Written Answers Nos. 1120-1139
1120. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of children under the aegis of the south Louth CDNT who are currently awaiting first appointments with, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a psychologist, and an appointment with a physiotherapist, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44396/24]
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.
1121. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of respite care beds available in the Village Residence, Dublin Road, Drogheda; the number of beds at the facility currently available for those with dementia who require respite; if all beds that are available are fully operational as of 23 October 2024; if the HSE has sanctioned the full complement of staff required to ensure that all available beds are available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44399/24]
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.
1122. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment with, separately, a HSE psychologist and an occupational therapist; the reasons for the delay in receiving these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44400/24]
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.
1123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment to see an occupational therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44401/24]
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.
1124. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is not receiving physiotherapy visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44408/24]
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.
1125. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number and location of all private nursing homes taken charge of by the HSE in each of the past five years; the dates on which those nursing homes were taken over, from which provider, and the reasons therefor; the length of time such nursing homes were under the charge of the HSE and or whether that arrangement is ongoing, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44409/24]
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.
1126. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the work of National Rare Disease Steering Group; whether the new national rare disease strategy will be finalised and published by Q4 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1127. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if a report into the public consultation on developing a national rare disease strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44425/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1126 and 1127 together.
The National Rare Disease Steering Group was established in December 2023 and is chaired by Prof. Cecily Kelleher. The Steering Group have been tasked with developing a new Rare Disease Strategy for Ireland that sets out the vision for rare disease services in Ireland and the actions required to achieve this.
The Steering Group is expected to have finalised the new National Rare Disease Strategy by end-2024, with implementation commencing in early 2025.
A public consultation was carried out by the Rare Diseases and Long Covid Policy Unit to inform the Steering Group’s work on developing the new Rare Disease Strategy. The public consultation was closed in September 2024 and a draft report has been circulated to Steering Group members to inform the recommendations for the Strategy. It is expected that the public consultation will be included as an appendix in the new Rare Disease Strategy when published.
As part of Budget 2025, €1.5m was provided for rare diseases to support the provision of care through Ireland’s European Reference Networks (ERNs) for Rare Diseases, bolster the HSE’s National Rare Disease Office, and lay a strong foundation upon which to build following the publication of the new National Rare Disease Strategy.
1128. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to detail the exact provision of funding and resourcing to rare diseases within Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44426/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced details of the €1.5 million allocation for the development of rare disease services as part of Budget 2025.
This funding seeks to address the immediate gaps within rare disease services in Ireland and ensure that our National Rare Disease Office and European Reference Networks are better resourced to carry out their functions and to drive the implementation of the new National Rare Disease Strategy when it is published later this year.
The specifics of the allocation of this funding are currently being worked on as part of the preparation of the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2025 (NSP 2025).
1129. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of new medicines funding in Budget 2025; the exact amount allocated to oncology and non-oncology medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44427/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA record of over €3 billion, nearly €1 in every 8 of public funding spent on health, was spent last year on medicines. This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines.
The State has made an additional €128 million available since 2020 which has seen 187 new medicines or new uses for existing medicines approved for reimbursement by the HSE. This includes 67 medicines for oncology. Dedicated funding has enabled the HSE to approve reimbursement for 16 new medicines so far in 2024. Six of these are for treating cancers and seven are ‘orphan drugs’ for treating rare diseases.
Budget 2025 includes an allocation of €30m for new medicines, to be generated from efficiencies. Continuing into 2025, the Minister for Health will ensure that his Department, the HSE and all relevant agencies and stakeholders place a priority focus on achieving the most efficient and effective use of available resources. The State is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines to all patients.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
1130. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason an early/interim access scheme to provide early access to EMA-approved therapies for rare diseases has not been introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44428/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE is committed to providing access to as many medicines as possible, in as timely a fashion as possible.
The HSE robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.
In February 2023, the Minister announced his intention to progress the development of a successor to the National Rare Disease Plan 2014-2018, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.
A National Rare Disease Steering Group was established in December 2023, and it has met eleven times since it first convened. The Steering Group is chaired by Prof. Cecily Kelleher, and has been tasked with developing the new National Rare Disease Strategy and an associated Implementation Plan. As part of Budget 2025, €1.5m was provided for rare diseases to support the provision of care through Ireland’s European Reference Networks (ERNs) for Rare Diseases, bolster the HSE’s National Rare Disease Office, and lay a strong foundation upon which to build following the publication of an updated National Rare Disease Strategy. The Steering Group is expected to have finalised the new National Rare Disease Strategy by end-2024, with implementation commencing in early 2025.
The development of a new Strategy will allow us to consider areas of the previous Plan that need to be further progressed, while also looking to the future and the needs of those patients and families living with a rare disease diagnosis.
A Public Consultation to gather the views of the public, including industry, on the development of the new Strategy closed in Q3 2024, with approximately 600 submissions received. The results of this Public Consultation will be considered by the Steering Group following data analysis.
The Department continues to ensure that our reimbursement system reflects best practices and optimal value-for-money for Irish patients. In Q1 2023, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. The Report found that the reimbursement process is operating in line with the legislation and that it is delivering results in line with international norms.
