Written Answers Nos. 958-982
958. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be approved for the recruitment of an additional full-time consultant in vascular surgery and consultant surgeon with a special interest in upper gastrointestinal surgery for St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18. [1197/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
959. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the provision of public sexual health services in County Meath. [1205/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
960. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time laboratory scientists employed in each hospital in the Ireland East Hospital Group as of 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020, in tabular form. [1206/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
961. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hearing appointment will be scheduled for a person (details supplied). [1217/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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.
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.
963. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of family farms and the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1223/21]
View answerUnder the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means, while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, in its current form, does not place caps on the financial assessment of family farms or family businesses when calculating the means to pay for nursing home care, except in the case of sudden illness or disability.
The Department of Health has proposed a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset. This change has been approved by Government and undergone pre-legislative scrutiny in the last Dáil. The stated policy objective of the general scheme of the Bill is to introduce further safeguards in the Scheme to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for their livelihood.
Progress on the development of the Bill was negatively impacted by the dissolution of the last Dáil and by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to the pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority. However, work on this legislation has continued to progress. I have exchanged letters with the Business Committee requesting a waiver to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny, given this was already undertaken in the previous Dáil. I have met with the Attorney General to discuss this legislation, and there has been an ongoing and active engagement between the Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General on the development of the legislation, which will be brought to the Houses of Oireachtas at the earliest possible opportunity.
964. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the additional mental health supports being made available during Covid-19 restrictions; the way in which communities are being reached if they do not have access to a mobile phone or internet for online counselling sessions; if there are measures for emergency in-person mental health support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
965. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the issuing of primary medical certificates will resume; the reason for delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Deputy may be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance. In order to allow for the Primary Medical Certificate assessments to recommence, the Minister for Finance brought forward amendments to the Finance Bill to provide for the existing medical criteria in primary legislation.
Following a request from Minister Donohoe, my colleague the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D. issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive on 22nd December, 2020, to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
966. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to reports that funding for eating disorder treatments and programmes has been diverted by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1237/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
967. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the Collins report on student nurse pay in full. [1238/21]
View answerIn December 2020 I requested Professor Tom Collins to carry out an independent, short-term review of the student nurse and midwife allowances that are payable to students while on clinical placement. I received Professor Collins’ Report in late December 2020. I have accepted in full the Report's findings and recommendations which fall under my health remit. My Department is now engaging with the representative bodies.
It is my intention to publish this Report in the near future.
969. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an addiction clinic; and the reason the HSE would need to move the clinic during renovations. [1240/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
970. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the waiting list per CHO area for neuropsychological assessments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1241/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
971. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant neurologists employed by the HSE in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1242/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
973. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 539 of 17 December 2020, if the vaccination category of 18- to 64-year-olds with underlying conditions will be subdivided; if so, the subdivisions; if those with intellectual disabilities will be included in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1253/21]
View answerThe aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
Further information on the Strategy can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
974. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the amount the services of a company and a person (details supplied) have cost his Department to date; the estimated cost for their role in the Covid-19 testing and tracing project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1254/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
975. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide for the reimbursement of medicinal cannabis oil products in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1258/21]
View answerAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
976. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with an address in Fingal waiting to see a consultant neurologist in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1260/21]
View answer978. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the way in which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the waiting times for patients listed to see a consultant neurologist in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1262/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 976 and 978 together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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.
As the way in which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the waiting times for patients listed to see a consultant neurologist in Beaumont Hospital is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised my department that they are unable to provide the requested neurology outpatient waiting list figures at Beaumont Hospital for those with an area of residence in Fingal. Fingal is a catchment area of towns within North County Dublin and generally is not used for home addresses. However, they have provided the requested information for those with an area of residence in North County Dublin/North Dublin City. This information is outlined in the table.
Beaumont Hospital Outpatient Neurology Waiting List - Area of residence in North Dublin City & County Dublin
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18 Months + |
Grand Total |
|
|
North Dublin City & County |
290 |
121 |
53 |
67 |
35 |
6 |
7 |
579 |
|
Grand Total |
290 |
121 |
53 |
67 |
35 |
6 |
7 |
579 |
977. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the way in which neurological service referrals are prioritised in Beaumont Hospital to ensure the more urgent cases are assessed as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1261/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
981. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to promised legislation to address the anomalies in the fair deal scheme with a view to making this vital support more accessible to families of small business owners and farm families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1266/21]
View answerUnder the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means, while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, in its current form, does not place caps on the financial assessment of family farms or family businesses when calculating the means to pay for nursing home care, except in the case of sudden illness or disability.
The Department of Health has proposed a policy change to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset. This change has been approved by Government and undergone pre-legislative scrutiny in the last Dáil. The stated policy objective of the general scheme of the Bill is to introduce further safeguards in the Scheme to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for their livelihood.
Progress on the development of the Bill was negatively impacted by the dissolution of the last Dáil and by the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to the pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority. However, work on this legislation has continued to progress. I have exchanged letters with the Business Committee requesting a waiver to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny, given this was already undertaken in the previous Dáil. I have met with the Attorney General to discuss this legislation, and there has been an ongoing and active engagement between the Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General on the development of the legislation, which will be brought to the Houses of Oireachtas at the earliest possible opportunity.
982. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if drive-through vaccination clinics are being considered for part of the vaccination programme for Covid-19, similar to the testing structure. [1271/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
