Thursday, 26 Nov 2020

Hospital Data

Questions (366, 367, 368, 369, 370)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

366. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses that applied for the diabetic nurse vacancy in Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar when advertised earlier in 2020. [39301/20]

View answer

Sorca Clarke

Question:

367. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there are nursing staff employed in Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar who can work with children with a diagnosis of diabetes; and if any of those staff members applied for the recently advertised vacancy. [39302/20]

View answer

Sorca Clarke

Question:

368. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients under 18 years of age being treated at the diabetic clinic in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. [39303/20]

View answer

Sorca Clarke

Question:

369. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients over 18 years of age being treated at the diabetic clinic in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. [39304/20]

View answer

Sorca Clarke

Question:

370. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed in the paediatric diabetes clinic in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. [39305/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 to 370, inclusive, together.

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

School Staff

Questions (371, 394)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

371. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the HSE evidence on which an organisation is basing its decision to deny health and safety leave to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39306/20]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

394. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the advice the HSE is providing in relation to women who are 28 weeks or more pregnant and are working in schools as in the case of a teacher (details supplied) but who are being denied health and safety leave on grounds of the advice that an organisation is receiving from the HSE; if the HSE will amend its advice to the organisation and in general regarding women who are 28 weeks or more pregnant in accordance with the advice of the professional colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39429/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 394 together.

Given the role of the HSE’s National Women and Infants Health Programme in the dissemination of pregnancy related clinical guidelines, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (372)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

372. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is awaiting for an assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39308/20]

View answer

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

Patient Transfers

Questions (373)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

373. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be transferred to Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39320/20]

View answer

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 Data

Questions (374)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

374. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of high-dependency units operating in the State based on population; and the location of each. [39323/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

Critical care is defined by the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Ireland (JFICMI) as "a service that provides curative and life support treatment for critically ill patients". Critical care units may have a combination of High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, with clinical teams resourced and skilled to provide these levels of care.

Care provided in a HDU, as described in the JFICMI National Standards for Adult Critical Care Services, 2019, involves the "active management by critical care team to treat and support patients with primarily single organ failure". An ICU provides care for patients who require support for two or more organ failures, or who require invasive mechanical ventilation.

Currently, the ratio of ICU to HDU beds in Ireland is 3:1 and is reflective of demand. At the start of the year, permanent adult critical care capacity in our public hospitals stood at 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. This included 204 Level 3 ICU beds and 51 Level 2 HDU beds. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy with a current breakdown of HDU beds in our public hospital system.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (375)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

375. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the waiting times, age group and geographic location for those awaiting orthopaedic surgery in tabular form. [39334/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

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 routine 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 urgent time-critical 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 as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

In addition the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include, increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.

The data requested by the Deputy is provided in the attached table, which shows the number of patients on the Inpatient and Day case waiting list for Orthopaedic procedures at the end of October 2020, by county of residence, and age group in time bands of 18 years.

Inpatient / Day Case Waiting List for Orthopaedics by County of Residence, Age Group and Time Band as at 29th October 2020

