Thomas Gould
Question:801. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for elective surgery with addresses in north central areas of Cork. [14270/20]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (801, 802, 803, 805)
Thomas Gould
Question:802. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for elective surgery in each hospital in County Cork. [14271/20]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:803. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for elective surgery in Cork University Hospital. [14272/20]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:805. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for elective surgery nationally. [14274/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 801 to 803, inclusive, and 805 together.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has approved a number of recommendations relating to protecting and maximising the delivery of essential time-critical non-Covid-19 care alongside Covid-19 care. On 5 May, NPHET agreed that its recommendation of 27 March, in regard to the pausing of all non-essential health services should be replaced, in relation to acute care, with a recommendation that delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision making. Application of the essential risk mitigating steps set out in the guidance developed under the auspices of the NPHET Expert Advisory group will have operational implications, which will impact on throughput.
Where possible, hospitals are working to find innovative ways to enable service provision, which include virtual clinics for some outpatient department appointments. The HSE website provides details on services currently available and operational in each hospital on its website. This information is reviewed frequently and provides up-to-date announcements on services available at each site (https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hospital-service-disruptions-covid19.html).
To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24 June. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. The HSE is currently developing a Service Continuity Roadmap for the resumption of services across the health system.
As the system continues to deliver Covid-19 and non-Covid 19 care side-by-side over a more prolonged period, my Department and the HSE will continue to work closely together to protect essential non-Covid 19 acute care and progress the provision of more routine non Covid-19 care.
The number of patients nationally waiting for an Inpatient/Daycase procedure as of end of May 2020 is 86,946. The data requested concerning Cork hospital waiting lists is outlined in the attached documents. National waiting list data is available on the NTPF website, and is available by hospital site as well as specialty (https://www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.)
In relation to the requested information concerning the number of persons waiting for elective surgery with addresses in north central areas of Cork, the NTPF have advised my Department that area of residence coding cannot differentiate between North/South Cork. However, they have provided this information by city/county.
Total Waiters for Elective IPDC Surgery with an Area of Residence in County Cork as at 28/5/2020
|
Date |
Area of Residence |
Number Total |
|
28/05/2020 |
Cork (County) |
5234 |
|
28/05/2020 |
Cork (City) |
2450 |
|
Inpatient & Daycase Waiting Lists for Hospitals in County Cork |
|
0-3 Mths |
3-6 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
9-12 Mths |
12-15 Mths |
15-18 Mths |
18-24 Mths |
24-36 Mths |
36-48 Mths |
48+ Mths |
Grand Total |
|
|
Bantry Hospital |
106 |
113 |
43 |
20 |
3 |
285 |
|||||
|
Cork University Hospital |
435 |
448 |
222 |
91 |
50 |
36 |
45 |
43 |
24 |
2 |
1396 |
|
CUMH |
122 |
184 |
120 |
84 |
86 |
62 |
65 |
39 |
16 |
778 |
|
|
Mallow General Hospital |
135 |
56 |
23 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
229 |
|||
|
Mercy University Hospital |
377 |
317 |
138 |
84 |
61 |
36 |
48 |
36 |
13 |
3 |
1113 |
|
SIVUH |
950 |
996 |
409 |
118 |
82 |
43 |
51 |
29 |
1 |
1 |
2680 |
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (804)
Thomas Gould
Question:804. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for elective surgery in the Bon Secours public hospital, Cork. [14273/20]
View answerWritten answers
A major part of the Government's Action Plan in response to Covid-19 was to substantially increase the capacity of public healthcare facilities to cope with the anticipated additional demand. In order to urgently ramp up capacity for acute care facilities, an arrangement was made with the private hospitals to use their facilities as part of the public system on a temporary basis, to provide essential services. A Heads of Terms of Agreement between the HSE and the Private Hospitals was agreed at the end of March 2020 and all 18 of the acute private hospitals signed up to it. Under the arrangement, all patients in the private hospitals were treated as public patients and their treatment was prioritised based on clinical need.
The agreement was reviewed at the end of May and the Government decided that the existing arrangement should not be extended beyond the end of June. It has however mandated the HSE to negotiate a new arrangement with private hospitals which would provide the HSE with full access to private hospital capacity in the event of a surge of Covid-19 and separately with ongoing agreed access, to enable the HSE to meet essential and elective care needs.
