Written Answers Nos. 1079-1099
1079. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health in respect of the 2022 Women’s Health Action Plan, if he will report on his Department’s achievement of the maternal health goal of a maternity bereavement survey. [44227/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Women’s Health Action Plan 2022-2023 was launched in March 2022 and committed to supporting a maternity bereavement survey, the first of its kind for Ireland. The National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey (NMBES) is part of the National Care Experience Programme, a joint initiative by the Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the Department of Health.
Women and their partners (or support person) who experienced a second trimester miscarriage, a stillbirth or the early neonatal death of a baby in one of Ireland's 19 maternity units or hospitals between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 were invited to participate in this experience survey.
The survey reflections a commitment made in the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 to evaluate maternity care services from the perspectives of the women who use them.
Participants shared their experiences of the care they received, from communication and information at the time of the antenatal diagnosis, through to labour and birth, postnasal and bereavement care, neonatal care, investigations, discharge home, follow-up care and care in the community.
The results of the National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey were published on the 18th of May 2023 and are available on www.yourexperience.ie
The findings of this national survey are driving service improvements in maternity bereavement care, acknowledging what is working well and identifying areas where improvements are needed. The HSE and the National Women and Infant Health Programme (NWIHP) are using the survey findings to inform and underpin NWHIP's work across a range of current and future projects and programmes.
The HSE also published their response to the findings of the National Bereavement Experience Survey 2022 with information on the quality improvement plans underway as well as their plans for ongoing quality improvement in hospitals to improve patients' care experiences.
The Department of Health is and will continue using the information gathered to inform the development of policy in relation to maternity bereavement care. HIQA is using the survey findings to inform their approach to the monitoring of maternity care.
The Department of Health remains committed to improving health outcomes for women as outlined in the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024, and HIQA has initiated work to run a second iteration of the National Maternity Experience Survey in 2025.
1080. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health in respect of the 2022 Women’s Health Action Plan, if he will report on his Department’s achievement of the maternal health goal of developing two postnatal hubs; if he will make a statement on the postnatal hub programme; if it has dedicated funding; and budget allocation and spend on same in the past two years. [44228/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2022 Women's Health Action Plan and the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 call for a coordinated approach to support postnatal women and new babies in the community. The National Maternity Experience Survey has shown us that improving postnatal care is a priority for women. That is why, since 2022, I have directed significant investment into piloting and establishing a national network of Postnatal Hubs. Five Hubs are already running, with four more currently in development. Budget 2025 will provide four more Hubs, bringing the national network to 13.
These Hubs provide essential care for women in the community in the weeks after birth. I know from women who have attended this service how much they value the additional support, including hotlines, birth reflections, and physiotherapy.
To initiate the first two Postnatal Hubs, in 2022 €0.9 million was allocated through the Women's Health Fund. In the same year, this Government provided record funding of €8.7 million for the National Maternity Strategy, through which three further Postnatal Hubs were funded. A total of five Postnatal Hubs were open by the end of 2023 in Cork, Kerry, Portiuncula, Sligo and Carlow-Kilkenny.
I have allocated €0.4 million in 2024 to establish four more Postnatal Hubs, with a full year cost of €1.9 million in 2025.
This Government is investing an additional €2.0 million in the National Maternity Strategy in Budget 2025, which includes €0.9 million to open four further Postnatal Hubs.
1081. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the matter of pensions payable to retired medical scientists, in light of the Devine Report (2023), the recent pay award for medical scientists and the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44230/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all Medical Scientists throughout the country, including those who have retired from the profession after years of commitment.
Following talks at the Workplace Relations Commission back in May and June of 2022, agreement was reached to conduct an independent assessment of the role, responsibilities and pay of medical laboratory scientist grades. This assessment was undertaken by an independent assessor and the final report issued in January 2023. It was confirmed that medical laboratory scientists were performing the same duties as biochemists.
