Denise Mitchell
Question:763. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a new accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital. [3956/21]
View answerHospital Facilities
Questions (763)
Written answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Hospital Consultant Contracts
Questions (764)
Denise Mitchell
Question:764. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions advertised by the RCSI Hospital Group in 2020; the speciality of each advertised position; if each position has been filled; and the number of applications for each speciality in tabular form. [3955/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (765)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:765. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the position of psychiatrists (details supplied) placed on the vaccination allocation sequencing under the national Covid-19 vaccination programme; if they fall under group 2, 4, 6 or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3959/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Consultant Contracts
Questions (766)
Johnny Mythen
Question:766. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the vacant audiologist post in County Wexford; the length of time the position has been vacant; when the post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3974/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Audiology Services
Questions (767)
Johnny Mythen
Question:767. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting audiology services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3975/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (768)
Emer Higgins
Question:768. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the reason, further to correspondence from this Deputy over the past three weeks, he has not met or engaged with academics who have a proposal that could reduce Covid-19 ICU admissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3976/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy is advised that the NPHET, requested the HIQA to review emerging evidence in relation to interventions in ambulatory settings that may alter disease progression in COVID-19 patients.
The HIQA has carried out this work as directed and has prepared a paper, which is due for consideration and discussion at the NPHET tomorrow (Thursday, 28th January).
The Minister is therefore mindful to allow this important discussion to take place in the NPHET forum, and to await possible further NPHET recommendations/advice as appropriate. In this regard, any recommendations/advice arising will be communicated as appropriate.
Departmental Communications
Questions (769, 770, 771, 772)
Pearse Doherty
Question:769. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the date, on or after 4 April 2019, the former Taoiseach or their adviser, requested a copy of the draft terms of the agreement between his Department, the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) regarding general practitioner contractual reform and service development. [3982/21]
View answerPearse Doherty
Question:770. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the date, on or after 4 April 2019, his Department provided the former Taoiseach or their adviser, with a copy of the draft terms of the agreement between his Department, the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) regarding general practitioner contractual reform and service development. [3983/21]
View answerPearse Doherty
Question:771. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the person in his Department who provided the former Taoiseach or their adviser with a copy of the draft terms of the agreement between his Department, the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) regarding general practitioner contractual reform and service development. [3984/21]
View answerPearse Doherty
Question:772. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the format in which, such as by email or physical copy or by post, a copy of the draft terms of the agreement between his Department, the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) regarding general practitioner contractual reform and service development, was provided by his Department to the former Taoiseach or their advisor. [3985/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 769, 770, 771 and 772 together.
The Deputy will appreciate that I did not hold the office of Minister for Health during the period in question and therefore can respond only insofar as the records held in my Department indicate.
My Department has conducted a thorough search of physical and electronic records in relation to the matters referred to by the Deputy. No records have been found which would enable the information sought in the Deputy’s questions to be provided.
Departmental Communications
Questions (773)
Pearse Doherty
Question:773. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department did not share a copy of the draft terms of the agreement between his Department, the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) regarding general practitioner contractual reform and service development with the Minister for Health after it was requested by the Minister and his office on 15 April 2019. [3986/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will appreciate that I did not hold the office of Minister for Health during the period in question and therefore can respond only insofar as the records held in my Department indicate. Following agreement on all main elements of a contractual reform agreement between Government and the Irish Medical Organisation, a further period was required to complete the drafting between the parties of a detailed formal agreement document. When this was ready it was furnished by officials to the then-Minister, on 17 April 2019.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (774)
Carol Nolan
Question:774. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE is using a polymerase chain reaction, PCR, test to test for Covid-19 rather than an antigen test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3990/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice, and approved by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). This platform is deployed in acute hospitals, the NVRL and HSE’s commercial partners.
It should be noted that testing for Sars-Cov2 does not confirm that an individual with a 'not detected' result is not incubating the infection or the level of virus is below detectable levels at the time of the test. The HSE has worked intensively over the last number of months to put in place a comprehensive testing and tracing operation and despite the very significant increase in demand over the last number of weeks, the median time for community referral to appointment is now 0.2 days with 95.7% of GP referrals provided with a COVID-19 test appointment within 24 hours.
While rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) are described as rapid, and simple to perform, they are not designed to be delivered in large numbers. RADTs are most effective in detection of symptomatic cases, particularly where there is swabbing capacity on-site, when symptom onset is within the last 5 days and when the likelihood of test positivity is greater than 10% among the target population.
