in practice and as such should always been used in conjunction with other monitoring techniques, such as the partogram and the woman’s vital signs.
When it is recognised that there is potential for variations in practice, robust, evidence based national clinical guidelines should be developed along with training for staff to ensure consistent implementation. This is the approach that has been taken in Ireland to the interpretation of CTGs. The HSE is currently working on a comprehensive new guideline that will help to further standardise the process and will be incorporated into the training system.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (650)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:650. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that staffing levels and facilities are adequate in all maternity units, labour wards and neonatal units; the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on maternity care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21810/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (651)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:651. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised by doctors in Temple Street (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address these concerns; if a review will be conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21811/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The neonatology service in CHI looks after newborns with surgical or complex medical needs. Young babies are transferred to CHI from neonatal units throughout the country and on admission through the Emergency Department. The service includes special care, high-dependency care, and intensive care. High-dependency care is for babies who have additional needs compared to those in special care. Intensive care is reserved for babies with particular needs such as ventilator support.
There are Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at the Coombe Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, and Cork University Hospital. There are regional NICUs at University Limerick Hospital and University Galway Hospital.
In 2022, CHI opened a new high dependency neonatal unit in CHI at Crumlin, as part of its plan to develop a new and highly specialised Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) in the new children’s hospital. The service includes six neonatal high dependency beds for babies with additional care needs. Together with six well-established neonatal high dependency beds in Temple Street, this provides specialised cots for a particularly vulnerable group of patients.
Funding for an additional 26.5 staff was provided for in 2023 for the neonatology service, with a full year cost of €2.6 million. This was to enhance the service in preparation for the establishment of the NICU in the new children’s hospital. These posts include consultant neonatologists, nurse practitioners, staff nurses, and other clinical staff.
The Government is committed to seeing the world-class New Children's Hospital open as soon as possible and everything is being done to get it completed as soon as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Ceisteanna (652)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:652. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the mortality rate for babies sent to Temple Street and Crumlin Children's Hospital for surgical procedures and subsequently returned to a maternity hospital. [21812/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (653)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:653. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the involvement of bereaved families in HSE internal reviews into baby deaths, maternal deaths and catastrophic birth injuries; the steps taken to ensure that these cases are dealt with in a timely manner in safety incident management team reviews; if there is any available data in respect of these time frames; the person or body responsible for oversight of these reviews; the repercussions for non-adherence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21813/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Regulatory Bodies
Ceisteanna (654)
Mark Ward
Ceist:654. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the threshold level for regulation of psychotherapists through CORU; when regulation of psychotherapy through CORU will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21816/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. CORU’s role is to protect the public by regulating the health and social care professions designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended), including setting the standards that health and social care professionals must meet to be eligible for registration and maintaining registers of persons who meet those standards.
Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU. There are currently registers open for twelve professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining designated professions of Psychologists; Counsellors and Psychotherapists; Clinical Biochemists; and Orthoptists.
Each profession designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act has its own independent registration board with statutory responsibility for:
• Establishing and maintaining the register of members for that profession;
• Recognising qualifications gained outside the State;
• Approving and monitoring education and training programmes for entry to the register;
• Setting the code of professional conduct and ethics giving guidance to professionals on Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) were made by the previous Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, in 2019. The Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board (CPRB) was established in February 2019. Its membership comprises practitioners, representatives from education and training, and lay members.
The work of the CPRB includes consideration of the titles to be protected and the minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners and the qualifications that will be required for future graduates. The work of the CPRB is significantly more challenging than it is for registration boards for some of the more established professions owing to the different and complex pathways into these professions, the variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.
The CPRB undertook an extensive research process to inform the drafting of standards and criteria. This included a review of contemporary evidence-informed academic literature, an examination of comparator international professional standards, and understanding the contemporary practice of the profession in Ireland. Key stakeholders, including the public (through a public consultation process), are also part of the drafting process.
Throughout the course of 2022 and 2023, the CPRB drafted threshold level standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviour – its Standards of Proficiency – and the systems and processes that education providers must have in place to ensure consistent and effective delivery of graduates who have achieved the Standards of Proficiency ¬– its Criteria for Education and Training Programmes. Two sets of these requirements were drafted: one for counsellors and one for psychotherapists representing the first attempt to establish distinct standards for each profession in Ireland and the first effort to standardise threshold level education and training requirements for entry to each profession.