County of Residence	Age Group	0-3 mths	3-6 mths	6-9 mths	9-12mths	12-15mths	15-18 mths	18+ mths	Grand Total
	< 18 years	8							8
	18-36 years
	36-54 years	11		6			6		23
	54-72 years	19	5	9
	72+ years	10
Carlow	Total	48	5	15				6	74
	< 18 years			7		5			12
	18-36 years
	36-54 years	7							7
	54-72 years	15		6					21
	72+ years	8		8					16
Cavan	Total	30		21		5			56
	< 18 years	8		5	6			7	26
	18-36 years	5							5
	36-54 years	13		9	12				34
	54-72 years	31	6	21	12	7			77
	72+ years	14		8	5				27
Clare	Total	71	6	43	35	7		7	169
	< 18 years	15	5	7	11	9			47
	18-36 years	12		9					28
	36-54 years	30	9	8	11	7			65
	54-72 years	59	5	10	13	10	5	6	108
	72+ years	28			8				36
Cork	Total	144	19	34	43	26	5	13	284
	< 18 years	14	6	8	10		5	9	52
	18-36 years	13	6	6	9			6	40
	36-54 years	55	30	28	41	20	7	12	193
	54-72 years	105	51	42	59	33	16	22	328
	72+ years	87	47	39	46	31	17	20	287
Donegal	Total	274	140	123	165	84	45	69	900
	< 18 years	124	31	35	36	12	6	50	294
	18-36 years	65	13		14		5	28	125
	36-54 years	196	66	44	52	23	18	64	463
	54-72 years	406	142	112	73	38	10	79	860
	72+ years	203	63	49	36	7	11	24	393
Dublin	Total	994	315	240	211	80	50	245	2135
	< 18 years
	18-36 years	14						5	19
	36-54 years	40	16	10	8				74
	54-72 years	113	27	33	38	21	15	7	254
	72+ years	53	19	20	22	12	14	5	145
Exception	Total	220	62	63	68	33	29	17	492
	< 18 years	25	12	18	13	7	5	13	93
	18-36 years	25	5	12	17	8		19	86
	36-54 years	42	12	41	42	22	10	50	219
	54-72 years	96	18	64	52	41	27	77	375
	72+ years	37	7	40	25	27	17	39	192
Galway	Total	225	54	175	149	105	59	198	965
	< 18 years
	18-36 years				5				5
	36-54 years	14	6	17	9				46
	54-72 years	21	7	33	16	7			84
	72+ years	9		18	7				34
Kerry	Total	44	13	68	37	7			169
	< 18 years	16	5	16	10	9	7	24	87
	18-36 years	9	7		6			10	32
	36-54 years	52	22	28	14	9	9	39	173
	54-72 years	54	24	43	18	18	14	35	206
	72+ years	30	10	21	16	7	5	11	100
Kildare	Total	161	68	108	64	43	35	119	598
	< 18 years	8						9	17
	18-36 years	5							5
	36-54 years	11	5		5				21
	54-72 years	21							21
	72+ years	6			6				12
Kilkenny	Total	51	5		11			9	76
	< 18 years	5							5
	18-36 years	7						7	14
	36-54 years	10			9	8	5	18	50
	54-72 years	22	12	9	16	13	14	21	107
	72+ years	8		6	13	5		13	45
Laois	Total	52	12	15	38	26	19	59	221
	< 18 years
	18-36 years
	36-54 years				6
	54-72 years	18	5	5	5
	72+ years	11		6	8
Leitrim	Total	29	5	11	19				64
	< 18 years	6		7					13
	18-36 years	11							11
	36-54 years	21		23	22				66
	54-72 years	55	14	31	30				130
	72+ years	23		16	7				46
Limerick	Total	116	14	77	59				266
	< 18 years
	18-36 years	5							5
	36-54 years	8		7	9	5		11	40
	54-72 years	10			8	12	5	22	57
	72+ years		6	6	9	5	5	8	39
Longford	Total	23	6	13	26	22	10	41	141
	< 18 years	9	5	6	6	6		12	44
	18-36 years	7							7
	36-54 years		5						5
	54-72 years	8							8
	72+ years
Louth	Total	24	10	6	6	6		12	64
	< 18 years	7	5	11	8			5	36
	18-36 years	7			5	5		8	25
	36-54 years	44	8	18	15	10	5	21	121
	54-72 years	113	13	27	25	20	17	52	267
	72+ years	69	10	23	27	9	8	36	182
Mayo	Total	240	36	79	80	44	30	122	631
	< 18 years	16	5	10	8			9	48
	18-36 years
	36-54 years	23		6	7				36
	54-72 years	32	13	12	6				63
	72+ years	17	8						25
Meath	Total	88	26	28	21			9	172
	< 18 years
	18-36 years
	36-54 years
	54-72 years	9							9
	72+ years

