Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Home Care Packages

Questions (590)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

590. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for homecare packages by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7846/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Jim Daly)

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (591)

Steven Matthews

Question:

591. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has be drawn to cases of businesses that operate an appointment only, physical training facility (details supplied); and if his attention has been further drawn to the contention of the owners of the centres that phase 3 would be more appropriate in view of the fact they are more akin to behind closed door sports as set out in the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business due to their capacity to operate social distancing and regular cleaning of facilities by their staff. [7857/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business, published on 1 May 2020, sets out an indicative path to the easing of COVID 19 restrictions and other actions in order to facilitate the reopening Ireland’s society and economy in a phased manner. The Roadmap specifies that decisions in relation to which actions will be taken and which public health measures might be lifted will be made in accordance with the Framework for Future Decision-Making which is as follows:

1. Before each Government consideration of the easing of restrictions, the Department of Health will provide a report to the Government regarding the following on/off trigger criteria:

a. The latest data regarding the progression of the disease,

b. The capacity and resilience of the health service in terms of hospital and ICU occupancy,

c. The capacity of the programme of sampling, testing and contact tracing,

d. The ability to shield and care for at risk groups,

e. An assessment of the risk of secondary morbidity and mortality as a consequence of the restrictions.

2. It will also provide risk-based public health advice on what measures could be modified in the next period.

3. The Government would then consider what restrictions could be lifted, having regard to the advice of the Department of Health as well as other social and economic considerations, e.g. the potential for increased employment, relative benefits for citizens and businesses, improving national morale and wellbeing etc.

4. It is acknowledged that there is also an ongoing possibility that restrictions could be re-imposed and this process will be carried out on an ongoing basis once every 3 weeks.

As is clear from the framework, it is the Government rather than I or my Department that will decide on any modifications to the current public health measures in place and those decisions will be informed by the status of the on/off trigger criteria and the public health advice received at the time that a decision is being made.

Guidance in relation to business activities in specific sectors of the economy should in the first instance be sought from the Government Department with responsibility for that sector.

Health Services Provision

Questions (592)

Michael McGrath

Question:

592. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the model of care report on lymphoedema and lipoedema treatment here; the details of the communications plan by the HSE for those affected by lymphoedema that cannot access treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7862/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE advise that the implementation of the model of care for lymphoedema and lipoedema in the proof of concept sites is on hold due to redeployment of staff arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The early detection proof of concept project at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital is tentatively planned to restart in June, depending on staff availability.

Guidelines for reopening lymphoedema services are being developed as part of the HSE recovery plan. This takes into consideration the use of telehealth when appropriate, while prioritising face to face contact for patients where necessary. The guidelines also support the restart of services at the proof of concept sites and the implementation of the wider roll-out of the model of care to ensure patient safety and reduced demand on acute services.

The HSE developed two patient information documents, in conjunction with Lymphoedema Ireland, to provide advice to those living with lymphoedema or lipoedema. These documents also included links to videos in relation to exercise programmes, simple lymphatic drainage and skin care.

The patient information documents were distributed to all HSE lymphoedema services and by members of Lymphoedema Ireland. The information is also available on the websites of the HSE and Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists.

Home Care Packages

Questions (593)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

593. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if funding will be put in place to clear homecare waiting lists in order to keep persons at home during Covid-19; and the number of persons waiting for homecare packages. [7900/20]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Jim Daly)

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (594)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

594. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason the Civil Defence which was transporting swabs from designated areas to laboratories (details supplied) and to laboratories in University College Dublin on a voluntary basis has been replaced with a new company which will transport the swabs at a cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7901/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has responsibility, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (595)

Denis Naughten

Question:

595. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the policy basis for moving patients without a Covid-19 status or with a Covid-19 positive status from acute hospitals to nursing homes rather than designated stepdown facilities while this is acknowledged within Covid protocols as a necessary risk; if the risk assessment used to justify this action will be published; the number of Covid-19 positive cases in nursing homes in cases in which the resident was transferred directly from an acute hospital setting; if the policy of transferring Covid-19 positive or Covid-19 status unknown patients to nursing homes will be reviewed in view of the scale of infection in nursing homes and in further view of the fact that this cohort of the population face the greatest risk of death from Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7908/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE through the Health Protective Surveillance Centre has developed an extensive body of guidance and support tools to assist in the management of COVID-19 cases, including in relation to decisions on transfer of patients/residents between care facilities where appropriate.

