Written Answers Nos. 573-604
573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of all national ambulance service staff in the south west, by local station and role; the number of ambulance vehicles per station; and the number of staff currently on leave in each station; in tabular form. [39930/24]
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
574. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the abolition of the €100 accident and emergency charge for children with severe epilepsy, including Dravet syndrome, who may require frequent accident and emergency visits to treat acute seizures. [39942/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provides that, subject to certain exemptions, a charge shall be made for out-patient services provided at designated centres including an emergency department (€100) and a minor injury unit (€75). These exemptions include a person with a medical card, a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose attendance results in admission as an in-patient.
In addition, the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions 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.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.
575. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on publicly funding the drug fenfluramine in the treatment of severe seizures as experienced by infants and children with Dravet syndrome who have and develop a high resistance to other anti-seizure medication, given the impact on the seizures on the children in both in the acute stage and as they develop in later years, and given that the drug is publicly funded in many EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
576. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date by the national clinical trials oversight group with regard to GDPR and the facilitation of clinical trials; if agreement has been reached on a concise statement of compliance on data protection impact assessments; if agreement has been reached on one national template for clinical trial contracts; if he will give a commitment to follow through on the recommendations made by the committee and provide a timeline for the delivery on such recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39946/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClinical trials are a fundamental component of high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. My Department is fully committed to expanding clinical trials in Ireland. In July of this year, I took the decision to establish the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) with a view to developing recommendations that can increase the number of trials taking place in Ireland while also improving patient access to clinical trials. The group is being tasked with preparing both interim and final recommendations that will clearly identifies actions to be addressed and implemented. The group has representation across a wide range of key stakeholders and over the next 12 months will deliberate on several relevant issues affecting the clinical trials landscape in Ireland, including those identified by Deputy Naughten.
577. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that access to anonymised medical records operates to protect the vital interest of every citizen and in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39947/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation, which is planned for publication in Q4 2024, will establish EU legislation governing the use and re-use of electronic health information in EU Member States for primary purposes (patient care and treatment) and secondary purposes (research and innovation, policy making, education and training). I welcome the forthcoming Regulation as a powerful driver of health services improvement and a key for unlocking the tremendous potential of health data to improve the lives of patients and health performance outcomes.
The EHDS Regulation contains a number of safeguards to ensure that patient data is protected. A key feature will be the establishment of two national supervisory bodies responsible for the governance and oversight of health data: the Digital Health Authority, for health data for primary use, and the Health Data Access Body, for health data for secondary use. In relation to the secondary use of health data, safeguard measures will require:
• Data users who want to access health data must apply for access through a Health Data Access Body.
• Access to personal electronic health data (e.g. data contained in an Electronic Health Record) can only be provided in an anonymised or pseudonymised format.
• Data user applications will be reviewed by an expert Access Review Committee hosted by the Health Data Access Body.
• Attempts to re-identify a patient through data access will result in possible penalties including:
• fines;
• referral to the Data Protection Commission;
• data permit revocation (nationally and at EU level).
These measures, in addition to the robust governance mechanisms underpinning the EHDS more broadly, will ensure the value of health data can be unlocked to enhance care and treatment, while also protecting the rights of patients.
As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently bringing the Health Information Bill 2024 through the Houses of the Oireachtas as part of a suite of legislative measures to deliver on our national health information policy and meet our obligations under the EHDS Regulation. This Bill will provide a legislative basis for the introduction of digital health records for all patients in Ireland.
In time, the data from digital health records will be made available for a broader range of secondary use, including research, under the governance structures of the national Health Data Access Body as provided for in the EHDS Regulation.
578. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to facilitate the future use of pseudo-anonymised data of deceased persons where their health data is relevant in the context of research activity, with potential benefits for future patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39948/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth research drives innovation in healthcare services and is the bedrock upon which we can build a healthier future for Ireland and enable better patient outcomes. Ensuring that appropriate consent and data protection mechanisms are in place is central to conducting effective and ethical health research. My Department in conjunction with other relevant agencies continue to assess and review health research activities including within the context of the issues raised by Deputy Naughten so as to ensure we meet this objective.
579. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the impact, if any, of the EU Health Data Space on the ability to conduct clinical trials in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39949/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClinical trials are a fundamental component of high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a commitment to expanding clinical trials in Ireland which is embedded strategically across key policy initiatives including the National Cancer Strategy, the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics, and Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.
Over the last 15 years, my Department has invested more than €150 million in clinical trials and research support services through the Health Research Board (HRB). This investment has resulted in the establishment of a Trials Methodology Research network and a National Clinical Trials Office.
Ireland became a member of the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) in 2018. In July of this year, I established a National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) which is tasked with developing recommendations on increasing the number of trials taking place in Ireland and improving access for patients to participate in more clinical trials.
The European Health Data Space (EHDS) Regulation, which is planned for publication in Q4 2024, will provide a common governance framework and harmonised infrastructure for the use and reuse of electronic health information in and between EU Member States for primary purposes (patient care and treatment) and secondary purposes (research and innovation, policy making, education and training). A key feature of the EHDS will be the establishment of Health Data Access Bodies (HDABs) across EU Member States. HDABs will operate in a federated system and provide access to health data for secondary purposes, including for clinical trials. The EU has prioritised and invested heavily in this infrastructure and it is envisaged that it will increase the EU’s attractiveness as a host site for global health research and innovation, including multinational clinical trials, by:
• Providing visibility of national datasets available through national metadata catalogues;
• Ensuring consistent labelling of data quality and utility to inform dataset selection;
• Standardising Electronic Health Records as a data source across the EU;
• Streamlining processes to access health data across Member States.
Ireland has already begun establishing EHDS infrastructure for secondary health research and my Department has been awarded €3.6 million in EU funding to support the establishment of its HDAB.
Ireland will benefit from this infrastructure and participating in this European health research ecosystem. Implementation of the EHDS should help to overcome previous challenges in increasing clinical trial activity including around accessing high-quality health data. With the expansion of our national research infrastructure, we will also increase our national attractiveness in the global market for clinical trial research. These advances will benefit the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes.
580. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the progress on electronic health records in the context of clinical trials and their use in collecting feasibility data, and in monitoring patient data while on clinical trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39950/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClinical trials are a fundamental component of high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. In line with the Programme for Government, the Department has made a commitment to expanding clinical trials in Ireland which is embedded strategically across key policy initiatives including the National Cancer Strategy, the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetics and Genomics, and Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy. In July of this year, I established a National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) which is tasked with developing recommendations on increasing the number of trials taking place in Ireland and improving access for patients across healthcare settings to participate in more clinical trials.
Ireland has rolled out several electronic health record (EHR) systems at different sites in recent years. St James Hospital has a hospital wide EHR system in place since 2018 that contains medical and nursing assessments, medical history, medications data, information on patient allergies, laboratory test results, radiology images and reports. The use of data from these electronic health records is now embedded in the process of delivering care to patients at St James, the largest acute hospital in Ireland.
Cork University Maternity Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, the Rotunda and at the maternity unit in Kerry University Hospital also have enterprise level EHRs deployed with plans to deploy the same EHR system at University Hospital Limerick and the Coombe Maternity hospitals in 2025, meaning 70% of babies born in Ireland by then will have a digital health record.
EHR systems are also deployed at the National Rehabilitation Hospital and National Forensics Hospital.
The deployment of these EHR systems across Ireland means high quality patient data can be captured in a consistent way. This can aid clinical trials research as these systems deliver improved data accessibility, enhanced data accuracy, using streamlined processes, better patient monitoring, enhanced patient recruitment and better coordination of care across healthcare facilities that are undertaking clinical trial research.
581. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to deliver on the national cancer strategy target of 6% of cancer patients on clinical trials; the current percentage of patients on such trials; if he will outline the roadmap to deliver on this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39951/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraClinical trials are a fundamental component of high-quality care and improving patient outcomes. Over the last 15 years, my Department has invested more than €150 million in clinical trials and research support services in all healthcare areas including oncology through the Health Research Board (HRB). My Department established a National Clinical Trials Oversight Group in July of this year. This group is tasked with developing recommendations on increasing the number of trials taking place in Ireland and improving access for patients to participate in more clinical trials across a range of priority healthcare areas, including oncology clinical trials.
