Tuesday, 24 Nov 2020

Suicide Incidence

Questions (933)

Mark Ward

Question:

933. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average rate of suicide per 100,000 population by county of residence of the deceased in 2020. [38755/20]

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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.

Eating Disorders

Questions (934)

Mark Ward

Question:

934. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 18 years of age who have presented with eating disorders by age and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38756/20]

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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.

Eating Disorders

Questions (935)

Mark Ward

Question:

935. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the public treatment services available to persons under 18 years of age presenting with an eating disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38757/20]

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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.

Eating Disorders

Questions (936)

Mark Ward

Question:

936. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of adults who have presented with eating disorders by age and gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38758/20]

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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.

Eating Disorders

Questions (937)

Mark Ward

Question:

937. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the public treatment services available to adults presenting with an eating disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/20]

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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 (938)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

938. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists that have been reassigned to the Covid-19 testing and tracing response by CHO in tabular form; the impact this has had in respect of waiting lists; the timeline his Department is working towards to return all redeployed HSE staff to their original posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38776/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (939, 942, 943)

Joe O'Brien

Question:

939. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to resourcing of and responses to treatment for long Covid-19 or patients suffering from significant sequelae subsequent to an initial recovery from Covid-19 in other jurisdictions; his plans in regard to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38782/20]

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Gino Kenny

Question:

942. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his Department acknowledges that there is a significant cohort who have not recovered following Covid-19 infection and who are experiencing long Covid; if multidisciplinary post Covid-19 countrywide clinics will be established which will include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and counsellors; if it will be ensured that best practice, guidelines, guidance and training are provided to general practitioners and consultants in relation to long Covid ensuring consistency and compassionate treatment of patients with the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38795/20]

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Gino Kenny

Question:

943. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that information, guidance and guidelines will be made available to employers in relation to the management of workers with long Covid; if clarity will be provided with regard to the medical and financial entitlements of those with long Covid; if accurate and up-to-date information will be provided on the HSE website in regard to Covid-19 contraction and recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38796/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 939, 942 and 943 together.

It is recognised that in some people who have been infected with Covid-19 continuing symptoms or side effects can occur during recovery. These can include physical, mental or emotional difficulties.

A person recovering from COVID-19 infection should speak to their general practitioner or their hospital team about accessing relevant care pathways to ensure that they are enabled to received support and advice for any long-term symptoms or health problems they may be experiencing.

The general practitioner or the hospital team will understand the clinical history and the personal circumstances relating to an individual and can provide the necessary advice and guidance that suit the particular needs of the individual’s circumstances.

You may wish to note that the HSE has provided information for those recovering after Covid-19, which is available at the following link:www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/recovering-after-coronavirus.html.

Income supports for people affected by COVID-19, is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.

Occupational Therapy

Questions (940)

Joe O'Brien

Question:

940. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign (details supplied) which seeks to highlight ongoing structural delays in the delivery of assessments for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and other supports for children with additional needs; his plans to reduce waiting times in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38783/20]

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Written answers

Minister for 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.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (941)

Alan Kelly

Question:

941. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the locations in which WiFi is available across acute hospital settings in tabular form (details supplied). [38784/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the HSE has operational responsibility for ICT within the public health system, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 942 answered with Question No. 939.

Question No. 943 answered with Question No. 939.

Question No. 944 answered with Question No. 817.

Medical Cards

Questions (945)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

945. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card needed for palliative care for a person (details supplied) [38805/20]

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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.

National Public Health Emergency Team

Questions (946)

Michael Ring

Question:

946. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in putting up the minutes of meetings on the gov.ie website; the reason why previous minutes were removed from the webpage in regard to the National Public Health Emergency Team; when the minutes of all NPHET meetings that took place will be available on the website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38816/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In the interests of complete transparency, minutes and agendas of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) meetings are published as quickly as possible once they have been finalised and adopted by the NPHET members. The formal adoption of minutes and agendas occurs on a rolling basis as part of the NPHET's meetings and they will continue to be published promptly as outlined.

The Deputy may wish to note that minutes and agendas of the NPHET are freely available to view on the Department of Health website from its first meeting on 27th January 2020 up to 29th October 2020 inclusive at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/. It is intended that minutes and agendas up to the 12th of November will be available by the end Friday 27th November.

The Deputy may wish to note that a wide range of other documentation related to the NPHET has also been published to date and this publication process is ongoing. Letters, agendas, and minutes relating to the NPHET's previous subgroups are available on the Department of Health website, including the Acute Hospitals Preparedness subgroup (www.gov.ie/en/collection/32f5f-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-acute-hospital-preparedness/), Behavioural Change subgroup (www.gov.ie/en/collection/3008f6-the-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-be/) and Vulnerable People subgroup (www.gov.ie/en/collection/301f5e-the-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-subgroup-vulnerable-/).

The expert Advisory Group: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/0f6a2-minutes-from-meetings-of-the-covid-19-expert-advisory-group/),

Guidance and Evidence Synthesis Subgroup : (www.gov.ie/en/collection/07d750-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-guidance-and-evidence-synthesis/#agendas-and-minutes-of-meetings)

Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG): (https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/dc5711-irish-epidemiology-modelling-advisory-group-to-nphet-technical-notes/) * note that it is intended to publish further documentation by Friday 27th of November

Medicines and Medical Devices Criticality Assessment Subgroups (https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/08242-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-covid-19-medicines-and-medical-devices-criticality-assessment-group/ )

Pandemic Ethics Advisory Group: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/504017-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-pandemic-ethics-advisory-group-peag/#minutes-from-meetings-in-june)

Health Sector Workforce Subgroup: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/fdb0c7-national-public-health-emergency-team-nphet-covid-19-subgroup-workfo/#minutes-of-meetings)

Diagnostic Testing Approaches Subgroup: (www.gov.ie/en/collection/0a1e9-nphet-diagnostic-testing-approaches-subgroup/)

The rare instances where previous versions of minutes/agendas are removed temporarily from the web-page, this is to correct minor formatting/drafting errors as necessary. In these instances, minutes and agendas are re-uploaded without delay.

Industrial Disputes

Questions (947, 948)

Alan Kelly

Question:

947. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason he is refusing to engage with an association (details supplied) on the issue of the pay claim which it has submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38817/20]

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Alan Kelly

Question:

948. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the testing and tracing system is being jeopardised by refusing to engage with an association (details supplied) on the issue of the pay claim which it has submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38818/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 947 and 948 together.

My Department has met with the HSE and the MLSA on a number of occasions in recent months. As the matters raised could not be resolved, the issues were referred to the WRC with a first meeting held on 17 November 2020.

The Department recognises the valuable role performed by Medical Scientists who are one of the health care professions whose work is critical in nature and at the forefront of Ireland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department is considering the issues raised by the MLSA and is engaging with DPER in this regard.

Question No. 948 answered with Question No. 947.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (949)

Alan Kelly

Question:

949. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the contingency plans in place for the test and trace system here in the event that there is a withdrawal of labour by an association (details supplied) due to its outstanding pay claim and his refusal to engage on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38819/20]

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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.