Patricia Ryan
Question:1458. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to commence section 11 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33823/20]
View answerLegislative Programme
Questions (1458)
Written answers
Section 11 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 provides for the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol products of 10c per gram of alcohol. The 2013 Government Decision which approved the implementation of minimum unit pricing of alcohol products envisaged that it would be introduced in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland simultaneously. This was to allay concerns that its introduction in one jurisdiction only would impact on cross-border trade.
Legislation to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol products has not yet been introduced in Northern Ireland however, in July this year, the Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann committed to a public consultation on the introduction of minimum unit pricing in Northern Ireland.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (1459, 1460)
Patricia Ryan
Question:1459. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to implement a new community pharmacy contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33832/20]
View answerPatricia Ryan
Question:1460. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the scope of pharmacy practice to include chronic disease management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33833/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1459 and 1460 together.
I value the important role community pharmacists play in our Irish Health Service in the delivery of holistic patient care. In particular, I fully acknowledge that community pharmacy has played a pivotal role in responding to the health needs of the public during the COVID-19 crisis.
It is recognised that community pharmacists have ensured the continued availability of a professional, accessible service for the public and have successfully managed to alleviate the worries and concerns of the population around continuity of medicine supply in the face of great uncertainty. This has been a period of unprecedented difficulty for the country and pharmacists have been at the forefront of the response.
The existing GMS pharmacy contract dates from 1996 and I accept that it is substantially outdated. It has not kept pace with developments that have taken place over the course of recent years including the increasing emphasis on maximising the proportion of people’s healthcare needs met in primary care, interdisciplinary collaboration and the skillset that pharmacists have by virtue of their education and training. Patient safety and value-for-money considerations have also assumed increasing importance.
Accordingly, the programme for Government contains a commitment to commence talks with pharmacists on a new contract which will enhance their role in the delivery of healthcare in the community.
The comprehensive review of the pharmacy contract will address the role to be played by community pharmacy in the context of Sláintecare. However, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion, should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services or provide better value for money or patient outcomes.
My Department officials and the HSE initiated work earlier this year to prepare for engagement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on contractual reform. However, the disruption and reprioritisation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic meant that this work could not be progressed in a meaningful way. It is anticipated that talks will commence in 2021.
In the context of Covid-19, there has been regular engagement with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU)throughout the past number of months and a significant number of contingency measures have been put in place under the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Amendment Regulations, 2020, intended to relieve the pressures on community pharmacies and General Practitioners. There has also been recent engagement with the IPU on pharmacists’ participation in the extended flu vaccination programme.
The HSE has established a contingency planning working group with the IPU and Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to support the implementation of all COVID-19 support measures. The Group’s primary role is to examine the operational and clinical challenges confronting community pharmacists during the COVID-19 emergency.
This working group also represents an opportunity to discuss the strategic direction of the profession which will be valuable in the context of contractual reform in 2021.
Data Protection
Questions (1461)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:1461. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of data protection breaches identified within his Department in 2019 [33847/20]
View answerWritten answers
There were two personal data breaches reported within my Department in 2019.
The breaches were dealt with in accordance with the GDPR and the Department of Health Breach Management Policy.
Following risk assessments, the breaches were not notified to the Data Protection Commission. All personal data breach incidents are reviewed to prevent reoccurrence and recorded in the Department’s Breach Log.
HSE Agency Staff
Questions (1462)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1462. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the contract of a person (details supplied); if they are employed directly by the HSE or by a third-party company; the cost to the HSE of their contract; if the HSE pays part of the cost of the contract to a third-party company; the details of their selection for their current post; if the position was tendered; the qualifications sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33890/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (1463)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1463. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the selection of a company (details supplied) to conduct recruitment for the additional staff for swabbing and contact tracing; the reason for the selection of the company and qualifications sought; the cost of the contract with the company to run the recruitment process for swabbers and contact tracers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33891/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1464)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1464. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of follow-up calls made to incoming passengers on a weekly basis from 5 October 2020; and the number of calls which were successfully answered on a weekly basis, in tabular form [33893/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Passenger Locator Form was launched in an online format in August and supports an enhanced system of engagements with arriving passengers, including the targeting of key public health messages via SMS.
Passengers may be contacted by SMS or phone call to verify their address in Ireland. Contacts of this type are targeted towards passengers arriving from locations with higher incidence rates. Multiple attempts will be made to phone a passenger if the contact center cannot make contact at the first attempt.
The number of follow-up calls attempted to incoming passengers on a weekly basis from 5 October 2020 and the number of successful contacts made with incoming passengers by phone in the same period can be seen in the following table.
|
- |
Number of calls attempted |
Successful phone contacts made |
|
Week 5 – 11 October |
13,721 |
8,493 |
|
Week 12 – 18 October |
11,035 |
5,463 |
|
Week 19 – 25 October |
10,106 |
4,949 |
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1465)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1465. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the physical and mental health benefits of allowing gyms to remain open during the current Covid-19 restrictions; if he plans to review the measure; and the reason for closing gyms which could operate while enforcing social distancing and infection prevention and control guidance [33896/20]
View answerWritten answers
At the outset I would like to say that I fully understand how important exercise and sporting activities are for people's physical and mental health, particularly in the winter months.
The Government's medium-term strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-1 9, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services.