This long-standing matter has now been resolved through the Labour Court, which examined all relevant issues including the review of the grades involved. The Labour Court determination was explicit that the claim relating to pay parity was effective from 1 January 2024.
The implementation of the binding determination of the Labour Court is set out in the new Public Service Agreement 2024 - 2026. Circular 2/2024 has issued which instructs HSE management and HR personnel to implement the terms of the Labour Court recommendation from the effective date of 1 January 2024 to all staff in position from that date. Staff who retire beyond 1 January 2024, will receive the benefit of recommendation.
1082. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health given the urgent need for improved healthcare resources for patients with amyloidosis in Ireland, including access to the serum amyloid P component (SAP) scan, to outline what steps are being taken to make this scan available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44244/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1083. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health what initiatives are being considered to raise awareness and provide information about amyloidosis in Ireland, especially given the challenges faced by patients too advanced in their illness to travel to the UK for a SAP scan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44245/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1082 and 1083 together.
As the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1084. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE provide funding for people who have had accidents, have broken bones and are unable to walk, cycle or drive for a number of months, to acquire mobility scooters to enable them to be mobile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44248/24]
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.
1085. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44249/24]
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.
1086. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a case (details supplied); why the person has not been referred for further investigation to the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44250/24]
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.
1087. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a new wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44259/24]
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.
1088. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider the previous position to exclude staff of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service from the pandemic bonus payment, given the essential service they provided throughout the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44263/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2022 the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. As these were agreed, they cannot be changed. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who met all the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens provided very important services during the pandemic.
It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment, but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the Healthcare sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced. Undoubtedly Immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
1089. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if the decision of the WRC to award the pandemic bonus payment to a HSE worker who had been previously deemed ineligible has led to other workers in the same category being awarded that payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44264/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2022 the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. As these were agreed, they cannot be changed. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who met all the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens provided very important services during the pandemic.
It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment, but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the Healthcare sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced. Undoubtedly Immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
1090. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will analyse the decision of the WRC to award the pandemic bonus payment to a HSE worker who had been previously deemed ineligible to give consideration to the previous decision to exclude staff of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service from the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2022 the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.
Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. As these were agreed, they cannot be changed. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who met all the above eligibility criteria were covered for this payment. I appreciate that many other workers, volunteers, and other citizens provided very important services during the pandemic.
It was a hard task to set out the eligibility criteria for this payment, but the Government based its decision on certain aspects of all the different roles within the Healthcare sector and certain risks which eligible frontline workers faced. Undoubtedly Immense efforts have been made by all healthcare staff since the onset of the pandemic which has not gone unrecognised.
1091. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 712 and 713 of 16 April 2024, if the privileging course has begun, as committed to by the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44274/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1092. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health ; why a policy of the National Ambulance Service is not applied to Roscommon, in terms of advanced paramedic cover on the rapid response vehicle, where there are full-time, permanent advanced paramedics in operation in the HSE Mid-West (closure of Nenagh and Ennis) and no such cover in Roscommon, where the emergency department also closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44275/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1091 and 1092 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1093. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide clarification and an explanation of the current status and progress of the HSE national diabetes clinical programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44279/24]
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.
1094. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed timeline for the initiation, progress, and finalisation by his Department of the Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. [44282/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Review of Cardiac Services (NRCS) was commissioned in 2017, and a memo was prepared for the Minister detailing a panel of nominees to chair the NRCS. The NRCS commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a steering group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders. The steering group firstly undertook the formulation of the principles of the NRCS and the terms of reference. Substantial progress was made on the NRCS, and several elements of the project plan were defined prior to the impact of COVID-19 in late 2019.
In late 2019, the COVID-19 Pandemic impacted the NRCS. The steering group reconvened on the 20th of September 2021 and met with a view to finalisation of the NRCS. The initial data was updated at that point. The steering group held their final meeting in October 2022 and NRCS Report was finalised in 2023. The Chair of the steering group met with Minister Donnelly in November 2023. The Minister also received advice from the CMO on the need to develop a holistic approach to developing cardiac services.