The current relevant guidelines are the: “Interim Public Health and Infection Prevention Control Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities and Similar Units”, version 4.1, 04/05/2020.

The decision to discharge patients from hospital to nursing home settings is subject to clinical assessment. Discharges to nursing homes and other settings are a regular, daily feature of a functioning health system. The period from early March to mid-April saw an increase in the number of such discharged patients as the health system prepared itself for the expected ‘surge’ in COVID-19 cases. From an older person’s perspective, being admitted for longer than necessary increases the risk of a patient contracting a healthcare associated infection and/or deconditioning. The vast majority of these discharges took place from the 10th March onwards, when clear public health guidance was in place.

On the 10th March 2020, the HSE issued Interim Guidance on Transfer between Care Facilities, which included preliminary guidance on the transfer of hospitalised patients from an acute hospital to a residential care facility in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance based on the best available information at the time set out the various procedures to be followed, including:

- Patients with COVID-19 should not be transferred to a LTRC until they had two consecutive tests indicating virus not detected.

- Patients who were symptomatic and were contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case should only transfer if the persons had a test indicating virus not detected and it was possible for that person to be isolated for the relevant incubation period;

- Patients who were asymptomatic and were contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case should only transfer if it was possible for that person to be isolated for the relevant incubation period;

- Transfers from hospitals with no evidence of spread of COVID-19 should proceed as normal, except patients with respiratory tract infection meeting the then criteria for COVID-19 testing – in those cases testing should be carried out and the result should be virus not-detected before transfer.

With regard to the query raised in respect of numbers of positive cases, this data is not readily available to my Department but I will follow up with the HSE to seek further information.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (596)

Denis Naughten

Question:

596. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of meat plant staff that were tested as part of a screening programme that have to be retested due to the lack of a result from the laboratory; the average time delay between the initial test and the retest; the corresponding figures for nursing home staff and residents respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7909/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Questions (602)

Réada Cronin

Question:

602. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if a means will be found for the PHECC to accommodate student EMTs to qualify during this period (details supplied) [7977/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body with responsibility for standards of education in pre-hospital emergency care. Its functions include the conduct of examinations leading to the award of N.Q.E.M.T. Accordingly, the matter raised by the Deputy has been referred to PHECC for a direct response.

Statutory Instruments

Questions (603)

Réada Cronin

Question:

603. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if Statutory Instrument No. 541/2019 signed by him on 5 November 2019, has come into effect and is affecting persons whose fertility treatments were cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19. [7978/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Children & Families Relationship Act 2015 was enacted in April 2015 and represents a significant milestone for families in Ireland as it aligns our family law with the realities of modern family life in Ireland. The rights, welfare and best interests of children is fundamental to the legislation.

The recent commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationship Act 2015 (as amended) on 4 May will, for the first time, provide a legal framework for registering the births of children who are born as a result of assisted human reproduction involving donated eggs or sperm or embryos. The legislation also requires donor details to be stored through the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register. This will enable children to access information on their donor should they so wish thus enabling them to exercise their rights to know their genetic identity.

Commencement of Parts 2&3 also entitles parents of children born in the State as a result of a donor assisted reproduction procedure performed before the 4th of May to apply to the courts for legal recognition of their parental status, subject to certain conditions.

Following commencement, the legislation prohibits the use of non-anonymous gametes in most circumstances, embedding the rights of children to know their genetic heritage in future years.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties the global Covid pandemic has presented for donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR). It has led to the closure of fertility clinics for several weeks and some individuals and couples have found themselves in a position where they can no longer use gametes they had previously purchased.

However, it is now over 5 years since the Children and Family Relationships Act was enacted and while I had intended to commence Parts 2 & 3 last summer I allowed a longer lead time to for people to make arrangements to use gametes that have already been purchased, where appropriate, and to allow a sufficient pool of donors with the appropriate consent to be acquired in advance of commencement of Parts 2&3.

Further delay to the commencement of Parts 2&3 would have presented an unfair penalty to those parents who have already waited a substantial period of time to have their rights to parentage vindicated in law and most importantly for the State to vindicate the rights of donor conceived persons to information about their genetic identity.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (604)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

604. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason different rates of funding are being paid in respect of wigs and hairpieces to medical card holders residing in different areas in the country; if a breakdown of funding based on each local authority area will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7980/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.