Written Answers Nos. 762-781
762. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the way in which the capacity of dentists on the dental treatment service scheme is monitored; the procedure in place if there is a capacity issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25077/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
763. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a new elective hospital for Cork in view of submissions made by the HSE with regards to potential locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25083/20]
View answerAs you will recall, 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 has completed a Catchment Area Analysis within Dublin, Cork and Galway, within a national capacity context, but also within the catchments defined by the proposed Regional Health Areas, aimed at selected scopes of service.
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 will consider a long list of options, and the funding model for developing these facilities. Using a common appraisal methodology, this long list will be reduced to a shorter list of preferred options. As per the Public Spending Code guidelines, these options will then be required to undergo full detailed planning, costing and appraisal before being issued in a preliminary business case (PBC) for consideration by Government.
764. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the development of a new elective hospital in Cork by way of the HSE providing a suitable site and that the building will be by way of design, build and finance by the construction company with buy back by the HSE over a 25 year time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25084/20]
View answerAs you will recall, 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 has completed a Catchment Area Analysis within Dublin, Cork and Galway, within a national capacity context, but also within the catchments defined by the proposed Regional Health Areas, aimed at selected scopes of service.
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 will consider a long list of options, and the funding model for developing these facilities. Using a common appraisal methodology, this long list will be reduced to a shorter list of preferred options. As per the Public Spending Code guidelines, these options will then be required to undergo full detailed planning, costing and appraisal before being issued in a preliminary business case (PBC) for consideration by Government.
765. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the construction of a new elective hospital in Cork by way of a construction company providing a suitable site and design, build and finance the project with buy back by the HSE over a 25 year time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25086/20]
View answerAs you will recall, 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 has completed a Catchment Area Analysis within Dublin, Cork and Galway, within a national capacity context, but also within the catchments defined by the proposed Regional Health Areas, aimed at selected scopes of service.
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 will consider a long list of options, and the funding model for developing these facilities. Using a common appraisal methodology, this long list will be reduced to a shorter list of preferred options. As per the Public Spending Code guidelines, these options will then be required to undergo full detailed planning, costing and appraisal before being issued in a preliminary business case (PBC) for consideration by Government.
766. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the reason it is necessary for the holders of medical cards with lifelong medical conditions such as Down syndrome to have to fill out forms regularly to renew their medical cards; if his attention has been drawn to the distress caused to the families of these medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
767. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he will consult with NPHET with a view to bringing forward a proposal to the effect that a privately run maths grind class for 30 students can take place in a large community centre hall in which social distancing and other public health guidelines can be implemented including the wearing of face coverings and time limits on such classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25097/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware on Tuesday 15 September, 2020 the Government published it's medium term plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 which frames 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. The plan is framed to account for periods which there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission, through to situations where there is a high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. It recognises the need for society and business to be allowed to continue as normally as possible and is designed so that either national or county level restrictions can be applied.
Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services. Any measure included at any level in this plan is underpinned by expert advice and recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
All counties except Dublin are currently at Level 2 of the Plan for living with COVID-19. Dublin is currently at Level 3 of the Plan for living with Covid-19 . The public health measures at both levels will remain in operation until 9 October 2020, at which point the situation will be reviewed by the government, based on the status of the virus and the pertinent public health advice.
The Deputy may wish to note that under Level 3 of the Plan, for Dublin city and county, no organised indoor gatherings are allowed. Further information on this measure is available at the following link- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/cf1f3-special-measures-in-place-for-dublin/#organised-indoor-gatherings
768. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if regulations or legal requirements are in place to prevent the establishment of rehabilitation centres close to schools, residential areas and public houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25112/20]
View answer769. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if a service level agreement is in place between the HSE and a proposed development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25113/20]
View answer770. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the service level agreement between the HSE and a planned rehabilitation centre (details supplied) if such an agreement is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25114/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions No. 768 to 7070, inclusive, together.
The granting of planning permission for the location of a rehabilitation centre is a matter for the local authority.
As the other issues raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
771. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 710 of 15 September 2020, if the trials (details supplied) can go ahead; and if there are certain regulations the organisation should adhere to with the exception of the 100 person limit and social distancing in view of the fact each trail will be held in a large outdoor area [25134/20]
View answerYou will be aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, an evolving situation. COVID-19 is still having a major impact both here in Ireland and elsewhere.
On Tuesday 15 September the Government published ‘Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19’. This new Plan outlines our medium-term strategy for COVID-19 and sets out a Framework of 5 Levels which outline the broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. It will be possible for different regions and counties to be at different levels, depending on the incidence of the virus in each particular region or county. The Plan is designed to help everyone – individuals, organisations and sectors – to better understand, anticipate and prepare for the measures that might be introduced to contain transmission of the virus. The intention is that Departments and sectors will provide guidance for specific sectors and activities in line with the 5 level framework.