The Minister identified several current priority areas for the development of cardiovascular services while progressing the NRCS to Government. The Minister sought to secure funding through Budget 2025 before progressing a memo for Government. Funding was secured in Budget 2025 to progress cardiovascular services, noting the requirement for data-driven service improvement and a need to situate the NRCS within a wider context to include prevention and rehabilitation as well as hospital-based and integrated care to deliver a wider systems approach to cardiac care. The Minister will present the NRCS to Government for further consideration at the earliest opportunity recognising that the Report, when published will provide the foundations for the development of a significant new national Cardiovascular Strategy, noting that this will take time to develop and will require iterative reform to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
1095. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a schedule of meetings of the Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services; and to provide a schedule of meetings between his Department and representatives of the steering group. [44283/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Review of Cardiac Services (NRCS) commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a steering group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives. The steering group undertook the formulation of the principles of the NRCS and the terms of reference.
The NRCS steering group met on 16 occasions from 31st January 2018 to October 2022. Between steering group meetings of 31-Jan-20 and October 2022 the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the progress of the NRCS and deferral of steering group meetings as the Chair of the NRCS played a key role in the national COVID-19 response. Department officials met with the steering group members in preparation for the meetings and follow up from those meetings.
1096. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of those who were consulted by the Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. [44284/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Review of Cardiac (NRCS) was undertaken in consultation with stakeholders from across the Irish cardiac community, service users and the public along with the input of international expertise. From the outset, consultation was a core pillar of the NRCS recognising the far-reaching value such consultation would yield. The NRCS was commissioned in 2017, and a memo was prepared for the Minister detailing a panel of nominees to chair the NRCS. The NRCS commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a steering group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders on consultation with:
• Irish Association of Directors of Nursing and Midwifery
• Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Science
• President of the Irish Cardiac Society
• President of the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
• President, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
• President, Royal College of Physicians Ireland
• Dean, Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Royal College of Physicians Ireland
• Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Heart Foundation
• Director General, Health Service Executive
Other 2017 consultations included various Ministers, Councillors, Senators and TDs from the South East region.
The steering group comprised fifteen individuals which included two patients, seven healthcare professionals (nominated by relevant professional organisations), three senior HSE representatives and three senior Department officials. Collectively the steering group membership had expertise in clinical provision, service management, service policy, clinical effectiveness and patient safety, public health and patient experience.
The NRCS also utilised extensive stakeholder consultation which included a call for submissions and a peer review panel of three international experts that provided independent, robust and transparent criteria-based peer review. These measures along with the relevant professional and patient input crafted a comprehensive national review to the highest quality standard. The format of the consultation and engagement with the cardiac clinical community, patients and public included three main pillars:
• Site Visits: a series of consultations was conducted, and site visits were undertaken to each major cardiology unit in Ireland providing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) and to exemplar centres in the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast and the Golden Jubilee Hospital Glasgow due to similar service requirements.
• Stakeholder Day: In November 2018, a stakeholder one day event specifically for patients, the public and patient organisations provided an opportunity to share experiences and information regarding cardiac services and the NRCS process. Consultation process sought to ascertain substantive comments, opinions and written submissions on experiences of the current situation and services. Invited organisations included;
• Age Action
• All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network
• Cardiac Risk in the Young
• Croí
• Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) Network
• Heartbeat Trust
• Heart Children Ireland
• Irish Heart Disease Awareness
• Irish Heart Foundation
• Irish Hospice Foundation
• National Women’s Council of Ireland
• Pavee Point
• A Public Consultation: the patient and public engagement process included a web-based questionnaire using the Qualtrics platform and consultations were undertaken in line with the ‘Consultation Principles and Guidance’ document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2016. On 30th May 2018, a Public Consultation on behalf of the NRCS commenced in the form of a web-based public consultation questionnaire. The questionnaire remained open until 17th August 2018, running for a total of 79 days. National newspapers (Irish Times and Sunday Independent) carried advertisements for the public consultation and social media in the form of Twitter, and the Department website were used as the digital platforms to promote the consultation. Details regarding the consultation were included in a press release of 2nd July 2018 and a final dedicated press release as a reminder of the closing date was issued on 14th August 2018.
