Paul Murphy
Ceist:493. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health for a list of groups the clinical lead for transgender services has met with to date. [37565/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (493)
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.
Health Services Staff
Ceisteanna (494)
John McGuinness
Ceist:494. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the recommendations of the expert review body on nursing and midwifery have been assessed; the number of recommendations implemented; his views on the remainder; if the CNM2 salary scale will be extended by the addition of a further scale point and the introduction of a long service increment; and the timeframe for the implementation of the recommendations relative to the salary scales and service increments. [37571/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Report of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery provides 47 recommendations to improve and develop the professions over the next number of years in line with population health and patient care needs.
The recommendations are focused on reform, particularly in relation to the areas of workforce, education and professional development, digital health and governance and leadership.
I approved the implementation plan for the recommendations contained within this Report in September 2022. The national oversight group known as ERB Implementation Oversight Team (IOT) was established and is chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer.
Five Implementation Action Groups (IAGs) were established in April 2023 to progress implementation of prioritised recommendations. Implementation of these recommendations also considers national strategies. Work on these and the other recommendations progressing outside of the IAGs is underway and being monitored by the IOT. To date 13 of the 47 recommendations from the ERB Report have been implemented
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 1st January 2024.
Question No. 495 answered with Question No. 409.
Freedom of Information
Ceisteanna (496)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:496. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of freedom of information requests submitted to his Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Requests are not rejected, rather they are refused under Section 15 of the FOI Act or are deemed to be not valid under Section 12 of the FOI Act.
|
Year |
Total Received |
Total Refused |
Total Not Valid |
|
2022 |
419 |
166 |
15 |
|
2023 |
334 |
132 |
8 |
|
2024 (to date) |
277 |
81 |
8 |
Question No. 497 answered with Question No. 413.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (498)
Mark Ward
Ceist:498. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number on the waiting list for CAMHS for the month of August, by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37638/24]
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 Facilities
Ceisteanna (499)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:499. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the length of time the renovation of the laboratory in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, will take. [37664/24]
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.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (500)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:500. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that have been admitted through the emergency department in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan for each of the past ten years. [37665/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (501)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:501. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that have presented at the emergency department in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan for each of the past ten years. [37666/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (502)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:502. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that have bypassed Navan in an ambulance for each of the past five years. [37667/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (503)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:503. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, at all employment levels, that are employed at the emergency department in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan for each of the past ten years; and the employment level plan at all levels for the next five years. [37668/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As recruitment and staffing is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (504)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:504. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the budget of the emergency department at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan for each of the past five years; and the budget plan for the next five years. [37669/24]
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (505)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:505. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the recruitment embargo has been fully lifted at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. [37670/24]
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.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (506)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:506. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to calls to create a commissioner for older people; his views on the merits of creating such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to supporting positive ageing across the life-course as well as to ensuring that older people can continue to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This commitment is enshrined in the National Positive Ageing Strategy, which provides a blueprint for promoting older people’s engagement in economic, social, cultural and community life and for fostering inter-generational solidarity. Under Sláintecare we have taken great strides in achieving these objectives through a range of initiatives, including the Enhanced Community Care Programme, the development of a statutory home support scheme, the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, and the diversification of housing options for older people.
However, despite this good progress, we recognise that there remain significant challenges, which the COVID-19 pandemic set in relief and which will be exacerbated as our population ages. It is within this context that, in fulfilment of the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Government established an independent Commission on Care for Older People on 21st March 2024. In Budget 2024 €1.243 million was allocated to the Commission, which is being supported by a secretariat from my Department.
The Commission is chaired by Professor Alan Barrett (Chief Executive Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute) and is comprised of independent experts. Collectively the members of the Commission provide expertise across the areas of geriatrics, gerontology, health economics, health policy and management, primary care, health ethics, health technologies, and ageing and disability, as well as representation of the community and voluntary sector and of older people.