The introduction of regulation to the counselling profession is a top priority for CORU. Extensive work has already been carried out by the CPRB to achieve this. Most recently a public consultation was held on the Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for the counselling profession.
The CPRB is now reviewing the many responses received during this consultation. Following this extensive review activity, the Board will communicate the next steps in the process towards introducing statutory regulation for counsellors.
Owing to the significant body of preparatory work that the CPRB are required to undertake, it is not possible to say with any degree of accuracy when the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist will be fully regulated. I would anticipate that the CPRB will require a number of years to complete its work.
Qualifications Recognition
Ceisteanna (655)
Michael Creed
Ceist:655. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if assistance will be provided to expedite a registration with CORU (details supplied). [21818/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this matter concerns an individual's application for recognition of international qualifications, I have asked CORU to respond to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (656)
Michael Creed
Ceist:656. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be provided with speech and language therapy. [21819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (657)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:657. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21842/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (658, 659, 660)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:658. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of approved PrEP clinics available in Dublin; and the number of new patients each is currently accepting, along with an average wait time to be admitted to each service, in tabular form. [21854/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatrick Costello
Ceist:659. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of available average weekly slots for the gay men's health service; and the estimated weekly demand. [21855/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPatrick Costello
Ceist:660. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he accepts that demand for PrEP clinics in Dublin is currently more than the capacity of the system; and the steps being taken to address the gap in provision. [21856/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 658 to 660, inclusive, together.
The National Sexual Health Strategy, 2015-2020, (NSHS), was launched in October 2015 and is implemented by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP), who oversee sexual health services. Following stakeholder consultation and an independent review, the Strategy is currently being re-drafted, a refreshed version will be published in 2024. The Review identified 56 Priority Actions, of which 49 were assessed as having been successfully progressed.
A national HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme commenced in November 2019, following a HIQA HTA, which concluded that its introduction would be safe, effective, and cost saving. Free PrEP medication is available to individuals who meet clinical eligibility criteria, attending HSE approved PrEP services. These include public PrEP services, some general practice (GP) services and private providers. There are currently 13 approved public PrEP services and 17 private or general practitioner (GP) PrEP providers. Appointments at the 13 public PrEP services is free of charge, however, the private providers charge for consultations.
The number of people eligible to access PrEP has been expanding since inception, with the number of individuals reimbursed for PrEP at least once expanding from 1763 in 2020 (the first full year of service delivery, to 3388 in 2022 and 3802 by Q4, 2023. While the PrEP service continued to grow in 2023, many PrEP services are reaching (or have reached) capacity and service users are reporting challenges accessing appointments.
Further work is required to understand the extent of the unmet need/demand for PrEP, which has been estimated as circa 30%. Additional funding of €600,000 has been allocated in 2024 to further support delivery of the PrEP scheme. A number of additional measures to increase capacity have been deployed, including administrative efficiencies, the use of telephone consultations and the free home STI testing scheme for routine tests. In order to increase the number of providers, a PrEP competency framework and eLearning platform has been developed.
The SHCPP is continuing to work with the multidisciplinary PrEP working group to develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework for the PrEP programme. Understanding and responding to unmet demand and need is a core component of this work. The HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) also provide data to SHCPP on a regular basis to monitor PrEP activity, including data around new PrEP users.
In terms of the number of approved PrEP clinics available in Dublin, the number of new patients each is currently accepting, average waiting times for service access, average weekly slots for the GMHS and estimated weekly demand for same, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No 659 answered with Question No. 658.
