Results 37,041-37,060 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Reviews (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy is aware, the Review of the operation of the Health(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 commenced in line with statutory and Government commitments in December 2021. The purpose of the Review was to assess the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation. The Review comprised two phases. The first phase of the Review was an evidence and information...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme provides care to adult medical holders over 16 years. In April 2020 there were 1651 DTSS contractors registered on the Scheme. This declined to 1253 in April 2022. I approved measures from May 2022 providing for increased preventative care and increasing the fees paid to dentists for most treatment items by 40-60%. This has improved access, and both the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan was published on 7th March and is the next stage of the multi-annual approach to reduce and reform waiting lists and times. It allocates €363 million in funding across 30 actions to be implemented by the HSE and NTPF to reduce acute scheduled care waiting lists by 10% this year and to continue implementing long-term reforms. Under the Plan,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As a response to the pandemic residents from St. Patrick’s Hospital were moved to facilities on Our Lady’s Hospital campus in June 2020, now named Cashel Residential Services. This is registered under HIQA for 3 years from June 2020. The three-year registration is now due for renewal and HSE are engaged with HIQA regarding reregistration. I, my Department and the HSE are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The public health advice is that testing for COVID-19 is no longer recommended for most of the population. Self-referral for PCR testing and ordering of antigen tests by the general public is closed. Routine serial testing in long-term residential care facilities has finished although it is available when necessary for managing an outbreak. Testing continues in acute settings according...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Despite all the progress in relation to COVId19, I am very aware that Long COVID is still causing suffering. To ensure that people who need care have access to it, the HSE is currently implementing a plan to provide Long COVID services nationally. The investment in this service has trebled in 2023 to 6.6 million euro. Many patients with symptoms of Long Covid are successfully managed by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As a painkiller codeine is most often used in combination with other analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. But there is a potential for misuse. Codeine is therefore a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 and 1984. Low dose preparations are regulated as a Schedule 5 controlled drug. Medicinal products that contain low doses of codeine are available without a medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I have met with Minster Harris and have requested significant increases in the number of dentists we train to address dental workforce capacity issues. The Higher Education Authority is undertaking a process to identify a set of options for Government from higher education institutions interested in building capacity in Dentistry, among other areas. Aligned with Departmental policy regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people. A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022 during the Private Members...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Roscommon University Hospital currently has a 12 bed Surgical Day Ward, which is co-located with a medical inpatient ward. It is proposed to relocate the Surgical Day ward in an area adjacent to the Operating Theatre and Endoscopy Unit. As part of this proposal, it is planned that the vacated surgical day ward area in its current location would be used to increase medical inpatient beds. A...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I am pleased to confirm that the Strategic Assessment Report reviews by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Review and Reform, for the proposed Emergency Department, Women & Children’s block at UHG, have been completed. On 29 March 2023, Minister O’Donohoe updated and shortened the Public Spending Code for capital investments. The SAR stage has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There has been significant progress made in relation to enhancements to our Public Health workforce. As agreed between the Department of Health, the HSE and the IMO in April 2021, a fully reformed model for public health including 84 Consultant posts is being implemented on a phased basis. The first phase, recruitment of 34 WTE posts at Consultant in Public Health Medicine level, is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I am keenly aware that the temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave that was introduced in the public health sector in respect of long-Covid is due to conclude at the end of June. At present, those who remain unwell beyond that date may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, however I have asked my officials to look at options in this regard. The EU Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: At present, the HSE Public Dental Service provides a screening and necessary treatment for children approximating to second and sixth class and, in some cases, fourth class. Emergency care is provided for children of all ages up to 16 and for those with complex and additional needs. There are challenges in the provision of oral healthcare services and patients of all ages are waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and in particular the need to increase the number of GPs practising across the country to ensure patients continue to have access to GP services. A number of measures have been taken to make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors, and the positive impact of these measures is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I have asked the HSE, as Sponsoring Agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of the new Elective Hospital in Galway, to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government and I are fully committed to doing everything possible to assist people living with a rare disease. I have asked my Department to develop a new plan and officials have started their initial work to prepare a new successor plan to the National Rare Disease Plan 2014- 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (20 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.