Written Answers Nos. 1307-1325
1307. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health when PrEP and the necessary follow-up tests will be available free of charge in Cork city and the southern region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22049/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1308. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if HSE nurses that would prefer to return to work on a phased basis after having contracted Covid-19 due to fatigue and other after effects, are required to take hours less than full-time from their annual leave or unpaid leave; if a facility is in place to allow those that have been ill to return on a phased basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22053/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1310. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the amount spent each year throughout the work of the national clinical programme for dual diagnosis in developing the draft model of care [22070/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1311. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if a deadline has been set to appoint a clinical lead for the National Clinical Programme for Dual Diagnosis; and the reason that a replacement has not yet been appointed. [22071/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1312. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a number of appointments at community mental health services in Thurles, County Tipperary being cancelled or deferred on numerous occasions; if this is due to an insufficient number of staff being available to cover for those on leave; if this is due to an insufficient number of mental health staff in the county; his views on the effect the closure of the St. Michael’s unit in Clonmel is having in this regard; his views on the repeated cancellation of appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22074/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1313. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of the full commencement of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; the reason some sections are not enacted as of month end August 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22081/20]
View answerThe Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 reforms and updates family law to address the needs of children living in diverse family types. The Minister for Health has responsibility for Parts 2 and 3 of that Act which commenced on 4th May 2020. Parts 2 & 3 contain provisions relating to the regulation of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures carried out in the State. This includes procedures where the child born as a result of that procedure is born in the State and where the intending mother carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the child.
The provisions in Parts 2 & 3 are interconnected with provisions in other areas of the Act of 2015, particularly Part 9, which includes provisions for the registration and re-registration of the birth of a donor-conceived child. Officials from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the General Register Office have worked together to ensure that the appropriate legislative, regulatory, and operational mechanisms were put in place prior to the commencement of the legislation to allow for birth registrations of donor-conceived children.
1314. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a medical device will be provided to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22085/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1315. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason Limerick city does not have a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist; the length of time the positions have been vacant; the recruitment underway to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22087/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1316. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take in response to the recent report into gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22101/20]
View answerA review of gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) was commissioned in October 2019 by the Chief Clinical Director of Saolta University Health Care Group.
This review was initiated after a series of incidents which related to eight instances of delayed diagnosis in women with endometrial cancer. Its purpose was to assess the quality and safety of the LUH Gynaecology Service, with a focus on the pathway of care for women presenting with post-menopausal bleeding including subsequent diagnostic pathways for potential gynaecological cancers.
I understand that the Gynaecological Service Review for Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) has now been completed and I have been assured by the HSE that the report has been shared with the patients and families who have been affected by the issues examined therein. I appreciate that this is a difficult time for the patients and families, and I ask that we respect their privacy.
The report found that the LUH Gynaecology Service had a number of challenges, including large waiting lists, as well as poor governance and administrative practices which had led to delays and unsatisfactory service to patients. The report makes six recommendations which it asserts, if implemented, would improve the clinical outcomes for patients and reduce delays. These recommendations include increasing capacity and staff capability, reviewing the referral and triage system for gynaecology patients, improving communication processes and improving governance structures.
Separate to the clinical services review, a histological audit was also carried out by the Saolta Hospital Group. The histological audit found that over a ten-year period (2010-2019) there were 38 women (including the 8 women identified in the Clinical Services Review) whose diagnosis of endometrial cancer was delayed (i.e. greater than 100 days).
The HSE has advised that the Implementation Group led by the Clinical Director of the Women & Children’s Management and Clinical Academic Network (MCAN) is currently being activated. The membership of this Group includes members of the senior clinical and management team in Letterkenny and the Saolta Group, a representative from General Practice in Co Donegal and service user representatives. As part of the formation of this Group, a quality improvement action plan has been developed, the aim of which is to increase the gynaecological capacity within LUH in order to ensure that women consistently have timely access to appropriate investigations and treatment as well as improving patient triage, the appointment follow up process and clinical decision making.
In addition, a Special Measures Team (consisting of a senior gynaecologist and senior manager from Saolta) has been on site in LUH since the 5th of July, identifying and driving operational changes.