The Commission is charged with examining the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and with making recommendations to the Government for their strategic development. Subsequently a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission to consider whether the supports for positive ageing across the life course are fit-for-purpose and to develop a costed implementation plan for options to optimise these supports. Accordingly, it is envisaged that consideration of matters such as the merits of establishing a Commissioner for Older People will fall within the Commission’s remit.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (507)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:507. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a CAMHS appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37757/24]
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 (508)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:508. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a person in County Kerry (details supplied) will be called for an appointment at University Hospital Kerry soon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37760/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Ceisteanna (509)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:509. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 9 July 2024, the date on which the visit of the mentioned person to the National Gender Service occurred. [37764/24]
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.
Gender Recognition
Ceisteanna (510)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:510. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 9 July 2024, to clarify the nature of the data that was shared with the Cass review, as mentioned in the July 2023 clinical governance committee minutes of the National Gender Service (details supplied). [37765/24]
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
Ceisteanna (511)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:511. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2012 of 23 July 2024, to provide a list of all audits initiated by the National Gender Service with its audit question, start date, and end date, in tabular form. [37766/24]
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.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (512)
Patrick Costello
Ceist:512. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 23 May 2024, if he is aware that recent guidance from an organisation (detailed supplied) has led to valid EEA prescriptions being rejected; how this aligns with Directive 2011/24/EU paragraph 36 and Article 11 paragraph 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37767/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011L0024) sets out the conditions under which a patient may travel to another EU country to receive medical care and reimbursement, and also covers the prescription and delivery of medications and medical devices. As was noted in Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 23 May 2024, there are no plans at this time to legislate to prohibit the dispensing of EEA prescriptions in the Republic of Ireland.
In order to support, and in response to queries from healthcare professionals on the dispensing of EEA prescriptions, officials in my department explored the available options to enhance safety standards around online EEA prescriptions. As part of this, the PSI, the Pharmacy Regulator, produced guidelines on EEA prescriptions for pharmacists (www.thepsi.ie/practice-supports/guidance-and-guidelines-pharmacists-and-pharmacies/guidance-dispensing) . These guidelines facilitate practitioners in assuring the safe delivery of service to patients presenting a prescription issued in another EU state and are premised on the legislative provisions in place including the Directive and national legislation. The legislation and the guidelines in place do not affect a pharmacist’s obligation to assess any prescription presented and dispense in the patient’s best interest which may include, to refuse, for ethical reasons, to dispense a product that was prescribed in another Member State. (where the pharmacist would have the right to refuse to dispense, had the prescription been issued in the Member State of affiliation).
In line with the Directive, pharmacists in Ireland are authorised to dispense from a prescription that is issued by a registered practitioner practising in another European Economic Area (EEA) Member State provided certain conditions are met. Article 11 of the 2011/24/EU (eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011L0024) Directive notes that “If a medicinal product is authorised to be marketed on their territory, in accordance with Directive 2001/83/EC or Regulation (EC) No 726/2004, Member States shall ensure that prescriptions issued for such a product in another Member State for a named patient can be dispensed on their territory in compliance with their national legislation in force…”
Medicines placed on the Irish market must be authorised by the HPRA or, in the case of centrally authorised products, by the European Commission. There is provision for Unlicensed medicines (www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/regulatory-information/medicines-authorisation/notification-system-for-exempt-(unauthorised)-products#:~:text=%EE%80%80Medicines%20placed%EE%80%81%20on%EE%80%80) , also known as exempt medicinal products, which are not nationally authorised by the HPRA or centrally authorised by the European Commission to be supplied by pharmacists in certain circumstances. These medicines, under Article 5 of Directive 2001/83/EC, may be supplied where a registered doctor or dentist has prescribed the product for an individual patient under his or her direct responsibility. This is in order to fulfil the special needs of those patients. These medicines fall outside the scope of Directive 2011/24/EU. Pharmacists in Ireland are not authorised to supply unlicensed medicines from a prescription that is written by a registered practitioner practising in another EEA member state.
Pharmacists operate and practice under a statutory framework of legislative and governance controls with the best interest of the patient being the inherent primary principle. The dispensing of any prescription to a patient includes considering the legislative framework, the guiding principles of any supporting guidance issued and the application of the Code of Conduct for pharmacists.
This will assure the application of competence and expertise in making an informed decision regarding the safety and appropriateness of supplying a particular medicine to a patient based on a prescription, issued either nationally or in another EEA member state.