In recent years, my Department has made significant progress in improving clinical trial infrastructure. In an effort to improve transparency, streamline approval mechanisms, and provide a robust framework for ethical approval process for clinical trials, my Department established the National Office for National Research Ethics Committees (NREC). This office, which plays a critical role in providing expertise and guidance on research ethics, hosts three NRECs in key clinical trial areas of medical products, medical devices, and in vitro diagnostics. The Department has also invested in the expansion of an HSE research infrastructure across the Health Regions to promote an equitable national research service within the public health sector.
The HRB, as the leading funder of health research in Ireland, has been driving the growth of clinical trials in Ireland and putting in place the supporting research infrastructure with the overall aim of facilitating clinical trials that can benefit patients, the healthcare system, and the economy. In 2021, the HRB Board approved a multi-year €21.6m investment in cancer trials in Ireland, comprising support for a National Cancer Clinical Trials Network and funding for six cancer trials groups. Additionally, the HRB manages the only dedicated funding stream (i.e., Definitive Interventions and Feasibility Awards, DIFA) for clinical trials and interventions in Ireland, which supports studies evaluating a full scale, definitive trial of an intervention to provide high quality evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness, cost, and broad impact of the intervention. To date the HRB has made a total investment of €32m across 45 studies. In 2022, the HRB opened a specific cancer stream with €3m available for cancer clinical trials and interventions in the DIFA scheme.
Under the Ireland-Northern Ireland-US Cancer Consortium, €1.2m has been allocated in funding for North-South cancer research in 2024, which includes access to clinical trials on an all-island basis as a priority objective.
In line with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, a National Cancer Research Group has been established. The Group aims to improve co-ordination and oversight of cancer research nationally and provide a forum for the agreement of research priorities. The Group also seeks to achieve continuity of funding and to ensure that funding allocations are linked to the agreed research priorities.
582. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health to provide an overview of funding, initiatives and capital works that have been approved and delivered in County Kerry since the current Government took up office in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39953/24]
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.
583. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts, under active recruitment, broken down across disciplines, including, but not restricted to, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, radiation therapy and social work, across units in CHO5, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39954/24]
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.
584. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the HSE in the mid-west will advertise to fill vacant grade 4 administration posts with permanent staff rather than agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39958/24]
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.
585. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for a facility in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39962/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested my officials to refer this funding request to the HSE for their appropriate attention so that they can review and consider this request received on behalf of the social action group Rathmore Ltd.
Additionally, I would like to draw your attention to funding that I recently announced which may be applicable to this organisation. This funding is for an additional €10 million which is being made available for older persons Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services.
This new funding will be available to approximately 400 Section 39 Health Service Executive (HSE) funded community providers across Ireland. Eligible organisations will be able to apply for funding of up to €25,000.
This funding is designed to support capital or minor capital improvements to physical premises for Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services. It can be used to upgrade kitchens and other facilities, and to purchase vehicles or equipment.
This funding will be administered through the HSE Regional Health Areas (RHAs) and will be open to all HSE funded day care and Meals on Wheels services that currently have a Service Level Agreement (SLA) or are currently engaging with the HSE to provide such services. The Department of Health and HSE continue to engage with each other regarding this scheme to progress its implementation as quickly as possible.
Further details on this funding and the application process will be communicated directly to service providers shortly. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing community-based services and supporting the well-being of individuals across the country.
These services provide important wraparound supports that work alongside home support to keep people well at home for longer. It is hoped that this funding will support and assist the expansion of these services across the country.
587. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the appointment of a chief pharmacist within the HSE senior leadership team to help establish pharmacist representation within the governance structures of the newly established regional health areas and the community healthcare networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39972/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Regions, each led by a Regional Executive Officer (REO), are new HSE structures which now have responsibility for the planning and coordinated delivery of health and social care services for their respective populations.
