Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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635. To ask the Minister for Health if he will detail the studies, analysis and evidence used to support the decision of the HSE to limit, due to safety concerns, all home-birth services outside a 30-minute blue-light distance from their nearest maternity service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62226/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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636. To ask the Minister for Health the counties in which the HSE home birth service is provided; if County Wicklow is one of the counties in which the service is fully available; if there has been any reduction in the availability of this service recently; if any changes to the services are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62227/22]

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

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed list of the number of home births registered with the HSE which were conducted in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62228/22]

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

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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638. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home births registered with the HSE which were conducted in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022, inclusive by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62229/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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639. To ask the Minister for Health the business plans submitted in respect of a hospital (details supplied) in the past three months; the decisions made thereon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62230/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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640. To ask the Minister for Health if, in light of waiting times for cancer surgery patients, he will negotiate with private hospitals to deliver these urgent surgeries for public patients; and if he has any plans to do so. [62231/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Further to my reply to PQ 588 of the 6^thof December the model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. The eight designated cancer centres are Beaumont Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.

Chemotherapy is delivered in 26 hospitals approved for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT).  These are the eight Designated Cancer Centres and 18 other hospitals operating on a hub and spoke basis under the planning and supervision of the designated centres.

The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.

In 2020 and 2021, cancer services continued to be provided in Ireland during a challenging time for health services globally. The National Action Plan on COVID-19 identified the continued delivery of cancer care as a priority. Cancer diagnostic and treatment services continued to operate, including breast, lung, and prostate Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) for cancer diagnosis.

From June 2020 onwards, treatments across surgery, medical oncology and radiotherapy made a strong recovery after the first months of the pandemic with total activity levels for the year at 80-90% of 2019 figures. This recovery has continued through 2021 and into 2022.

The number of people coming forward to their GPs and being referred to cancer RACs has continued to improve. From January to September of this year, GP e-referrals are at 137.6% of 2019 activity for the same period.

Cancers diagnosed in RACs from January to August of this year (3,956) are at 96.5% of the figure in 2019 for the same period (4,099).

Whilst private health care providers such as the Mater Private Network are independent organisations the Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently engaging with the Private Hospital Association with a view to considering arrangements which could help reduce acute hospital  waiting lists.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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641. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the case of a patient (details supplied) who was told that they would have to wait three years for an appointment but would be seen in eight weeks if they were a private patient; and his views on whether this is an appropriate difference between public and private health care. [62239/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I sincerely regret that patients can experience a long waiting time for treatment, and I remain conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals are still impacted by operational challenges arising from the pandemic.

The Government has invested record sums in our health service. This is been used to boost permanent capacity which is key in helping to tackle waiting lists. Our workforce has grown by more than 17,000 staff, doctors, nurses, midwives and therapists since 2020.

The €350 million allocated to the HSE and NTPF under the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan us primarily focused on providing additional public and private activity to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.

For 2023, funding of €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists. This includes:

- €123 million in funding for delivery of the HSE Waiting List Action Plan, including priority areas such as Obesity/Bariatrics, Spina Bifida/Scoliosis and Gynaecology, as well as progressing longer-term reforms to sustainably enhance capacity. Other actions in the Action Plan will streamline and reconfigure care pathways.

- €150 million for the NTPF to procure additional capacity to reduce waiting lists.

- €90m for additional short-term measures to address acute scheduled care waiting list backlogs.

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on outpatient waiting list for an appointment or inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment.

The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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642. To ask the Minister for Health if all of the recommendations of a person (details supplied) have been implemented in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62250/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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643. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues within an organisation (details supplied); the actions that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62251/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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644. To ask the Minister for Health the plans that are in place by the HSE to improve certain services (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62252/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 642, 643 and 644 together.

The organisation referenced by the Deputy receives funding from the HSE, under Section 39 of the Health Act, 2004.

Section 39 legally underpins the provision of services similar or ancillary to services that the HSE may provide. While assistance is provided to organisations that provide services similar or ancillary to services that the HSE may provide, it must be acknowledged that these organisations are privately owned and run.

The provision of services by Section 39 organisations is managed through an annually reviewed Service Arrangement and monitored by the HSE and relevant service unit. The HSE advises that it, in conjunction with the organisation concerned, is committed to providing safe, effective and high quality care to the people supported.

I am informed by the HSE that since the report referenced was finalised, a number of actions have been implemented with further recommendations addressed in a number of the strategic objectives set out by the organisation in its strategic plan.I am also advised by the HSE that a review of the organisation’s management structures is underway.

Given that the HSE is currently working with the organisation concerned, I am referring the Deputy’s questions to the HSE for response.

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