David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1664. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to baseline funding allocated to unfunded new or additional measures in 2022. [29899/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are a number of unfunded additional measures that have arising post-Estimates 2022. These measures include:

- the cost of the Haddington Road Agreement pay restoration;

- the extended seasonal influenza vaccination programme;

- the reduction in Drug Payment Scheme thresholds from €100 to €80 per month included in the government's cost of living measures;

- the extension for the full academic year of the Pandemic Placement Grant of €100 per week to eligible nursing and midwifery students;

- the COVID recognition payment for eligible healthcare staff

- the purchase of COVID therapeutics medicines

- the cost of responses to the Ukraine crisis, including the issuing of additional medical cards as well as other supports;

- the addition of an extra public holiday on 18th March 2022 and the related additional costs to the health service in respect of agency/overtime.

At present, no additional net funding has been allocated to the Health Vote in respect of these measures. Additional measures sanctioned to date in 2022 have been sanctioned on the basis that where possible the expenditure is met from within the existing available Health allocation. Some of these measures are one-off in nature, while others will have an ongoing expenditure impact in future years. The allocation of permanent baseline funding for those measures which are recurring for 2023 will be considered in the context of Estimates 2023 discussions to take place between the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform later in 2022.

Any additional net funding requirements for the Health Vote associated with these measures for 2022 will be determined throughout 2022 and will be finalised between the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of ongoing budgetary management processes.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1665. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to baseline additional funding given to Cappagh and CHI for paediatric orthopaedics, if any. [29900/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and Cappagh Hospital submitted proposals to improve waiting times for orthopaedic services; this includes Scoliosis and Spina Bifida. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year.

By using the capacity provided by Cappagh for less complex orthopaedic patients, including routine scoliosis procedures, CHI can free up space in order that complex orthopaedic procedures, including scoliosis spinal fusions, can be carried out centrally at CHI sites. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date. Year to date by the end of May 2022, 197 scoliosis procedures had been carried out, compared to 156 for the same period in 2019. The number of patients waiting longer than 6 months for a scoliosis procedure has also reduced to 79 by the end of May, compared to 103 in August 2020.

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, €3.4 million has been committed to support additional activity at Cappagh Orthopaedic hospital in 2022. This is the full year requirement associated with the €1.65 million that was provided from the Access to Care Fund in 2021 to support CHI paediatric orthopaedic activity at Cappagh. This funding supports a WTE of 42.73 staff members as well as associated medical and surgical costs, equipment, and other non-pay related expenditure.

The source of this funding stream is the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan. As is clear from the expenditure type, this is of a committed type, rather than once off, therefore this funding stream is envisioned to be maintained in future years. While as yet the Department does not have any funding beyond 2022, and will not until Budget 2023 is agreed, the intention is to maintain this spending.