The Department of Health does not have a role in the operational functions of private hospitals and as such cannot provide information relating to the waiting list of the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork.
Question No. 805 answered with Question No. 801.
HSE National Service Plan
Questions (806)
Thomas Gould
Question:806. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the proposed bed capacity of the elective hospital in County Cork included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027 has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14275/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Development Plan stated that, “New dedicated ambulatory elective only hospital facilities will be introduced in Dublin, Galway and Cork. These facilities will provide high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and outpatient basis, together with a range of ambulatory diagnostic services. The high volume of demand for such services in these major urban centres is sufficient to justify the construction of dedicated ambulatory centres.”
The Elective Hospitals Oversight Group is currently developing a high-level facilities spatial brief and order of magnitude costs which details the elective clustering of appropriate activities for each of the three facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway. This will also include an output and facility specification, based on efficient and effective service delivery. This is due to be complete in the Autumn of 2020.
This work is still ongoing and no publications have been made at this stage.
Question No. 807 answered with Question No. 799.
HSE National Service Plan
Questions (808)
Thomas Gould
Question:808. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if community groups will be engaged with in consultation prior to a decision on the location of the proposed elective hospital in County Cork included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. [14277/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Development Plan 2018-2027 outlines that new dedicated ambulatory/elective-only hospital facilities will be delivered in Dublin, Cork and Galway to tackle waiting lists for scheduled care procedures.
This work is being directed through Sláintecare by the Elective Hospitals Oversight Group, and draws upon international evidence as well as best practice within an Irish context.
The group has ascertained the likely demand for elective/ambulatory care on a national basis with a focus on Dublin, Cork and Galway. The next phase, which will be completed in the Autumn, will be to develop a high-level facilities spatial brief and order of magnitude costs which details the elective clustering of appropriate activities for each of the three facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway. This will also include an output and facility specification, based on efficient and effective service delivery.
This stage will also involve engagement with stakeholders and service providers.
Emergency Departments
Questions (809)
Thomas Gould
Question:809. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the planned emergency department bed capacity for the new proposed acute hospital in County Cork included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027. [14278/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare services and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (810)
Joe O'Brien
Question:810. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the reason the national emergency co-ordination group was not used during Covid-19; the reason for the preference for the NPHET in view of the fact that when the National Emergency Coordination Group was formed pandemics were included in its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14279/20]
View answerWritten answers
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) structure is a long-standing mechanism utilised over many years to steer health service responses to public health emergencies as required by Ireland’s obligations under the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations.
These Regulations require State parties to establish multidisciplinary/multisectoral teams to respond to events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern. This necessitates flexibility in the composition of these national teams in order that they can appropriately respond to major public health emergencies.
As the Deputy is aware, the NPHET for COVID-19 is accountable to me as Minister for Health and is made up of senior public officials of the Department of Health and a number of relevant State Agencies, in addition to highly qualified subject matter experts from disciplines such as virology, infectious diseases, intensive care etc. who are among the leading practitioners in their fields in this country.
The NPHET can add to its membership on the basis of the additional expertise or support it identifies as being required so as to ensure that it is in the best possible position to provide the advice and recommendations for consideration by the Minister for Health and the Government. This flexibility in approach to selection is necessary for a group such as this in the context of an international public health crisis of the kind we are currently experiencing due to the pandemic, and give effect to Ireland’s obligations to the WHO.
A wide range of documentation related to NPHET, including as regards the governance process under which operates, has been published to date and it is intended to continue this process to ensure that the process by which the NPHET's recommendations have been reached is as transparent as possible.
In addition, the Government established a Cabinet Subcommittee, chaired by the Taoiseach, to assess the social and economic impacts of the potential spread of COVID-19. The work of the Cabinet Subcommittee includes addressing the impacts, mitigation measure and contingencies for cross-sectoral issues which arise in areas beyond the health service, building on the effective public health work undertaken to date. A whole of government approach to the coronavirus response requires cohesive decision-making, a partnership approach, expert public health advice and clarity of communications. The Cabinet Subcommittee is supported by a Senior Officials Group and a dedicated Crisis Communications Group which coordinates a whole-of-Government communications response.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (811, 812)
Catherine Murphy
Question:811. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of investigations being conducted by the HSE regarding Covid-19 related deaths in nursing homes: the locations of the nursing homes that are being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14283/20]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:812. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct an investigation of Covid-19 related deaths at a nursing home (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14284/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 811 and 812 together.