The Plan reflects a careful consideration of the impact of the introduction of restrictions on employment and livelihoods, keeping as many businesses open as possible at different stages, while acknowledging that some businesses and services are critical. It acknowledges that sports and exercise are central to our well-being and are also the world of work for our many in our communities.
As I'm sure you can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms.
You will be aware that in response to the rapidly deteriorating epidemiological situation across the country, Ireland has moved to level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-1 9. This means closing many businesses and amenities to reduce the person-to-person contacts which allow the virus to spread.
At level 5, gyms and leisure centres are closed and no exercise or dance classes are permitted. Individual training only is allowed and people must exercise within 5km of home. It is possible to meet with 1 other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, including for the purpose of exercise.
The Government recognises that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted - such as exercising in gyms, but also eating out, attending church, travelling abroad freely - are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.
The Government's guidelines for indoor gatherings and exercise and sporting events at all levels of the Plan are available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/. Level 5 guidance from Sport Ireland is available at: https://www.sportireland.ie/news/return-to-sport-expert-group-issues-guidance-to-sports-sector .
Primary Care Centres
Questions (1466)
Denise Mitchell
Question:1466. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health when the new HSE primary care centre at Edenmore, Dublin 5 will be opened; the estimated cost of the new building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33897/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (1467)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1467. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the sensitivity of the PCR test for Covid-19 used in Ireland differs from that used in other jurisdictions; if his Department has considered emerging evidence that a PCR test could identify trace amounts of the virus from a past infection whereby the person would no longer be infectious; the way in which his Department will address this in policy; the way in which the sensitivity of the PCR test compares to other types of tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33911/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (1468)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1468. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has identified environments for which a PCR or antigen test for Covid-19 would be more appropriate and which test is viewed as most appropriate for each environment considered, such as schools, nursing homes, private households, workplaces and other health or congregated settings [33912/20]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice, and approved by NPHET. This platform is deployed in acute hospitals, the NVRL and HSE’s commercial partners. Given the volumes required, these operate as batch tests and hence take a number of hours depending on the platform and the volume being processed.
The HSE uses rapid tests in key clinical settings, such as in our hospitals for emergency and surgical care. These are rapid PCR tests which give results in short timeframes, for example less than an hour. As part of the HSE’s testing and tracing plan, it is trying to increase the number of these available as there is significant international demand and supply challenges. These tests only work in very small numbers so are not appropriate for large scale community testing.
Many of the rapid non-PCR Covid tests reported in the media, which purport to offer a test result in minutes (for example antigen tests) lack the sensitivity and specificity required for healthcare. However, this issue continues to be monitored by WHO, ECDC, HIQA, and the HSE Laboratory taskforce.
The HSE believes that antigen and other types of testing, such as saliva testing, may well have a role in testing of asymptomatic people. It is constantly monitoring the sensitivity of these tests to ensure that where deployed they will be of appropriate quality and sensitivity. Again, this will not replace the requirement for large scale PCR testing which remains the gold standard for community testing.
Question No. 1469 answered with Question No. 1354.
HSE Staff
Questions (1470)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1470. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff currently redeployed to the testing and tracing system from other areas of the health service; the number from each specialty that are redeployed in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33914/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (1471)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1471. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that all sanitising products supplied by the HSE are in compliance with recognised standards; and the safety assessment a product (details supplied) was put through prior to the product being purchased and supplied to healthcare outlets [33915/20]
View answerWritten answers
The certification of sanitising products is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the deputy directly, with regards to the steps taking to ensure that all sanitising products supplied by the HSE are in compliance with recognised standards.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1472)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:1472. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure all medically-vulnerable persons with serious underlying conditions in the CHO2 area will have access to the flu vaccine; the reason for the extreme shortage of the vaccine at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33925/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has expanded the provision of seasonal influenza vaccination without charge to all of those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years. Vaccines are being administered via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years.
This season, 1.95 million doses of influenza vaccine have been purchased, which is double the amount administered last season. The HSE has procured 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (QIV) for the forthcoming winter. This vaccine is being made available to all persons in an at-risk group and aged from 6 months up. In addition, the HSE has purchased 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), which is delivered via nasal drops rather than by injection and is being made available to all children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.
This expanded programme will ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access without charges. This is in line with the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and represents a significant step forward in providing vaccination without charges.
International markets for influenza vaccine are extremely tight this year, and in Ireland this resulted in deliveries from the manufacturer taking longer than intended. However, the full quantity of vaccine ordered has now been received. 950,000 doses of the injected vaccine have been distributed to GPs, pharmacists, and healthcare settings. This is 10% more than the amount distributed at the same time in 2019 and is equal to almost the full amount administered in the 2019/20 season. The quantities distributed to GPs and pharmacists has been based on the orders from the same sources last year, in order to ensure an equitable distribution. The remaining 400,000 doses will be distributed to GPs and pharmacists in the coming weeks.
Demand for vaccination this year is unprecedented. This is the case across Europe and beyond. Given the finite supply available, it is important that even the increased quantities available in Ireland are targeted where they will have the greatest impact.
Question No. 1473 answered with Question No. 1194.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (1474)
Holly Cairns
Question:1474. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the 5,533 assessments of need for children which are overdue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33940/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (1475)
Holly Cairns
Question:1475. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the 13,419 persons aged under 18 years of age that are awaiting an initial assessment of speech and language therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33941/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.