Written Answers Nos. 381-398
381. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the Ireland East hospital group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41914/18]
View answerAs this is a staffing matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
382. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the RCSI hospital group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41915/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
383. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the Dublin Midlands hospital group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41916/18]
View answerAs this is a staffing matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
384. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the Saolta University Health Care Group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41917/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
385. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the South/South West hospital group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41918/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
386. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies unfilled or filled on a temporary basis in the UL hospital group; and the details of each (details supplied). [41919/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
387. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ask HIQA to investigate the misdiagnosed slides of the 221 women involved in the CervicalCheck scandal; and if this investigation will identify the laboratories involved and the cause of the errors committed in these laboratories. [41940/18]
View answerThe Government has already established two reviews to examine the issues raised in relation to CervicalCheck. One is the Scoping Inquiry led by Dr Gabriel Scally, and one is an Independent Clinical Expert Review led by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with expertise from the British Society for Colposcopy and Cytopathology. The scope of these reviews includes the labs contracted to provide services for CervicalCheck, and review of the slides of women diagnosed with cervical cancer who participated in the CervicalCheck programme. Together, these two strands of investigation provide the independent external expertise required to address the issues raised in relation to CervicalCheck.
The Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck was led by Dr Gabriel Scally. The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry were developed following cross-party engagement and included an examination of the tendering, contracting, operation, conflict of interest arrangements, performance information and performance management, accreditation and quality assurance of contracted cytology laboratory services by CervicalCheck from initiation of the programme. Dr Scally's expert team, which included cytopathology expertise, visited the labs as part of his report. He has confirmed he is satisfied with the quality management processes in the current laboratory sites.
Crucially, he has confirmed that he finds no reason why the existing contracts for laboratory services should not continue until the new HPV regime is introduced. This is very welcome reassurance for women in Ireland. Dr Scally will now be carrying out further work in relation to the laboratories.
Separately, the scope of the Independent Clinical Expert Review, to be led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, includes all cases of cervical cancer in Ireland since CervicalCheck was established, to include the 1,482 cases notified to CervicalCheck since then and a further 1,630 cases registered by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland which had not been notified to CervicalCheck. It will examine the slides of those women within this cohort who were screened by the programme, approximately 1,856 women from within the total. All preceding slides taken within the CervicalCheck programme will be reviewed and will be read according to the protocol for the review, which is published on the website of my Department. This process will offer independent clinical assurance to women about their screening history.
388. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the recent reports of a drug resistant superbug being a factor in seven deaths in University Hospital Limerick; his views on the matter; the steps being taken to deal with the resistant infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41953/18]
View answerI welcome the publication on Tuesday 9 October last of this valuable Report.
My Department and I have been kept informed of the external review commissioned last year by University of Limerick Hospitals Group, regarding patients with CPE and concerns regarding whether CPE was a factor in the deaths of a number of these patients. An internal review was also conducted. The final Report combines the two review findings.
I am aware that this final Report was produced on foot of concerns raised under Protected Disclosures procedures and also concern by the University of Limerick Hospitals Group about the increase in detection of the 'superbug' CPE in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) in recent years.
I note that the Report found that out of a final group of 73 patients in which CPE was detected from February 2009 to May 2017, 8 patient deaths were identified in whom CPE was considered to be a contributory factor. The conclusion of the external review, however, which ULHG has accepted, was that no deaths were a direct result of CPE acquisition. All 8 patients had serious underlying diseases and co-morbidity factors
In addition, of the remaining 65 deceased patients, the external reviewer concluded that CPE was found not to have been an associative factor in their deaths.
This is an important finding and will inform the work already ongoing in my Department and the HSE to tackle healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (HCAI/AMR).
My Department has provided funding to expand the HSE HCAI/AMR National Team and Implementation Leads to progress work on HCAIs/AMR across the HSE, including Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations. My Department has also provided funding for additional capacity in Infection Prevention and Control and laboratory services. This includes posts for University Hospital Limerick.