Since 2009 the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is the statutory independent regulator in place for the nursing home sector, whether a HSE managed or a private nursing home. The Authority, established under the Health Act 2007, has significant and wide-ranging powers up to and including withdrawing the registration of a nursing home facility, which means that it can no longer operate as a service provider.
This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising of Registration Regulations, Care and Welfare Regulations and National Quality Standards.
HIQA in discharging its duties determines, through examination of all information available to it, including site inspections, whether a nursing homes meets the regulations in order to achieve and maintain its registration status.
Should a nursing home be deemed to be non-compliant with the Regulations and the National Quality Standards, it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. In addition, the Chief Inspector has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of Registration on nursing homes. Any individual cases of concern should be brought to the attention of HIQA and the relevant HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team.
During the response to COVID-19, Nursing homes continue to be regulated by HIQA, who under the Health Act 2007 have the legal authority to examine the operation of any facility under their remit. Any individual cases of concern should be brought to the attention of HIQA and the relevant HSE Safeguarding and Protection Team
In addition, a series of enhanced measures have been agreed by NPHET for long-term residential care settings and these are currently being implemented by the HSE, HIQA and service providers. They include measure to support facilities which have outbreaks of COVID-19, measures aimed at stopping the transmission of the virus and support the provision of PPE to and screening of staff.
All of these measures and actions are aimed at supporting the protection and provision of safe care of the residents of long-term care facilities
On foot of a National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation, on 23 May a COVID-19 Expert Panel on Nursing Homes was established, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort.
The purpose of the Panel is to examine the national and international responses to the COVID-19 crisis, and to examine the emerging best practice. Its main objective is to provide immediate real-time learnings and recommendations in light of the expected ongoing impact of COVID-19 over the next 12-18 months. COVID-19 is a new disease, which can present atypically in the frail elderly, and new evidence and best practice in its management are constantly emerging. I expect the Expert Panel to submit their final report to me later this month.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (813)
Jackie Cahill
Question:813. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when ShannonDoc services will reopen at St. Mary’s Hospital, Thurles, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14287/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Questions (814)
Thomas Pringle
Question:814. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress within the Saolta Group to progress the development of the acute stroke unit at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14298/20]
View answerWritten answers
Saolta University Health Care Group has advised that staff have been recruited in line with the funding allocation for the development of a Stroke Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital.
While the designation of the Stroke Unit has been impacted by COVID-19 requirements, the Hospital Group confirms that it is intended to implement the Stroke Unit designation in September 2020.
Mental Health Services
Questions (815)
Thomas Pringle
Question:815. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his plans to progress the implementation of eating disorder teams in CHOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14299/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible
Health Services Staff
Questions (816)
Thomas Pringle
Question:816. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants signed up for the Be On Call for Ireland initiative; the number of applicants deployed in CHO1 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14300/20]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
Maternity Services
Questions (817)
Thomas Pringle
Question:817. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who availed of each antenatal and maternity clinic in County Donegal in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/20]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to you directly.
Disability Support Services
Questions (818)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:818. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14307/20]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Questions (819)
Peter Burke
Question:819. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of the licensing of patisiran for the effective treatment of nerve damage in view of the circumstances of a person (details supplied) and in further view of fact the drug is licensed in the UK and Northern Ireland. [14314/20]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness, potential or actual budget impact and efficacy.
I am advised by the HSE that it has received an application for the reimbursement of Patisiran (Onpattro®) for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis) in adult patients with stage 1 or stage 2 polyneuropathy.
In January 2019, a full health technology assessment was commissioned by the HSE. This assessment was completed in February 2020 with the NCPE recommending that patisiran (Onpattro®) is not considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments. The HTA report will be an important input into the decision making processes of the HSE. The HSE is currently reviewing the report received and has recently met with the applicant company to discuss this. Once negotiations between the HSE and the applicant company are complete, this application must then be formally considered by the HSE Drugs Group. The HSE Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The decision making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (820)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:820. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred by the HSE during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/20]
View answerWritten answers
As the costs incurred by the Health Service Executive (HSE) during the Covid-19 pandemic are a matter for the HSE, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.