Written Answers Nos. 681-700
681. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for chemotherapy since their first chemotherapy consultation in increments of one week, that is, the number waiting one week, two weeks, three weeks and so on, by CHO, in tabular form; to provide the corresponding data, specifically for Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36230/24]
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.
682. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the model of care for dual diagnosis; the funding given to the model of care; the roll-out plan for the model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36231/24]
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.
683. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason for staff in the West Kerry Community Hospital not being replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36238/24]
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.
684. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that additional home care hours are allocated to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36240/24]
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 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.
685. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the HSE engages with the family of a person (details supplied) to consider the appropriateness of securing a place for them in a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36241/24]
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.
686. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if the HSE intend on rolling out a free vaccination scheme for shingles under the national immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36288/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme. Further information is available here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/.
It is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) recently carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.
HIQA published the HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the schedule is not cost effective and is associated with a substantial budget impact. The Department has considered its findings and determined that the introduction of the vaccine can be reconsidered when cost effectiveness is more favourable.
687. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the HSE is refusing to employ recently graduated mental health nurses, despite the chronic shortage of mental health nursing staff in the health system, leaving graduates with no option but to emigrate to other countries; if his attention has been drawn to the further devastation that this decision will cause to the mental health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36291/24]
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.
688. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) previously sent to him will be examined; the actions he plans to take arising from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36296/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case.
The Community Funded Schemes (CFS) is the collective name for the provision of these products and services by the HSE. The provision of post mastectomy products is included but the range of individual allowance does vary across the country. There has been engagement between my Department and the HSE regarding the potential cost of standardising the allowance available.
I want to reiterate that progressing Women's Health is a priority within the Programme for Government, and a top priority for me as Minister for Health. I am proud to have overseen unprecedented levels of funding in women's health services over the last few years. I can ensure the Deputy that I want to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place so that every woman has the same level of access to appropriate healthcare no matter where they live in Ireland.
689. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if an appointment in Manorhamilton Hospital for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36322/24]
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.
690. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals to CAMHS Wexford south in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and up to June 2024; the number of referrals to CAMHS Wexford north in the corresponding timeframe; the number of referrals accepted to Wexford CAMHS south in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and up to June 2024; the number of referrals to Wexford CAMHS south not accepted in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and up to June 2024; to provide the number of referrals accepted for Wexford CAMHS north in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and up to June 2024; the number of referrals not accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36328/24]
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.
691. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address a situation where a young child (details supplied) has been forced to spend many days in Crumlin Children’s Hospital in order to access an MRI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36333/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter relating to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
692. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on expanding the medical card or GP visit card schemes to cover the issuing of medical certificates for absence from work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36334/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner...". The terms of the GMS contract provide that a GP shall furnish to a patient they’ve examined a certificate in relation to any illness noticed during the examination as reasonably required by the patient.
However, Section 11 of the GMS contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract.
The requirements to claim Illness Benefit, including the necessary submission of a ‘Certificate of Incapacity for Work’, are a matter for the Department of Social Protection and separate from the GP's obligations under the GMS contract.
693. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of applications made by organisations to become section 39 bodies in 2023 and to date in 2024, including the names of the bodies; if any new section 39 arrangements have been entered into by the HSE in 2023 and to date in 2024; the names of the bodies in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/24]
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.
694. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 622 of 23 January 2024, when the two adult dual diagnosis services will open in 2024; if they will be open in Q3 of 2024; if not, the reasons therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36385/24]
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.
695. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the reopening of residential dual diagnosis services in Keltoi; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36386/24]
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.
696. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment; the reason for the delay; the prioritisation that has been given to the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36388/24]
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.
697. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a speech and language appointment in CHO 2; the breakdown of the time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36398/24]
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.
698. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a psychology appointment in CHO 2; the breakdown of the time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36401/24]
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.
699. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting a CAMHS appointment in CHO 2; the breakdown of the time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36402/24]
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.
700. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of funded posts which remain unfilled due to the staff ceiling placed on the HSE in the 2024 pay and numbers strategy; the number of these posts in which the recruitment process had begun; the status of recruitment for these posts; if funding for these posts remains in place or if it has been redirected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36405/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