1131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 22 October 2024, when the HSE will meet the manufacturer to reconsider the possible approval of the reimbursement of palforzia for the treatment of peanut allergy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44435/24]
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.
1132. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health to outline what additional measures the HSE has put in place to minimise chemotherapy delays at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44441/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1135. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health what measures he has personally taken to address the staffing issues in the University Hospital Limerick Mid-Western Cancer Centre in respect of cancer nursing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44444/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1132 and 1135 together.
In Budget 2025, €23 million has been secured for the National Cancer Strategy, including access to new cancer medicines, expansion of cancer screening, funding for community cancer support centres, and implementation of the National Cancer Strategy. This will mean over €105 million has been invested into the Strategy since 2017.
Capital funding of over €140 million has been provided under the current National Cancer Strategy to deliver state of the art radiation oncology facilities in Galway and Cork, to update cancer infrastructure in chemotherapy wards and lab facilities for the benefit of patients, as well as investment in the new National Cervical Screening Laboratory.
Over the course of the current National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, 40.5 WTEs have been assigned by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to cancer services in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) which includes 17 WTE nursing posts.
In 2021, a new 24-bed ward for haematology and oncology patients was opened which provides dedicated space for patients receiving medical oncology treatment, including chemotherapy.
UHL provides chemotherapy in its day ward. Treatment activity has increased 11% from 643 patients in 2022 to 719 patients in 2023. In the last 12 months, 801 patients have received SACT in UHL, with 90% seen within target time.
Proposals are being prepared by the National Cancer Control Programme and the HSE Midwest Region to increase day ward capacity to meet increased demand for chemotherapy services, and to refurbish the aseptic compounding unit which prepares chemotherapy treatments on-site. These projects will be supported as part of the national strategic approach to cancer.
1133. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when scalp cooling will resume for patients undergoing chemotherapy at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44442/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) for patients with cancer can include many other additional elements to support the patient in the management of adverse effects associated with their treatment. Scalp cooling is an example of one such supportive care measures.
There are 26 public hospitals providing SACT in Ireland. A patient’s consultant will consider each patient’s supportive care requirements, taking into account the individual patient, their treatment, and the evidence relating to the supportive care measure.
There is no clinical consensus on the use of scalp cooling as a supportive care measure for patients with cancer undergoing SACT. It is made available in some of the public hospitals providing SACT, based on suitability of the patient, local availability of equipment, service needs, and capacity.
The 'Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 (Phase 2: An Evolution in Women’s Health)' was published in April 2024. As part of Budget 2025, €12.9 million has been specifically allocated to enable the continued implementation of this plan. Increasing the provision of scalp cooling for cancer patients is one of the actions supported by this funding.
1134. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant specialist nursing posts at University Hospital Limerick, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44443/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you for your recent correspondence in relation to vacant specialist nursing posts at University Hospital Limerick.
As the body responsible for staffing in the health service, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to you on this matter.
1136. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health why frontline staff working with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service were not included in the pandemic recognition payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44445/24]
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.
1137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be renewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44446/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1138. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to urgent support being provided for a child in Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44451/24]
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.
1139. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he can provide an update on the expected rollout of the free HRT scheme, including any plans his Department has for pharmacists regarding managing dispensing charges. [44460/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraProgressing women's health is a key priority for me and my Department. Significant progress has been made in the area of women's health in recent years and has been supported by Government investment of over €180m for targeted new developments in women’s healthcare since 2020. This has ensured new services in menopause and endometriosis, the roll-out of free contraception, publicly funded IVF, and a range of initiatives to deliver more timely care to women.
Most recently, as part of Budget 2025, €20 million is being made available from January 2025 for the provision of state-funded Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products for women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
HRT is the most commonly used treatment for managing menopausal symptoms and has been shown to be the most effective intervention for managing these symptoms for all stages of menopause.
This measure includes the provision of HRT products, prescribed for the treatment of symptoms associated with all stages of menopause, without charge, to women who are resident in the State. This is in circumstances where HRT has been deemed clinically appropriate for a woman and is prescribed by her healthcare provider.
An Expert Advisory Group has been established and meets regularly to consider all the legal, clinical and administrative matters prior to the introduction of this measure in January 2025.
On 15th October, Government approval was given for the drafting of amendments as a priority to the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2024 to insert provisions to provide the legislative basis for State-funded HRT relating to menopause. The Health Insurance (Amendment) and Health (Provision of Menopause Products) Bill 2024 completed all stages in Dáil Éireann on 23rd October and will progress to the Seanad in early November.
When the new HRT measure is operational in January 2025, there will be no change where HRT products are dispensed under the community drugs schemes, such as the medical card. Under these schemes, pharmacists are paid a dispensing fee by the State. The cost of the HRT products dispensed outside of these schemes will be reimbursable to the pharmacist that dispenses it. Therefore, women will not be charged for the cost of the product. However, the pharmacist may apply a dispensing fee for supplying the HRT product, which is a commercial matter for individual pharmacies.
