Written Answers Nos. 1880-1895
1880. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund and appoint a community neurorehabilitation team for HSE community health organisation area 5, now one of only two CHOs without said service; if he intends to include it in his Department's budget asks for Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35572/24]
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.
1881. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health when a suicide crisis assessment nurse will be appointed to Waterford to fill the vacancy created by recent retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35573/24]
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.
1882. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional staff will be recruited for CAMHS in the Cavan, Monaghan and Meath areas; if he will ensure that recruitment makes provision for additional staff, not just replacement of persons who have retired or left the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35575/24]
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.
1883. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health to provide the latest annual (or quarterly) estimate for the reduction in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards and the increase in the number of people in receipt of GP visit cards, and to state whether he will give a commitment to increase or at least stop the decline in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards in 2025, given the healthy state of the public finances and the very large increase in the HSE budget. [35584/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility 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.
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.
Regarding the latest annual (or quarterly) estimate for the reduction in the number of people in receipt of full medical cards and the increase in the number of people in receipt of GP Visit cards, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1884. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost on Budget day for the November 2020 increase in income thresholds for over 70s entitlement to a full medical card and what the actual out-turn cost was. [35585/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility 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 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. In November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. Budget 2020 provided for an expansion of some primary care schemes, including the increase in income thresholds for over 70s, with €45 million announced for allocation to support these measures.
Regarding the actual out-turn cost, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1885. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of DNAs (did not attend) outpatient hospital appointments at each public hospital; the number of additional measures he is taking to reduce DNAs to reduce lengthy waiting lists in order that those in need of urgent and timely healthcare receive it, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35592/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
In relation to the particular queries raised about the number of patients who did not attend (DNA) Outpatient hospital appointments at each public hospital, and the number of additional measures being taken to reduce DNAs, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1886. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of people who were removed from public healthcare waiting lists as a result of having passed away, and the numbers who had removed themselves from public healthcare waiting lists as a result of opting to pay for private healthcare treatment, for each of the past five years, in tabular form. [35593/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1887. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he can advise on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35594/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) which provides that arrangements may be made for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.
Various regulations were made in the 1970s prescribing 16 illnesses 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.
The LTI Scheme has its basis in long-standing statute and is only one aspect of the overall eligibility landscape.
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. 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. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment, including medical evidence of costs and certain expenses.
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, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The Scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals who are not eligible for a medical card but who have ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Since 2020 there has been a focus by this Government on expanding eligibility and improving the affordability of healthcare. This has delivered a significant expansion in eligibility across a wide range of areas, including:
• The Free Contraception Scheme launched September 2022 for women aged 17–25. This was extended to 26–year-olds in January 2023, then to women aged 27-30 from 1 September 2023, and most recently it was extended to women aged 31 from 1 January 2024. The Scheme was further extended to women aged 32-35 from 1 July 2024.
• Successive reductions in Drug Payment Scheme thresholds, which now stands at €80 per month.
• The removal of public in-patient charges in all public hospitals: for children under 16 years of age from 21 September 2022, and for adult public patients from 17 April 2023.
• The expansion of free GP care to include children aged 6 and 7 since August 2023.
• The expansion of eligibility for GP visit cards in 2023, to include those earning no more than the median income: this could impact approximately 500,00 people.
• The introduction of Free IVF treatment since September 2023.
The Department recognises that notwithstanding this major expansion of eligibility there is a need for a holistic review of eligibility as committed to in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023.
The Department has commenced a strategic review of the eligibility framework, the overall objective of which is two-fold:
1. to review the existing framework to clearly assess what is working well and fit-for-purpose, and
2. to inform policy options and proposals to enhance eligibility and access to services based on robust evidence and focussed on improving health outcomes.
The LTI Scheme is included in this review.
The Department does not waive legal professional privilege in respect of legal advice provided by the Office of the Attorney General.
1888. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) who urgently needs surgery for a severe coronary issue will receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35610/24]
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.
1889. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of pay and remuneration for section 39 workers; whether payments to agencies will be backdated to when the announcement was made; whether backdating will be allocated to agencies who have increased pay for workers on the basis of this announcement and when this will be paid. [35636/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
1890. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if urgent transport assistance can be given to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35642/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1891. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if his Department will investigate the reason test results have not been provided for a person (details supplied). [35646/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1892. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if an earlier appointment date will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35657/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1893. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title, working in the pharmacy department of Cavan General Hospital in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [35667/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1894. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting for vascular surgery nationwide. [35668/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdult and child Inpatient and Day Case waiting lists by hospital and specialty are published monthly and are available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund's website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.
1895. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of funded and staffed high-dependency unit beds in each hospital part of RCSI hospital group in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [35669/24]
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.