Other consultations included;
• The National Heart Programme (NHP) had been established during the pause of the steering group’s work due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, therefore, significant engagement with the NHP and the HSE Integrated Care Programme for Chronic Disease was undertaken.
• National Ambulance Service - Chief Ambulance Officer
• National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) – Chief Executive Officer and NIPC Medical and Research Director Chair of Executive Council
• Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council - Clinical Programme Manager Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council
These, together with, systematically gathered evidence, informed the deliberations of the steering group and the recommendations of the NRCS. The steering group is very grateful to those colleagues and patients who supported, facilitated and participated in the consultation process.
1097. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a schedule of the various budgets, cost estimates and actual outrun of costs incurred by the Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. [44285/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1098. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the findings of the Herity report are used by his Department in determining cardiac care policy in the south east of Ireland. [44286/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCardiovascular Disease (CVD) is complex, incorporates many disease conditions, including heart disease and stroke. Cardiovascular disease accounts for a significant percentage of all deaths despite the many improvements in the management of risk factors. People are living longer and healthier lives however the number of CVD cases is increasing due to an ageing population and rising obesity levels. Thanks to continued investment in cardiovascular health Ireland has seen a decline in the number of deaths from CVD. Since 2012, the mortality rate from heart disease has been reduced by 38%, mortality from stroke has been reduced by 48%. However, CVD remains a significant challenge claiming 9,000 lives annually.
Ireland has had two National Cardiovascular Strategies, Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010-2019 which built on the first national cardiovascular health strategy, and Building Healthier Hearts in 1999.The reorganisation of cardiovascular care was promoted in the 2010 national cardiovascular strategy which proposed the centralisation of services to maximise access, expertise and population coverage.
The Independent Clinical Review of Provision of a Second Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at University Hospital Waterford (Herity 2016) reviewed the provision of emergency primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (pPCI) services in the South East. In 2018, the National Review of Cardiac Services (NRCS) arose from a general concern to optimise the care of patients with CVD, and concerns about the timeliness of acute heart attack care in different regions of the country and noted the findings of the Herity Report (2016). One of the guiding principles for the NRCS was to strive to ensure services that can deliver clinical outcomes on a par with international standards. The 2016, Herity Report made several recommendations which included a recommendation that the operating hours of the existing cardiac catheterisation lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) should be extended.
Government is committed to progressing cardiac services at UHW and has invested significantly in providing the resources required to support the delivery of enhanced and extended cardiac services. In September 2022, the opening hours for the first catheterisation laboratory were extended to 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). A second catheterisation laboratory opened on 4th of September 2023 and operates 5 days per week Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm. 24 WTEs were provided to open the second catheterisation laboratory. The HSE has advised that the draft Pay Number Strategy for 2024 includes provision for appropriate staffing to complement existing services and to extend the opening hours of one catheterisation laboratory at UHW to a 7 day, 8am – 8pm service. Permission has been granted to recruit a specific cohort of staff from the initial tranche of New Developments WTE for 2024 and it is now an operational issue for the HSE to do so.
In Budget 2025, €2m will be allocated to progress cardiovascular services, and will prioritise the development of identified key areas which includes a cardiac disease registry, securing additional staff and progressing the NRCS recommendations once published. The NRCS is finalised, Minister Donnelly has considered it and will present the Review to Government for further consideration at the earliest opportunity.
1099. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has any isochrone or administrative travel time data informing its own policy around geospatial location of acute and primary care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44287/24]
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.