Validation studies, both here in Ireland and in Europe are showing significant disparities in sensitivity and specificity of tests versus manufacturer claims. The studies also show that performance in symptomatic patients is much better than in asymptomatic patients. In asymptomatic patients, sensitivity results are being shown to be below the minimum performance requirements set by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has endorsed recommendations on the use of Rapid Antigen Detection Tests (RADTs) as a supplement to PCR testing in certain situations, and particularly when the availability of PCR tests may be limited. The HSE is currently considering the use of RADTs for diagnosis of symptomatic persons and their close contacts in PCR confirmed outbreaks, and / or symptomatic persons where there is a high suspicion of an outbreak, pending PCR confirmation, if faster presumptive results will inform public health action.
On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to hunt the virus in populations where it’s most likely and where it will do most harm. This includes keeping Ireland’s testing policy under continuing review.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (775)
Martin Browne
Question:775. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the stage at which, in the vaccine roll-out plan, volunteers in community groups who are providing services to vulnerable persons, such as meals on wheels, are included. [4008/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (776)
Jackie Cahill
Question:776. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if bus drivers can be vaccinated under the Covid-19 vaccination programme as part of the key worker section, given their front-facing positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4011/21]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Hospital Closures
Questions (777)
Róisín Shortall
Question:777. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that were taken to engage with local community groups in the decision to close St. Brigid’s District Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; the reason for the decision taken; the use to which the hospital will now be put; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4015/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (778)
Michael Collins
Question:778. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health when the Zolgensma gene therapy will be approved for reimbursement for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4023/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, the company must submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria.
I am advised by the HSE that in April 2020, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) received an application for Zolgensma. On 13 May 2020, the NCPE completed the rapid review and recommended a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Zolgensma compared with the current standard of care.
This HTA is now being undertaken as a part of the Beneluxa collaboration as a joint HTA assessment between Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, with Austria acting as a reviewer.
The first draft of the HTA report has been forwarded to the applicant company for consideration, along with further questions and the assessment remains in process.
Based on the final outcome of this joint HTA, the participating countries will decide whether the joint assessment will be followed by a joint pricing negotiation.
Nursing Staff
Questions (779)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:779. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues in respect of retired nurses who have paid A stamps towards their pension when returning to work during the Covid-19 crisis, whereby they ceased to be entitled to their pension once they started working to help out during the Covid-19 pandemic. [4026/21]
View answerWritten answers
Following enquiries by my Department it was confirmed that the Deputy refers in her question to the supplementary pension.
A supplementary pension is not a public service occupational pension but rather a payment which may be made by a public service employer, in certain circumstances, to a retiree who paid Class A PRSI when employed and whose occupational pension is co-ordinated with the State Pension Contributory (SPC).
There are a number of specific conditions that must be satisfied in order to claim supplementary pension, one of which is that the retired individual is unemployed. Where the retiree takes up employment post retirement supplementary pension is not payable.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (780)
Paul Murphy
Question:780. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way and location in which providers of home care services can register for the vaccination of home care workers on the Covid-19 vaccination list. [4030/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (781)
Carol Nolan
Question:781. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the payments being provided to general practitioners and pharmacists for the provision of individual vaccinations; the reason the payments are significantly higher than those provided to general practitioners and pharmacists in the United Kingdom who are delivering the same service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4037/21]
View answerWritten answers
The fees payable to GPs and pharmacists for the administration of vaccines against Covid-19 were set following consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmacy Union. A fee of €25 per vaccine dose, and a once-off €10 per patient administration fee, will be payable to GPs and pharmacists for the administration of such vaccines outside of HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics, e.g. in GP practices and pharmacies. An hourly fee of €120 and €70 will be payable to GPs and pharmacists respectively for vaccination services provided in HSE-run mass-vaccination clinics.
GPs and pharmacists are being asked to provide a proactive vaccination service which will require dedicated vaccination clinics while also maintaining regular services. They are also being asked to undertake administrative functions with regard to patient identification and consent. As with other types of vaccinations, the fees reflect the amount of time required, administrative complexity, and the level of post-vaccination care likely required.
The UK, which is a wholly publicly-funded health system, is not a very useful comparator for Ireland which has a blend of public and private GP-care provision. As all patients, whether they are in possession of a Medical or GP Visit Card or they access GP services in a wholly private capacity, will be vaccinated on an equal basis without charge to the patient, the relevant fees have been established to permit this.