Monaghan	Total	9							9
	< 18 years				5				5
	18-36 years	6			6			6	18
	36-54 years	15	6	14	14	10	8	21	88
	54-72 years	29	7	12	32	21	6	54	161
	72+ years	10		5	10	5	6	14	50
Offaly	Total	60	13	31	67	36	20	95	322
	< 18 years							5	5
	18-36 years	6							6
	36-54 years	11		12	9			12	44
	54-72 years	15	6	12	9	10	8	21	81
	72+ years	14	6	9	8		7	14	58
Roscommon	Total	46	12	33	26	10	15	52	194
	< 18 years	7							7
	18-36 years	5							5
	36-54 years	27	6	13	5		6	8	65
	54-72 years	45	20	33	21	13	8	6	146
	72+ years	36	9	14	6	6		5	76
Sligo	Total	120	35	60	32	19	14	19	299
	< 18 years	61	58	56	71	77	49	71	443
	18-36 years	52	75	71	67	41	46	50	402
	36-54 years	31	50	54	31	57	30	59	312
	54-72 years	2	41	47	36	48	44	43	261
	72+ years	26	66	54	43	55	28	37	309
Small Volume Areas	Total	172	290	282	248	278	197	260	1727
	< 18 years	5			12				17
	18-36 years	14							14
	36-54 years	21		7					28
	54-72 years	55	6	12	10				83
	72+ years	18	5	5			5		33
Tipperary	Total	113	11	24	22		5		175
	< 18 years			5				8	13
	18-36 years	7							7
	36-54 years	16			5				21
	54-72 years	31			6				37
	72+ years	13							13
Waterford	Total	67		5	11			8	91
	< 18 years	6		5				6	17
	18-36 years	8				5		7	20
	36-54 years	14	7	7	7		5	23	63
	54-72 years	21	7	11	20	14	6	36	115
	72+ years	13			9	10	5	14	51
Westmeath	Total	62	14	23	36	29	16	86	266
	< 18 years	16	8	5	9			12	50
	18-36 years	8							8
	36-54 years	17	6		6			7	36
	54-72 years	44	16		6	7		8	81
	72+ years	24	6	7					37
Wexford	Total	109	36	12	21	7		27	212
	< 18 years	17	9	8	7	5		10	56
	18-36 years	8							8
	36-54 years	28	5	10	5				48
	54-72 years	36	19	11	10			6	82
	72+ years	14	10	6					30
Wicklow	Total	103	43	35	22	5		16	224
	Grand Total	3695	1250	1624	1517	872	549	1489	10996

Hare Coursing

Questions (376)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

376. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding coursing restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39343/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Deputy should note that my Department does not have statutory responsibility for coursing policy. The issued raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Brexit Issues

Questions (377)

Dara Calleary

Question:

377. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be put in place for UK senior contributory pensioners who are currently entitled to a non-means tested medical card by EU agreement after Brexit. [39350/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the terms of the EU UK Withdrawal Agreement UK pensioners, for whom the UK is competent under EU Regulation 883/2004, and who are resident in another EU Member State before the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020, will continue to have their rights under this Regulation maintained. Such persons will, therefore, if they remain ordinarily resident in this State, and are not in receipt of an Irish contributory social security payment or making a social security contribution, continue to have eligibility for a non-means tested medical card issued under the EU Regulations.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (378)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

378. 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. [39353/20]

View answer

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.

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.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (379)

David Cullinane

Question:

379. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39379/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (380)

Michael McNamara

Question:

380. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the approach taken by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to the classification of deaths as Covid-19 related or not, subject to a coroner's report, in circumstances in which a patient dies from traumatic injuries subsequent to having been admitted to hospital but tested positive for Covid-19 upon admission to hospital. [39381/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

Since the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) met for the first time, a commitment was given to collect and publish as much relevant data as possible while ensuring individual patient confidentiality is maintained at all times. While the nature and scale of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented, the collection of timely and comprehensive data has been instrumental in developing the health service response to Covid-19 and to the advice provided by the NPHET and the Department of Health to assist Government decision-making in the wider response to the disease in Ireland.

It should be noted that in Ireland, data are collected on COVID-19 related mortality for both lab confirmed and probable cases, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in both hospitals and the community. It should also be noted that collection of COVID-19 related mortality data in Ireland exceeds that of many other countries in the world.

The Deputy should note that comprehensive national statistics, information, and data about Covid-19 is published on a daily basis on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/ and on the Covid-19 Data Hub and Dashboards available at https://covid19ireland-geohive.hub.arcgis.com/. The published data are based on official figures provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). All datasets, charts and maps are updated on an on-going basis and in line with newly published data.

I would also direct the Deputy to the CSO website for access to a range of data relating to Covid-19 including the numbers of diagnosed cases and mortality data. This is available on the CSO Covid-19 Information Hub at https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-covid19/covid-19informationhub/ and, in particular, at www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/br/b-cdc/covid-19deathsandcasesseries16/.

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 Pandemic

Questions (381)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

381. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if HSE staff in Kenmare Community Hospital and other locations in County Kerry who are dealing with Covid-19 cases will only be rostered on to assist with these patients and will not be rostered to work on other wards or with other patients that have not contracted Covid-19 as per the HSE guidelines.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39386/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Apprenticeship Programmes

Questions (382)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

382. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand apprenticeships to healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39390/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (383)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

383. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an appointment for a procedure in University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39392/20]

View answer

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 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.

Home Help Service

Questions (384)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

384. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was refused home help support for personal care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39393/20]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (385)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

385. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for dental treatment in the dental department, Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal; the number of patients waiting for routine and emergency treatment 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. [39394/20]

View answer

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.