Written Answers Nos. 822-841
822. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if there has been a backlog of undelivered text messages notifying close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases of their status as of 18 January 2021; and if so, the number of text messages that were undelivered. [4266/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
823. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the reason psychologists in the psychology department at Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin cannot take phone appointments or consultations from home, resulting in appointments being cancelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4273/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
824. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of new HIV diagnoses in each of the years from 2010 to 2020, by gender in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4275/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
825. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if additional supports have been made available for those living with HIV during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4276/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
826. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if regular HIV testing is ongoing at the same or a reduced rate; if it has halted due to the closure of sexual health clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4277/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
827. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in CAMHS in Dublin north city and county. [4284/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
828. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of healthcare setting-acquired Covid-19 reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in 2020; the breakdown of those cases for nursing homes and hospitals; the number of deaths among those cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4286/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
830. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the expenditure to date on the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the value of each contract for the purchase of vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4288/21]
View answerIreland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Six Advance Purchase Agreements (APA) have been negotiated by the Commission under this process to date.
The details of the contracts are commercially sensitive.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
831. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if there is a plan to provide the FreeStyle Libre for all type-1 diabetics in view of the fact that it is only available for persons with type-1 diabetes between the ages of four and 21 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4289/21]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
832. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when therapies (details supplied) will be reinstated for children with special needs in community health organisation 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4291/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
833. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently review maternity hospitals' restriction of accompanying partners to key appointments relating to pregnancy; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current restrictions are being applied to couples who have lost children to stillbirth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
834. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the new standard operating procedure for assessments of needs; the reason this assessment was reduced to a single assessment of 90 minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4302/21]
View answer835. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment of needs; the length of time that children are waiting, by county or CHO area; the measures being taken to reduce waiting times and lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4303/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 834 and 835 together.
The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
836. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4307/21]
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 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.
837. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the lease signed between the HSE and a hotel (details supplied) for the purposes of a Covid-19 isolation centre; the value of the contract; the length of the initial contract; the value of any renewed contract; the amount expended to date; the number of persons who used the facility; the average length of time each person stayed at the facility; the number of healthcare workers allocated to work at the facility; the level of accommodation and bed capacity included within the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4312/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
838. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on panels for the various occupations within the HSE nationwide across the various recruitment channels currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4318/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
839. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his plans for the reopening of day care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4319/21]
View answerCommunity services such as day care play an important role in enabling older people to continue living in their communities and maintain their social connections. These services contribute to positive ageing and better overall health. Generally speaking, the HSE Funds approximately 28,000 Day Care places annually and approximately 10,000 people utilise these services annually.
Day Care Centres across the country have predominantly been closed since March 2020 and as part of the focus and priority of the HSE to resume these services, a Guidance Document was prepared and circulated to HSE Operations Managers in July 2020 with the focus on opening up Day Care Centres in line within this framework.
Services will resume when it is safe to do so; when all infection prevention and control measures and the requirements of physical distancing can be maintained, to protect service users and staff and prevent any further spread of the virus. Some Day Centres may not be suitable for reopening due to the constraints of their physical environment and it will be necessary to continue or expand alternative service delivery models. A Focus Group consisting of key HSE and cross agency representation was established in November 2020 to ensure Day Care Services continue to be prioritised and to develop a plan that can assist service providers to have a suite of options available for the provision of Day Care/Supports throughout 2021. The Focus Group have met three times since its establishment with a view to developing a plan to support the current COVID-19 roadmap and provide guidance for services that can be provided under the various levels of the roadmap.
To ensure that day care clients are supported as effectively as possible the following supports are in place with services being prioritised for the most vulnerable clients and their carers:
- Additional Home Support Packages or new Home Support Packages for the most vulnerable clients.
- Meals on Wheels, Public Health Nursing, Chiropody, ongoing telephone contact.
- Day Care in the Home for patients with Dementia – this is currently being successfully implemented by the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland.
- Day Care in the Home – a model of Home Care in the Home is currently being finalised by the HSE National Dementia Office. This model is being reviewed by the Focus Group with a view to transferring it to regular Day Care Centres also. The model will continue to develop even when Day Care Centres re-open and will be based on needs assessment and what best benefits the client and their carers.
840. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of placing a person on a general practitioner only card or a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4321/21]
View answer841. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average cost per annum incurred by the State for a full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4322/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 840 and 841 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
