Joan Collins
Ceist:282. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [30115/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (282)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (283)
Robert Troy
Ceist:283. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if Ireland always complies with EU Directive 89/105/EEC, which states that Member States must make a decision on the price charged and the level of reimbursement for a medicinal product within 90 days of receiving an application, provided all the necessary information is provided. [30119/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (284)
John Lahart
Ceist:284. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement of radioligand therapy (RLT) treatments by the HSE; if he will ensure that this treatment is made available to cancer patients immediately once reimbursed; if he is aware that cancer patients were left waiting at least two years to receive one form of RLT after the treatment was reimbursed in 2021 due to the fact that the health service was not equipped to administer the treatment. [30121/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (285)
John Lahart
Ceist:285. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to Cork Kerry Community Healthcare for children’s and adults respite respectively in each of the years 2019 to date, by year, in tabular form. [30122/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (286)
Imelda Munster
Ceist:286. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if he has formally notified Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda of the lifting of the recruitment embargo; if not, when he intends to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30123/24]
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (287)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:287. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to delays to payments for clinical placement coordinators, and his plans to address this matter. [30141/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important work carried out by all Clinical Placement Coordinators. Their work is of significant value to our services.
Recent increases applied to the Clinical Nurse/ Midwife Manager 2 (CNM/CMM) scale were a result of the implementation of recommendation 45 of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery and Labour Court recommendation LCR22828.
Recommendation 45 of the ERB set out that the Clinical Nurse Manager 2 and Clinical Midwife Manager 2 pay scales would be extended by an additional scale point making Point 10 the new max of scale. The scale would also gain an LSI at Point 11. As part of the new Public Service Agreement, 2024-2026, it was agreed that the recommendations set out by the Labour Court would be implemented with effect from 1 January 2024.
While it is the case that certain grades in the HSE have similar pay scales, this does not mean that they are linked to one another. LCR22828 refers only to the implementation of recommendations 44-46 of the ERB and their encompassed grades.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (288)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:288. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting a speech and language therapy appointment in each of the CDNTs in Cork; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting three to six months; the number that have been waiting six to 12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30158/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (289)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:289. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting a psychology appointment in each of the CDNTs in Cork; the number who have been waiting less than three months; the number that have been waiting three to six months; the number that have been waiting six to 12 months; the number that have been waiting more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30159/24]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (290)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of respite hours provided to families in Cork over each of the past 12 months; the total number that has been provided in each month since March 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30161/24]
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.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (291)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:291. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to CKCH for children's and adults respite respectively in each of the years 2019 to date, by year, in tabular form. [30163/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Awaiting reply from Department.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (292)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:292. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the total number of people on the waiting list for ophthalmology in Cork, in tabular form; the average waiting time for appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30164/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments.
As part of the multi-annual approach to reducing waiting lists, and just as importantly the length of time that patients are waiting, I published the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan on 27th March. Total funding of €360 million has been provided for the plan this year which sets out 19 Actions across three themes: Delivering Capacity, Reforming Scheduled Care and Enabling Scheduled Care Reform.
The Waiting List Action Plan multi-annual approach, initiated in 2021, encompasses a two-pronged approach of short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services. This year’s plan aims to achieve a reduction in the overall number of patients on waiting lists while three of the four overarching targets in the Plan are specifically focused on improving waiting times.
With regard to the information requested by the Deputy about the Ophthalmology Outpatient waiting list for County Cork, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) have advised that there are 7,070 patients on the list with an area of residence in County Cork.
The NTPF has advised that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate true average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients on the waiting list at a particular time. The average (median) wait time for patients on the Ophthalmology Outpatient waiting list with an area of residence in County Cork is 325.5 days.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (293)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:293. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health for a timeline for provision of nurse prescribing of opioids. [30195/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Nurses play an key role in providing treatment interventions to clients with problematic drug use. Their work forms an important element of the addiction services response to the problem of substance use in our society.
HSE Addiction services across the country employ nurses and a comprehensive governance structure for these staff is currently being put in place. This includes the recent appointment of a Director of Nursing for HSE Addiction services.
Based on the HSE report on action 14, of the National Drug Strategy in examining potential mechanisms to increase access to Opioid Substitution Therapies, there is currently no objective need for the introduction of nurse prescribing of OST/OAT.
I am assured that the contribution of nurses will be kept to the fore in the provision of services for those on OST/OAT.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (294, 295, 417)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:294. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for ethnic minorities, by year, in tabular form. [30196/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThomas Gould
Ceist:295. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding allocated in each of the past five years to address addiction issues for members of the LGBTQIA community, by year, in tabular form. [30197/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThomas Gould
Ceist:417. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the actions undertaken to support women in entering recovery from addiction journeys. [30453/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 295 and 417 together.
In 2023, there were 4,070 cases of women being treated for drugs as a main problem. This represents one in three of the total. The most prevalent drug was cocaine. A majority were not in employment, and more than half were under the age of 35.
We know that women with problematic drug use can face added stigma and barriers in accessing drug and alcohol services. Their drug use can be more complex due to factors such as poverty, gender-based violence and homelessness.
Under the Women's Health Action Plan, I recently secured €833,118 for gender-specific drug services for women with complex needs, who are at risk of drug-related harms and premature death. The funding will help address the specific barriers that women with complex needs can face in accessing drug treatment services and will develop integrated care pathways for vulnerable women. gov - Minister Burke announces funding of €830,000 for drug treatment services under the Women’s Health Action Plan (www.gov.ie/en/press-release/8e3a7-minister-burke-announces-funding-of-830000-for-drug-treatment-services-under-the-womens-health-action-plan/)
Also in 2024. €800,000 is being allocated to support the recovery of people with drug dependency and their integration into everyday life, including family, housing, employment and education. This initiative will include peer-based recovery support and coaching, and the development of recovery communities.
In 2023, additional funding was provided for new drug services with a specific focus on women.
The Department of Health provided €850,000 to expand integrated care pathways for high-risk drug and alcohol users, including gender-specific services. This included €285,000 to develop a new 10-bed rehabilitation facility for women in Meath and €216,000 for a new aftercare service for women in Wicklow.
The Community Services Enhancement Fund (CSEF) was introduced in 2022, with a budget of €2 million, to enhance community-based drug services . Twenty-five percent of the funding allocations were ring-fenced to increase access to and the provision of drug and alcohol services for women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTI+ community. Over 50 community-based drug projects were funded under the CSEF across all CHOs.
I am committed to improving access to drug services for women and to support women in their recovery from drug use.
Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 294.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (296)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if there is a funding stream available for relevant organisations to celebrate recovery month. [30198/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the region of €160 million annually is allocated by the Department of Health for drugs services to support the implementation of the national drug strategy. Supporting recovery is key to the National Drug Strategy, which aims to minimise the harms caused by the use and misuse of substances and promote rehabilitation and recovery. Recovery is a personal journey, and rehabilitation a process, that supports and encourages the individual at each stage along the pathway to recovery.
I welcome the fact that drug services, during Recovery Month, take the opportunity to raise awareness of recovery and celebrate individuals from all walks of life who have managed to carry out a successful recovery. They should engage with the relevant drugs and alcohol task force and HSE addiction manager to ascertain if funding is available for this activity.
In Budget 2024, the Dept of Health allocated dedicated funding to support the recovery of people with drug dependency and their integration into everyday life, including family, housing, employment and education. It will include peer-based recovery support and coaching, and the development of recovery communities. €800,000
I have attached the Factsheet Budget 2024 allocation for National Drugs Strategy and Inclusion Health.