Written Answers Nos. 662-681
662. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reasoning behind utilising agency staff in the healthcare sector when others are waiting recruitment on panels having passed the initial recruitment process. [3549/21]
View answerAgency staff are utilised to address short term gaps in staffing resources, where there is a critical service need. Agency staff are appointed by the local clinical site, and are generally only appointed as a last resort and when it is not possible to immediately source a healthcare professional who will be employed directly by the clinical site.
The HSE continues to expedite recruitment for those on recruitment campaign panels, and to onboard them as soon as possible. Recruitment and staffing levels have increased significantly since the start of the pandemic, particularly in frontline staff groups. The Department continues to work with the HSE to ensure their recruitment targets can be met. At the end of December, the public health service workforce had a total of 126,174 WTE, which is an increase of 6,357 WTE since the end of December 2019. The HSE will continue recruiting permanent staff into 2021, with a goal of recruiting an additional 15,838 WTE from the end of 2019 baseline.
663. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons contacting the HSE in response to a call for healthcare assistants, HCAs, and nurses are being offered unpaid volunteer positions. [3550/21]
View answerI have spoken with officials in the HSE and asked that they investigate this as a matter of urgency. They have not found evidence of this and have confirmed that it is not a policy of the HSE.
I welcome the Deputy to revert with any more information with which the HSE can investigate further and respond to.
664. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the person or body that the group and company refer to in the HSE briefing on the vaccination programme that refers to private vaccinator contractors specifically; the number of contractors the HSE plans to hire; the company employed; the reason the HSE is not directly recruiting any additional staff that may be needed for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3563/21]
View answer829. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the details of external service providers that have been procured or hired for the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to date; the value of each contract; the name of each contractor; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4287/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 829 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
665. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the operation of SouthDoc in Listowel, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3579/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
666. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if counsellors and psychotherapists will be specifically included in the healthcare worker categories of the national Covid-19 vaccination programme implementation plan in view of the fact that the services provided by these mental health workers are under increased demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are often required to be conducted face to face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3581/21]
View answer673. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the position of mental health workers, specifically counsellors and psychotherapists in the Covid-19 vaccine allocation group; when they will be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3617/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 666 and 673 together.
The 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 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.
Frontline 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.
667. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the funding supports that were granted to the disability support programmes of an organisation (details supplied) in 2019 and 2020. [3592/21]
View answer668. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the funding supports that were granted to an organisation (details supplied) in 2019 and 2020. [3593/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 668 together.
parkrun Ireland are a key stakeholder and partner for Healthy Ireland in terms of promoting participation in physical activity and sport. During the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, as no group events can take place, organisers have run a series of online initiatives to maintain engagement and links with the parkrun community.
(Not) parkrun, which was promoted before Christmas, was a weekly virtual event in which people can log a 5k walk, jog or run time on a course of their own choosing, either alone or with household members, at any time or day of the week.
The parkrun Resolution is an 8 week campaign that encourages people to continue engaging with parkrun virtually, with two online events planned, during the weeks commencing 25th January and 22nd February, to mark progress and celebrate achievements
parkrun is supported by a number of sources, including significant support from the HSE and commercial sponsorship from VHI. With regard to the specific information sought, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
669. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3595/21]
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.
670. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline a clear protocol for use of spare vaccines in the hospitals and vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3596/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
672. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when staff in the mental health service in County Clare will receive Covid-19 vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3604/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
674. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if services have commenced at a location (details supplied); if the service is awaiting the redeployment of audiologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3618/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
675. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was not eligible to receive a medical card; the amount by which the threshold was exceeded; and if the person would now be eligible to receive a medical card if were the person to reapply. [3642/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
676. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if persons with chronic kidney disease will be given the same priority allocation as nursing home residents in the Covid-19 provisional vaccination priority list, as they are a vulnerable high-risk group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3665/21]
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677. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if Carlow CAMHS are now accepting new referrals following operational problems; and the way in which the problems were addressed. [3668/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
678. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the consideration his Department has given to the proposal to introduce a vaccine passport that would be aimed at facilitating international travel; if the consideration of such an initiative will take into account the fact that there is no evidence at present that the vaccine protects against transmission of the virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3672/21]
View answerIt is important to differentiate between a vaccine certificate, the purpose of which is to identify and monitor people who have been vaccinated, with the notion of an immunity passport which might exempt people from public health measures on the basis that the person is purportedly immune to SARS-CoV-2.
Vaccine certificates are required in order to keep track of which vaccine (including which batch of a vaccine) has been given to a person and on which dates. This allows for follow up and monitoring of any adverse events. The HSE is planning for the production of vaccine certificates at part of its implementation planning for a COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Immunity passports are problematic on a number of grounds. It is not yet clear if the proposed vaccines for COVID-19 actually stop people getting the virus. It is also not clear whether the thresholds for protective immunity are the same in all groups e.g. older persons or those who are immunosuppressed. Thus, it is premature to discuss immunity passports due to the many uncertainties that still exist regarding immunity against the novel coronavirus. The WHO has cautioned Governments against introducing immunity passports at this time and has advised that the focus should be on vaccine certificates.
679. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when a facility (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3674/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
680. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made to ensure that all HSE Covid-19 information campaigns are advertised in all local print media publications and on local radio and not just in national media; the criteria used to decide in which publications to advertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3676/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
681. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to utilise the persons who signed up for the Be on Call for Ireland campaign in the first wave of Covid-19, given the current health crisis as a result of the virus; the number who applied at that time and since; the number of those deployed under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3677/21]
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