Each Health Region has an Executive Management Team (EMT) led by the REO. The EMTs are critical structures for each Region. They will provide the governance and organisational arrangements to enable the planning, management, and delivery of integrated care for people and for communities across their region. Their structure must facilitate clear lines of governance, represent an appropriate span of control for the REO, and ensure that services and staff can benefit from swift and accountable decision-making.
The clinical roles which sit on the Health Region EMT do not exist to represent their professions. Rather, they hold executive accountability for a portfolio of work, which includes collaboration and coordination across professions. This is the best way of delivering integrated care in the interests of patients and service users and breaking down professional silos.
588. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned memory assessment service for Mullingar; the number of the proposed team recruited; the number of vacancies existing and when the service will be operational. [39976/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
589. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 556 of 13 February 2024 and 1385 of 9 April 2024, if there are currently subsistence payments due from the HSE to an organisation (details supplied) for intellectual disability student nurses at Dundalk Institute of Technology; if the matter can be resolved permanently in order that such payment is made promptly at the same time as other categories of student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39980/24]
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.
590. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if surgery for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [39984/24]
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.
591. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason every hospital or health clinic does not have portable hoists to assist patients who need them (details supplied); and the policy the HSE has in place ensuring hoists are available in health environments. [39985/24]
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.
592. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of the 18,000 beds in hospitals nationwide that are closed, for example due to staffing issues, per hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39990/24]
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
594. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will advise who he conferred with in relation to a request for help with vaginoplasty surgery in Ireland (details supplied). [39995/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department receives many items of correspondence every single day and every effort is made to answer the queries in full and provide any assistance that can be provided.
In this case, the person wrote to me asking me to help them access vaginoplasty in Ireland. As this is not a procedure that is currently performed in Ireland, I directed them to the relevant pathway which is the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS). This scheme is operated by the HSE and covers the cost of planned treatment (subject to eligibility criteria) in another country in the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), UK or Switzerland.
595. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health when a person will be appointed permanently to a post (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40001/24]
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.
596. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health for an update on the status of the audiology clinic in Tuam primary care centre, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40013/24]
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.
597. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of appeals were made to the HSE medicines management programme re Versatis in 2023, and the number that were upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40014/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
598. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the current public health nurse staffing levels in the health clinics in Armagh Road, Old County Road, Curlew Road and Island Bridge; and what the staffing levels should be. [40053/24]
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.
599. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if funding is available to recruit public health nurses specifically for the health clinics in Armagh Road, Old County Road, Curlew Road and Island Bridge; when funding will be made available; and when the posts will be filled. [40055/24]
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.
600. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will make a drug (details supplied) available on the drugs payment scheme; the current status of the cancer treatment in the drug reimbursement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40084/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
601. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is still not covered under the health care system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40086/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
602. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if all drugs and alcohol task forces have been informed and funded to pay their workers (details supplied). [40102/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health has carried out an internal review of employee pay in the community drug and alcohol services it funds. The review was undertaken in the context of the October 2023, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement on pay for workers in Section 39 organisations. Arising from the review, the Department has approved an increase in grants for community drug and alcohol projects.
The increased grant will benefit employees of community drug and alcohol projects, funded by this department. It will enable those projects to give retrospective pay rises, and arrears, proper to 2023 and 2024, to their employees in line with the WRC agreement.
The 2025 allocation to projects will also be increased to reflect the cumulative increase in employees pay since 2023.
While community drug services have independent management boards, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff are ultimately between the employer and the employee, it is expected that services will pass on the additional funding through wage increases to employees.
Work is currently underway in the Department to ensure the efficient and coordinated administration of the increased funding, in association with drug and alcohol task forces and channels of funding.
I welcome the approval of an increase in grant aid for community drug and alcohol projects funded directly by the Department, to enable them to implement the WRC agreement on pay increases for workers in equivalent Section 39 organisations.
604. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how he plans to address the shortage of full-time provision of GP services in Coole, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40113/24]
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.
