Written Answers Nos. 412-426
412. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason a decision has been made to change the surgical transfer policy from Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan from five hospitals to one, in the middle of the pandemic (details supplied); and if he will ensure the change will not occur until it is safe to do so. [3282/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
414. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with an address in County Tipperary that have been admitted to the department of psychiatry in Kilkenny in each of the years since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3285/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
415. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with an address in County Tipperary that have been admitted to the department of psychiatry in Ennis in each of the years since 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3286/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
416. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of works recommended to be carried out at the department of psychiatry in Kilkenny following the recommendations made by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment report 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3287/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
417. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will request the funeral undertaking industry to cease selling gravestones at a time when its counterparts in the headstone and monumental works sector have ceased trading due to level 5 Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3288/21]
View answerAs you aware, Ireland is at level 5 of the Government's medium-term Strategy Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. This 5-level framework 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.
The public health measures recognise the need to reduce congregation and interactions between people to reduce the transmission of Covid-19. The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the plan is 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.
At level 5, all non-essential retail, and all non-essential services must remain closed. Information in relation to the current public health measures in place for essential retail and essential services at level 5 is available at:- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/ and https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/
The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (NO. 10) Regulations 2020 Regulation (S.I. 701 of 2020), sets out the relevant businesses or services under the current public health measures. Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
418. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average and the longest waiting time for a child to see a child psychologist in each county in the past three years; and the number of children on waiting lists to see a child psychologist by county in the past three years. [3296/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
419. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average and longest waiting time for a child to see a CAMHS professional in each county in the past three years; and the number of children on waiting lists for CAMHS by county in each of the past three years. [3297/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
420. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the staff shortages in the CAMHS, by county and by professions, in each of the past three years; and the professions that should be included in a CAMHS team by county in each of the past three years. [3298/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
421. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the mental health outreach services available for children with special needs, children with challenging behaviour, children of concern to teachers and children in general in each county during the Covid-19 pandemic. [3299/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
422. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children on waiting lists for optometrists and ophthalmologists in each county in each of the past three years; and the average waiting times and longest waiting times for children’s optometrists and ophthalmologists in each county in each of the past three years. [3300/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
423. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children on dental waiting lists in each county in each of the past three years; and the average waiting times and the longest times for a dental treatment in each county in each of the past three years. [3301/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
424. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when pharmacists will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination, given the nature of their work, which involves high levels of face-to-face contact with the public. [3302/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.
The 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 front-line 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.
Front-line healthcare workers (HCWs) in direct patient contact roles will be vaccinated in Group 2. This includes HCWs working in public, private, and voluntary settings. Other HCWs, not in direct patient contact, will be vaccinated in Group 4.
425. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to implementing a uniform system for parking charges across hospitals for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3303/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals where possible, and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families.
My Department and the HSE are currently engaging on this issue.
426. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to lowering or waiving the inpatient charge of €80 per visit at a maximum of €800 per annum for those with long-term illnesses or treatment plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
There are no plans to review the list of exemptions to this statutory in-patient charge.
