Tuesday, 24 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 916-932

Departmental Reports

Questions (916)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

916. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will publish a report (details supplied). [38669/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Officials in my Department are examining this matter. A response will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Treatment Benefit Scheme

Questions (917)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

917. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application under the optical benefit refund scheme by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38670/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services Provision

Questions (918)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

918. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be seen by a public ophthalmologist; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38671/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Health Services

Questions (919)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

919. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list for the public ophthalmologist in Dublin 12; the reason for the long waiting list; the steps he is taking to address the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38672/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Disability Services Provision

Questions (920)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

920. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 12 will be seen by the school age team; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38673/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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 question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Treatment Benefit Scheme

Questions (921)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

921. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the policy position on the optical benefit refund scheme; the reason the policy was amended given the hardship the change has created for families; and if he will consider reversing the policy. [38674/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE provides eye care services to children and medical card holders in accordance with the Health Act 1970. As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (922)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

922. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the length of the backlog in processing pensions in each Health Service Executive region for retired HSE employees; the actions he is taking to speed up the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38676/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (923)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

923. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38677/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It 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.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

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.

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.

Maternity Services

Questions (924)

Neale Richmond

Question:

924. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the reason for the banning of water births by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38730/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Services

Questions (925)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

925. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the effect the 2 m social distancing requirement will have on the availability of acute hospital beds by acute hospital; the expected knock-on effect this will have on service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38731/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (926)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

926. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the percentage of people who do not attend following appointments at testing centres for Covid-19 by testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38732/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (927)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

927. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position regarding mandatory Covid-19 tests for new staff in all units serving elderly and vulnerable adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38733/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Mental Health Services

Questions (928)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

928. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the current provision of mental health services in County Louth; the way in which services have been affected by Covid-19; the impact this has had on provision of services in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38738/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Abortion Services Provision

Questions (929)

Carol Nolan

Question:

929. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has been notified by the HSE of any incidence of misdiagnosis involving prenatal screening and diagnostic tests for foetal abnormalities prior to a termination of pregnancy being administered during the period of 1 January 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38741/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will know, the Department of Health does not comment on individual cases. However, as the Deputy will be aware from media reports, one case has been drawn to my attention.

Officials from the Department of Health have engaged directly with the couple concerned in relation to their experiences. I have sought to meet with the couple and will do so very shortly.

My overriding concern is for the family involved and I must stress the need to respect their privacy.

Medical Cards

Questions (930)

Michael Ring

Question:

930. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card application by a person (details supplied) is not being processed in view of the fact that the applicant has provided all of the information that can be provided in the person's particular circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38744/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (931)

Michael Collins

Question:

931. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters raised by persons (details supplied) in Ballinacarriga, County Cork, regarding a swab centre will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38745/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Suicide Incidence

Questions (932)

Mark Ward

Question:

932. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the deaths by suicide in 2020, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38754/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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