Unfortunately, I am not in a position to comment on whether the Sheep Dog Trails can proceed later this year as this will depend on the prevalence of disease at the time and the Level of restrictions applying. The numbers of people that can attend outdoor events under each level of the Framework is detailed in the Plan, which is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/
Organisers and participants will need to have regard to regulations in operation at the time of the various National Sheep Dog Trials events. In addition to regulations in place at any given time, all event organisers and participants should have regard to both general guidance and relevant sectoral guidance in place.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and it provides advice to Government in line with the current epidemiological position. The latest public health advice on these matters is available at the links below and is updated on a regular basis:
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
https://www.gov.ie/en/
772. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to compensate persons that developed narcolepsy as a result of the swine flu vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25154/20]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The management of cases taken by persons who allege they developed Narcolepsy and/or Cataplexy as a result of receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, is delegated to SCA and, as such, the Government has no role in determining how these cases are conducted. I understand that it is the Agency’s preference to resolve claims using mediation where possible.
Separately, an Expert Group was established by the Government in June 2018, chaired by Mr Justice Charles Meenan, to examine the law in relation to personal injuries arising in the healthcare context and to explore alternative mechanisms by which claims could be managed more effectively, particularly from the perspective of the person on whose behalf a claim has been made. A report from this Expert Group was received by the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice earlier this year, and I am considering how best to act on this report - I intend to bring forward a number of reforms that are recommended.
773. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that nurses that answered the HSE Be On Call campaign and were placed in the health service are working on expired contracts; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that there are no standard entitlements to sick pay for such nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25158/20]
View answerAs this is a service related matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
774. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the relevant authorities, for example, An Garda Síochána or the Health and Safety Authority, responsible for enforcing the provisions of the S.I. No. 296/2020 - Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25162/20]
View answerThe Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) Regulations 2020 [SI No 296 of 2020] provide that a person shall not, without reasonable excuse, enter or remain in a premises where goods are sold directly to the public or a premises set out in the regulations, without wearing a face covering.
The Regulations provide that a responsible person shall take reasonable steps to engage with persons entering or in the relevant premises to inform them of the requirement not to enter or remain in a premises without wearing a face covering and to promote compliance with these requirements. For the purposes of the Regulations, a responsible person is specified as:
(a) the occupier of the relevant premises,
(b) the manager of the relevant premises, and
(c) any other person for the time being in charge of the relevant premises.
Enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
775. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health when the resumption of normal diabetes reviews in hospitals and primary care settings will take place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25181/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
777. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when day centres that cater for disabled and mental health adults will reopen (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25184/20]
View answerAs this is as service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
778. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a young child who has been waiting over a year for a crucial operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25201/20]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. 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 the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
The resumption of services from June onwards has allowed for increased activity, with the HSE utilising innovative methods including telemedicine to facilitate patient appointments. Patient safety remains at the forefront of service resumption. To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols which has resulted in reduced capacity and activity
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund has also recommenced arranging treatment in both private and public hospitals for clinically suitable patients who have been waiting for long periods on public hospital waiting lists.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
779. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the resources planned as part of the Living with Covid Plan and in the context of Budget 2021 to ensure increases in staffing in mental health services, the development of out of hours crisis services and investment in primary care mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25214/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
780. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the outcomes or recommendations of the women’s health taskforce for endometriosis patients; the measures in place to deal with long waiting lists and the lack of consultants for these patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25215/20]
View answerIn relation to women’s health and the issue of endometriosis, I am glad to highlight the commitment to promoting women's health which is highlighted within the Programme for Government. This includes a specific commitment to supporting "the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce, including the development of a Women’s Health Action Plan, to tackle a wide range of issues impacting women’s health outcomes in Ireland". The Women’s Health Taskforce was established in September 2019 with the aim of improving women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare. A number of initial priority areas for action have been determined by the Taskforce, with the issue of endometriosis recognised and included as part of a priority workstream on improving gynaecological health for women and girls. These workstreams are currently developing proposals to improve women and girls' health and further updates will be made available on the official Women’s Health Taskforce webpage: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/-womens-health/
Work related to this area is ongoing within HSE. The HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme has advised that the best way to help the majority of patients with endometriosis is to improve access to gynaecology services. As such, the Programme has developed a plan to increase capacity and reduce waiting times for women awaiting general gynaecology, which includes patients with endometriosis. The plan aims to re-orient general gynaecology services to an ambulatory, or see and treat, model, rather than the traditional outpatient referral model. An ambulatory care model is a more efficient and effective use of resources. It is also better for the patient as it reduces the requirement for multiple outpatient appointments. The roll out of Phase One of the new Model of Care has commenced, with the first three clinics to be established under the governance of the Rotunda Hospital, Cork University Maternity Hospital, and University Hospital Galway, with a more limited clinic in Waterford. Subject to funding availability, it is envisaged that up to 13 ambulatory gynaecology clinics will be established on a phased basis over the coming 3 to 4 years.
781. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when developmental checks for children previously administered by the HSE will recommence; the estimated number of checks missed; the number of checks and referrals to early intervention teams, speech and language therapists and other health professionals from March to September this year; the number of checks and referrals to early intervention teams, speech and language therapists, and other health professionals in the same period for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25219/20]
View answerThe 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.