Question No 660 answered with Question No. 658.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (661)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:661. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total costs incurred by his Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21867/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following table shows spend by my Department on the placing of advertisements in print media since 2019
|
Year |
Spend (€) |
|
2019 |
€73,185 |
|
2020 |
€45,175 |
|
2021 |
€337,935 |
|
2022 |
€131,210 |
|
2023 |
€197,025 |
|
2024 |
€6,034 |
|
Total |
€790,564 |
The following table shows the publications in which advertisements were placed:
|
Publication |
Publication |
Publication |
|
ANGLO CELT |
IRISH INDEPENDENT - SEACHTAIN |
ROSCOMMON PEOPLE |
|
ATHLONE ADVERTISER |
IRISH INDEPENDENT 0% |
RTE GUIDE |
|
ATHLONE TOPIC |
IRISH MIRROR |
SLIGO CHAMPION |
|
BRAY PEOPLE |
IRISH TIMES |
SLIGO WEEKENDER |
|
CARLOW NATIONALIST |
IRISH TIMES MAGAZINE |
SOUTHERN STAR |
|
CARLOW PEOPLE |
KERRYMAN |
SOUTHSIDE NEWS |
|
CARRIGDHOUN NEWSPAPER |
KERRY'S EYE |
SOUTHSIDE PEOPLE |
|
CLARE CHAMPION |
KILDARE NATIONALIST - DIRECT |
SUN |
|
CLONMEL NATIONALIST |
KILKENNY PEOPLE |
SUN - TV MAGAZINE |
|
CONNACHT TRIBUNE |
LAOIS NATIONALIST - DIRECT |
SUNDAY BUSINESS POST |
|
CONNAUGHT TELEGRAPH |
LAW GAZETTE |
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT |
|
CORK INDEPENDENT |
LEINSTER EXPRESS |
SUNDAY TIMES |
|
DAILY MAIL |
LEINSTER LEADER |
SUNDAY WORLD |
|
DAILY STAR |
LEITRIM OBSERVER |
SUNDAY WORLD - MAGAZINE |
|
DAILY STAR - MAGAZINE |
LIFFEY CHAMPION |
THE AVONDHU PUBLICATIONS LTD |
|
DONEGAL DEMOCRAT |
LIMERICK LEADER |
THE CLARE ECHO |
|
DONEGAL NEWS |
LIMERICK POST |
THE CORKMAN |
|
DONEGAL PEOPLES PRESS |
LONGFORD LEADER |
THE ECHO NEWSPAPER |
|
DONEGAL POST |
MAIL ON SUNDAY |
THE HERALD |
|
DROGHEDA INDEPENDENT |
MALLOW STAR |
TIPPERARY STAR |
|
DROGHEDA LEADER |
MAYO ADVERTISER |
TRICONAILL TRIBUNE |
|
DUNDALK ARGUS |
MAYO NEWS |
TUAM HERALD |
|
DUNDALK DEMOCRAT |
MEATH CHRONICLE |
VALE STAR |
|
DUNDALK LEADER |
MEATH TOPIC |
WATERFORD NEWS AND STAR |
|
ENNISCORTHY GUARDIAN |
MIDLAND & TULLAMORE TRIBUNE |
WATERFORD TODAY |
|
EVENING ECHO |
MUNSTER EXPRESS |
WEEKLY OBSERVER |
|
FINGAL INDEPENDENT |
NENAGH GUARDIAN |
WESTERN PEOPLE |
|
GALWAY ADVERTISER |
NEW ROSS STANDARD |
WESTMEATH EXAMINER |
|
GAZETTE |
NORTHERN STANDARD |
WESTMEATH INDEPENDENT |
|
INISH TIMES |
NORTHSIDE NEWS |
WESTMEATH TOPIC |
|
INISHOWEN INDEPENDENT |
NORTHSIDE PEOPLE (EAST) |
WEXFORD CHRONICLE |
|
IRISH EXAMINER |
NORTHSIDE PEOPLE (WEST) |
WEXFORD PEOPLE |
|
IRISH FARMERS JOURNAL |
OFFALY INDEPENDENT |
WICKLOW PEOPLE |
|
IRISH INDEPENDENT |
OFFALY TOPIC |
WICKLOW TIMES |
|
IRISH INDEPENDENT - MAGAZINE |
ROSCOMMON HERALD |
WICKLOW VOICE |
Third Level Staff
Ceisteanna (662)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:662. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the necessary clinical tutor posts to honour a previous commitment to provide five additional places on the radiation therapy programme in Trinity College Dublin; if not, the reason this commitment will not be fulfilled for the 2024-25 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21884/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (663)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:663. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health what services are currently provided in Balbriggan primary care centre; what additional services are planned to be introduced; when a full range of services will be provided at Balbriggan primary care centre, including phlebotomy, x-ray and other; how many WTE staff are working at the centre and how many WTE vacancies there are, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21902/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (664)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:664. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if training in respect of sepsis management is provided to healthcare workers; if so, the categories of healthcare workers who receive such training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21906/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputies question relates to a service issue, I have referred the question to the Health Service Executive for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.