Tuesday, 8 Dec 2020

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (560)

James Lawless

Question:

560. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41153/20]

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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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (561)

John McGuinness

Question:

561. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to reduce the waiting time for appointments to see a paediatric rheumatologist; the number on the waiting list for such appointments in each of the past five years; the number of children with Down's syndrome on the waiting list for the same period; the efforts made by the HSE to recruit paediatric rheumatologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41154/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for Rheumatology treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families.

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, were deferred in response to the pandemic. CHI at Crumlin have recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. Currently, Consultant Rheumatologists are seeing a number of patients in the outpatient suite including urgent patients and those who were deferred during the early phases of COVID-19.

CHI has further advised that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This addition to the medical staff will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.

CHI has advised that patients with Down's syndrome who present to Rheumatology services with suspicion of arthritis are clinically assessed and diagnosed by the clinical team.

In relation to waiting lists for Rheumatology Outpatient appointments, the document in the following link shows the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) published figures for CHI at the end of December 2016-2019 and October 2020. NTPF waiting lists are collected in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. Waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however it is not possible to identify patients based on their clinical diagnosis.

Waiting List

Cancer Research

Questions (562)

David Cullinane

Question:

562. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer patients accessing clinical trials; the performance in terms of the percentage of patients accessing clinical trials compared to key performance indicator targets set previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41155/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Based on data from Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI) the proportion of patients on cancer therapeutic clinical trials was 3% in 2017. It is a key performance indicator of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 that this be increased to 6%.

A number of agencies are endeavouring to establish the total number (and the %) of patients on cancer therapeutic clinical trials. When it is fully rolled out, the National Cancer Information System, which is being introduced on a phased basis to all public hospitals providing cancer services, will capture this information. However, the roll-out will take a number of years.

Cancer diagnostic and treatment services continued throughout the Covid pandemic in line with Government prioritisation. However, the number of people coming forward decreased significantly in mid-March to May due to the fears in regard to Covid, and the reaction of people to restrictions in place at that time. While numbers have recovered since, Covid is also likely to have impacted on the number of patients on clinical trials this year.

Health Services Reports

Questions (563)

John McGuinness

Question:

563. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake a review of the treatment of cataract patients throughout the HSE to determine the reason the system has failed patients; the number of patients on the waiting list; if the cost of the HSE scheme model of treatment for cataract patients has been considered by his Department or the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41169/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.

A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2018. At the end of October 2020 there were 4,553 patients waiting compared to 6,452 in October 2018.

In considering these figures it is important to recognise that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic this year. The HSE had to take measures to defer most routine scheduled care activity in March, April, and May. 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 the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

In addition the 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.

Regarding the functioning of the reimbursement scheme under the Cross-Border Directive(CBD), since the HSE is responsible for the operation of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland, this is an operational matter for the HSE. As such, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 564, 608 and 639 together.

The Government appreciates that there are many aspects of normal life that have been altered by the emergence of COVID-19, and the response that has been required. It also recognises that these changes are difficult for many people. However, it is the case at present that many of the things which we have previously taken for granted are no longer accessible in the same way due to the risks that they pose and the ease with which this virus spreads in particular conditions.

The Government’s medium-term Plan Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19, in a range of areas, over a period of 6 – 9 months.

The Plan aims to allow society and businesses to operate as normally as possible, while protecting our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The Plan consists of 5 levels. Each level sets out what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services, at that moment in time. Each level contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in alignment with the risk level at that time. The set of measures, individually, do not comprise a list of activities or places which are equally safe. Instead, they are “baskets” of measures which are informed by public health understanding of the disease.

The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Plan are based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible. The measures in place for each level reflect the prevailing disease situation and recognise that we can and must prioritise some activities over others.

Information in relation to the public health measures in place at all levels of the Plan are available at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/.

With regard to your specific query please refer to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 9) Regulations 2020 Regulation (S.I. 560 of 2020), Schedules 1 and 2 for a list of businesses or services that are not permitted under the current restrictions.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (565)

David Cullinane

Question:

565. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the targets for hire for the dedicated swabbing and testing workforce identified in the winter plan on a weekly and monthly basis for the period 1 June to 1 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41177/20]

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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

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David Cullinane

Question:

588. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the targets to year end for the dedicated contact tracing workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41208/20]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 to 574, inclusive, 576 to 578, inclusive, 582, 583 and 586 to 588, 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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (575)

David Cullinane

Question:

575. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of interviews on a weekly basis for the period 1 June 2020 to 1 December 2020 for the dedicated contact tracing workforce identified in the winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41187/20]

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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.

Question No. 576 to 578, inclusive, answered with Question No. 566.

Health Services

Questions (579)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

579. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied). [41199/20]

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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.