A national level Oversight Group will provide assurance to the HSE Chief Operations Officer that the recommendations set out in the Clinical Service Review Report are actively implemented and evaluated within an agreed timeframe.
The Patient Advocacy Service is providing a support service to the patients and families affected by the issues raised in the report. The Patient Advocacy Service is an independent, free and confidential service that provides information and support to people who want to make a complaint about an experience they have had in a HSE-funded public acute hospital.
Patient safety remains a priority for me and my department. Officials in my department will continue to engage with the HSE on this important matter.
1317. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when physiotherapy services will be available in Clifden, County Galway; the date for the service to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1318. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when physiotherapy services will be available in Clifden District Hospital, County Galway; the anticipated date for the service to resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22108/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1319. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce medical cards for persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22109/20]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to the increase to the weekly gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over. The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 was enacted on 2nd August 2020. This Act provides, amongst other things, for the necessary legislative amendments to the Health Act 1970 (as amended) to increase the weekly gross medical card income limits for those aged 70 and over to €550 per week for a single person (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 per week for a couple (currently €900 per week). The Government is finalising decisions on the associated funding for this measure and the implementation date for the commencement of this provision.
1320. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if a medical card application by a person (details supplied) will be examined. [22114/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1321. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting time for orthodontic services in HSE west is 3.5 to four years; his views on whether this is excessive and unacceptable; the steps he will take to alleviate the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22118/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1322. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason the travel green list was not updated on 25 August 2020 in line with policy to include countries with the same or lower disease epidemiology to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22122/20]
View answerThe Government decided on 18 August that there would be no change to the current travel advisory pending a review of the international situation. The public health advice remains that the safest thing to do is to avoid non-essential travel at the current time.
Anyone arriving to Ireland from locations on the “green list” is not be expected to restrict their movements. Passengers arriving from any other location are asked to restrict their movements for 14 days. Passengers arriving to Ireland are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form.
1323. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the status of the human tissue (transplantation, post-mortem, anatomical examination and public display) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22124/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to "Enact the Human Tissue Bill, providing the legal basis for an opt-out system of organ donation and deliver a public information campaign."
Work is progressing on the drafting of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Council.
Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme was undertaken by the Joint Committee on Health on 16 October 2019 and the Committee's report is awaited.
It is envisaged that the drafting process will be complete, and Government approval secured to publish the Bill, by the end of Quarter 4 2020. It is hoped that the Bill will then be progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
1324. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on kidney dialysis in each hospital on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22126/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1325. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if the way in which restrictions on indoor gatherings are affecting a group (details supplied) and similar peer to peer rehabilitation groups will be examined; and if he will raise the matter with NPHET. [22130/20]
View answerOfficials in the Department of Health have been working with Drug and Alcohol Task Forces and the HSE Social Inclusion Services to ensure that services and supports continue to be provided for those with problem drug and alcohol use, in line with public health advice. Details of services operating during the coronavirus outbreak can be found at 'drugs.ie'.
AA, NA and Smart Recovery have responded to the crisis by providing online support and the HSE Drug and Alcohol Helpline is available from Mon-Fri. 9.30-5.30pm 1800 459 459. Information about the effects of alcohol on your health and tips to cut down can be accessed on the HSE website www.askaboutalcohol.ie .
The recently introduced regulations [(S.I. 326 of 2020) Health Act 1947 (Section 31a – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 4) Regulations 2020] state that events being organised indoors may have no more than 6 attendees. These regulations apply to social, recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment and community events.
Essential support groups, such as drug/alcohol support groups are not covered by the regulations.
The numbers attending indoor events should be kept to an absolute minimum. While capacity will depend on the venue and the ability to physically distance and to ensure other protective measures are in place, an upper limit of 50 has been recommended for indoor gatherings that are not covered by the regulations.
I welcome the clarification that addiction support groups are not covered by the regulations governing indoor events. I would advise that support groups proceed with a degree of extra caution, as individuals with addiction problems are more vulnerable to the risk of Covid-19, and that strict protective measures are in place.
