Réada Cronin
Ceist:417. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a scheme in which online only doctors could accept medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45554/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedical Cards
Ceisteanna (417)
Freagraí scríofa
General practitioners are private practitioners, the majority of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE to provide medical services without charge to medical and GP visit card holders. Medical card and GP visit card holders are placed on a GP's GMS panel from whom they receive GP services in accordance with the GMS contract.
To support the administration of a comprehensive GP service to GMS patients based primarily on the provision of in-person consultations, the GMS contract provides, amongst other things, for practice supports including supports for practice staff and for the provision of specific in-person medical treatments. Online doctor or video doctor services are limited to the provision of virtual consultations only which are provided to patients on a private basis.
There are no plans at present to introduce a scheme which would allow online only doctors to provide GP services to GMS patients without charge.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (418)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:418. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the status of the move planned for Monasterevin primary care centre; the future plans for the site following the move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45555/24]
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 (419)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:419. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff midwives working at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise; the number of staff midwives on long-term sick leave; the number of staff midwives that have left the hospital over the past two years; the number of staff midwives recruited in the hospital in the same time period; the current number of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45556/24]
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.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (420, 421, 441, 453)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:420. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will accept all of the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45557/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRéada Cronin
Ceist:421. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to full implementation of the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review Report on adequate staffing levels, to safeguard vital cancer services into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45558/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Duncan Smith
Ceist:441. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he plans to accept and implement the recommendations in the National Radiation Therapist Review Report on adequate staffing levels for cancer services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45619/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Thomas Gould
Ceist:453. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will accept the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review Report. [45704/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredibly important role of Radiation Therapists in the provision of cancer services in this country.
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.
I am glad that the independent review of the Radiation Therapist profession has been finalised. This strategic review considered important issues such as organisation structure, career development in line with Health and Social Care Professional Frameworks, strategic workforce planning and recruitment and retention strategies.
This review has published 16 recommendations which aim to help and support the Radiation Therapy profession into the future. An oversight group will be established to oversee the progression of these recommendations.
As the terms of reference for the review state, the implementation of any recommendations from the review will remain subject to the approval from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform.
Investment in 2025 includes funding for eight additional staff for radiation therapy services and funding for six advanced practice posts for radiation therapy to implement one of the recommendations of the National Radiation Therapist Review.
With regard to Recommendation 8 and clinical practice supports, I am committed to working with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the delivery of expansion of student training places in Radiation Therapy and ensuring there are clinical learning support hours at each of the five public radiotherapy facilities at Galway University Hospital, Cork University Hospital and three sites in Dublin through the St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON). There are currently 1.5 WTE Radiation Therapy practice tutors funded through the Higher Education Authority. Department of Health officials are working with officials in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with regard to the expansion in student training places and the associated clinical placement hours required. My department will work with the Health Service Executive on establishing clinical learning supports aligned with clinical placement provision in each of the five sites.
As well as funding for posts, additional training places are being made available, and CORU registration requirements have been changed to bring Irish training requirements in line with international comparators.
Over 460 additional student places were provided in the Higher Education Sector on health-related courses in the academic year 2023/24. This included five additional Radiation Therapy places.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (422)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:422. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the dental appointment waiting list in County Kildare; the average waiting times for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45559/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
National Children's Hospital
Ceisteanna (423)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:423. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health when the new National Children's Hospital is due to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45560/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The timely completion of the New Children’s Hospital (NCH) is a Government priority. Everything possible is being done to ensure the project is completed as soon as possible on behalf of children, young people and their families.
The two satellite centres, which represent major milestones in the programme, are open and delivering the new model of care. Construction of the new hospital has advanced to over 94% complete against contract value, with the fit out of rooms and installation of medical equipment well underway.
The substantial completion of NCH is informed by the contractor’s programme of works and its ability to meet the targets set out in its own programme. ?
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has advised that, on 2 October 2024, BAM Ireland submitted an updated programme underpinning its intention to complete the NCH by June 2025. That programme remains under review by the independent contract administrator. BAM Ireland has also publicly noted its commitment to the project, and its completion of the project by June 2025.
NPHDB is continuing to use the full extent of levers available to it under the contract to hold BAM to its new commitment of substantially completing the hospital by June 2025.
Once substantial completion is achieved, the hospital will be handed over to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) for a post substantial completion operational commissioning period of at least 6 months.
Ahead of the transition to the new facilities, a significant body of work is ongoing to integrate the three hospitals from a clinical, operational, and cultural perspective.