I have been assured that ULHG have measures in place to appropriately support and manage patient care needs in line with national and international best practice.
Internationally, AMR is recognised as a world wide challenge. The World Health Organisation and European Union are supporting countries in taking a 'One Health' or cross sectoral approach to addressing AMR, including the spread of organisms such as CPE.
Last October, I launched Ireland's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020, known as iNAP, with Minister Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The HSE continues to address the management and prevention of healthcare associated infections, including these so-called superbugs, and Ireland is fully engaged in proactively addressing this world-wide challenge.
389. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to make naloxone available as an over the counter medicine to those properly trained in its administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41955/18]
View answerNaloxone is a prescription-only medicine that ordinarily can only be supplied on foot of a prescription. However, the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended (S.I. No. 540 of 2003) allow certain prescription-only medicines, including naloxone for known or suspected narcotic overdose, to be administered by trained members of the public in emergency situations. Listed organisations are enabled to access an emergency medicine without the need for a prescription. Members of that organisation must first complete an approved course of training regarding the administration of such medicines and the management of any adverse reaction. The Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) has established a framework for the education and training of persons to safely and competently administer these medicines to those urgently requiring care.
In order for an organisation to avail of an emergency medicine without the need for a prescription, they must also register with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). The HPRA’s Emergency Medicines Portal is an online system that allows organisations to notify the HPRA of their intention to purchase a specified medicine from a pharmacy or other supplier for supply and administration in an emergency situation.
The Emergency Medicines Portal and the publicly available register of listed organisations is accessible on the HPRA website and can be found at: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/emergency-medicines .
It is important to note that these regulations do not in any way change the existing ‘good Samaritan’ provisions, which allow any member of the public to assist a person in distress to administer a medicine which has been prescribed to that person.
390. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the drug osimertinib will be made available to persons with EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer; the cost-benefit analysis undertaken regarding the provision of the drug; and the reason it is not available here in view of the fact that it is widely available across the EU. [41956/18]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the pricing and reimbursement of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
391. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health his plans for a catch-up programme of meningitis B vaccinations for children who had not received it prior to the roll-out of the current vaccination scheme; the estimated cost of such a catch-up programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41966/18]
View answerTwo changes were made to the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule on 1 December 2016 with the introduction of Meningococcal B (Men B) and Rotavirus for all babies born on or after 1 October 2016. This means that all children born on or after 1st October 2016 automatically receive the vaccine. All vaccines administered through the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule are provided free of charge.
There are no plans to introduce a catch-up programme for older children. No recommendation has been made concerning extension of the programme to other age groups.
The Men B immunisation programme makes Ireland the second country in Europe to make the vaccine available free of charge as part of its national immunisation programme.
392. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to a hospital (details supplied) from 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41969/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
393. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if women are routinely queried regarding domestic violence during pregnancy; the stage inquiries are made; if the person is alone when inquiries are made; and if consideration has been given to introducing asking twice during pregnancy. [41970/18]
View answerThe National Maternity Strategy - Creating a Better Future Together 2016-2026 - recommends that women are asked about domestic violence at antenatal and postnatal visits, when appropriate. This will be supported by appropriate training for frontline staff to ensure that all such enquiries and disclosures are handled correctly.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
394. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there are information materials regarding domestic abuse services in hospital toilets; and his plans to roll out such an information campaign. [41971/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
395. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the protocol for recording patterns of attendance at emergency departments; and if those attending emergency departments are signposted to domestic abuse support services. [41972/18]
View answerAs the issues raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
396. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a surgeon will be appointed to cater for those in need of excessive skin removal surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; the measures being put in place for those in need of surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41974/18]
View answerAs this is a staffing matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
397. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for a multimillion euro development proposed for the Sacred Heart Hospital, County Roscommon; the stage the proposed development is now at; when the finalisation of financing will be achieved; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41981/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
398. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned €16 million new build at St. Patrick’s Community Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; the stage the proposed development is now at; when the finalisation of financing will be achieved; the timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41982/18]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