While much focus has been on the challenges faced by the project, it is important to note that once open, the NCH will provide world class facilities to its patients. The NCH is unprecedented in scale, facilities, and technological advancement. It will be transformational in how we treat and deliver care to children and their families. The hospital has been designed and constructed to be as enduring and adaptable as possible. It is a building for the next 75-100 years, rather than the 40-50 years of other hospitals internationally.
National Children's Hospital
Ceisteanna (424)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:424. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the final projected cost of the new National Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45561/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 13 February 2024, Government approved enhanced capital and current budget sanctions for the New Children’s Hospital (NCH) project and programme, bringing the total approved budget to €2.24billion.
Included in this is the capital budget of €1.88 billion for designing, building and equipping the NCH and the two satellite centres. A separate €362 million budget is in place for the programme of integration and transition of services to the NCH, including commissioning, ICT, and the Electronic Health Record system.
This approved increase in the capital budget addresses long-standing additional budget requirements not included within the original budget and set out in the 2019 PwC report, including the impact of construction inflation greater than 4%, impacts to supply chains arising from the pandemic and other global events, and the contractor’s right to claim for additional true costs in line with public works contract provisions.
The Government considers that the project now has sufficient funding to address identified risks and see the hospital completed and opened.
National Children's Hospital
Ceisteanna (425)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:425. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the process by which the new National Children's Hospital will be named; if he will consider naming it after Dr Kathleen Lynn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45562/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The New Children’s Hospital project remains the most significant capital investment programme undertaken in the healthcare system in Ireland. It will provide world-class, state of the art facilities where our healthcare professionals will deliver optimal care, leading to better health outcomes for all. This is a much-needed and much-deserved investment in our children and young people.
I acknowledge the importance of the naming of the New Children’s Hospital, which is a key enabler in the strategic reform of healthcare services for children and young people for generations to come.
Children’s Health Ireland engaged the services of a specialist marketing agency to undertake a branding exercise. The exercise methodology included engagement with patient families and youth groups.
This is currently under consideration by the National Oversight Group, following which the Government will be making a decision on the naming of the New Children’s Hospital in due course.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (426)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:426. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for the pain management clinic at Tallaght University Hospital for over one, two, three, four and five years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45563/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.
To address the issue, I adopted a multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan with a budget of €360 million, builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.
Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. This represents an almost 17% increase (€60m) above the significant funding allocated for the Action Plan this year.
The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular query raised, the following information, provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) sets out the number of persons on the waiting list for pain management at Tallaght University Hospital.
|
Numbers waiting for Outpatient (OPD) Pain Management, Tallaght University Hospital by time band (years) as at 26/09/2024 |
|||||
|
Hospital Name |
0 - 1 Year |
1 - 2 Years |
2 - 3 Years |
SmallVolTimeBands |
Grand Total |
|
Tallaght University Hospital |
1,065 |
650 |
25 |
1 |
1,741 |
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (427)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:427. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adults on the orthodontic waiting lists in County Kildare; the average waiting times for appointments; the number who are waiting more than a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45564/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (428)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:428. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on the CAMHS waiting list in County Kildare; the average waiting time; the number waiting more than six months and more than twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45565/24]
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.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (429)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:429. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting homecare support in County Kildare; the total number of hours allocated in each of the past 12 months in County Kildare; the average number of hours granted to each successful applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45566/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (430, 431)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:430. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting for an endoscopy in Naas Hospital; the number waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45567/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRéada Cronin
Ceist:431. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a colonoscopy in Naas Hospital; the number waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45568/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.
To address the issue, I adopted a multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times.
The 2024 Plan with a budget of €360 million, builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services.
Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. This represents an almost 17% increase (€60m) above the significant funding allocated for the Action Plan this year.
The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
In relation to the particular query raised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided the following table, the number of persons waiting for an endoscopy and the number of persons waiting for a colonoscopy in Naas Hospital at the time bands, up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days.
|
Numbers waiting for Colonoscopy and Endoscopy, Naas General Hospital by time band (days) as at 26/09/2024. |
|
Specialty Name |
Up to 30 |
30 to 60 |
60 to 90 |
90 and over |
Grand Total |
|
Colonoscopy |
133 |
36 |
23 |
115 |
307 |
|
Endoscopy |
131 |
40 |
35 |
124 |
330 |
|
Grand Total |
264 |
76 |
58 |
239 |
637 |
Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 430.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (432)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:432. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies per grade at Naas Hospital and the length of time each vacancy has been unfilled, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45569/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy on this question.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (433)
Réada Cronin
Ceist:433. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a speech and language appointment in CHO7; the number waiting less than 3, 3 to 6, 6 to 12 and more than 12 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45571/24]
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.