Written Answers Nos. 281-300
282. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will approve the use of pulse oximetry to detect early deterioration of patients with Covid-19 in primary and community care settings similar to the NHS in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4859/21]
View answerI and the Government are committed to providing the best care possible to patients with COVID-19, and the measures we have put in place in the community, such as GP consultation without charges for all patients with COVID symptoms and Community Assessment Hubs for patients suffering with COVID, are indicative of this. We will continue to examine relevant proposals in this spirit.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
283. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will allow general practitioners to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to persons over 70 years of age as they have successfully administered the flu vaccine to this age group in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4860/21]
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.
The next group to be vaccinated are those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74.
GPs, Pharmacists, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and many healthcare professionals, will have a role to play in the vaccination programme.
Question No. 284 answered with Question No. 275.
285. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioner referrals made to see a consultant for each month in 2020; the average per month in 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4872/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
286. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by a consultant each month in 2020; the average per month for 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4873/21]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, concerning the number of patients seen by a consultant each month in 2020 and the average per month for 2018 and 2019, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
287. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 14 January 2021, if additional measures will be introduced in co-ordination with the authorities in Northern Ireland to ensure that restrictions on travel are strictly implemented regardless of persons being ordinarily resident in this State or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4900/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 701 of 2020) came into operation on 30 December, 2020. These Regulations provide that a person may not leave their place of residence without reasonable excuse. The regulations define place of residence for people resident in the State and people not ordinarily resident in the State. In relation to a person who is not ordinarily resident in the State, the regulations define place of residence as the premises in the State, if any, at which he or she is currently residing, whether on a permanent or temporary basis. The Deputy will be aware that the Government is drawing up measures to tighten restrictions on travel into and out of the State as a matter of urgency.I am aware of the risks posed to the entire island by international travel during the pandemic and will continue discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government on opportunities for increased alignment and common outcomes on travel issues more generally.
288. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the travel restrictions which apply in law to citizens of the Republic of Ireland under regulations governed by the provisions of section 31A of the Health Act 1947 cannot as it stands, be applied and enforced to restrict the movements of, for example, Northern Ireland residents and others who are not residents of the Republic of Ireland; his views on whether the relevant regulations must be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4902/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 701 of 2020) came into operation on 30 December, 2020. These Regulations provide that a person may not leave their place of residence without reasonable excuse. The regulations define place of residence for people resident in the State and people not ordinarily resident in the State. In relation to a person who is not ordinarily resident in the State, the regulations define place of residence as the premises in the State, if any, at which he or she is currently residing, whether on a permanent or temporary basis. The Deputy will be aware that the Government is drawing up measures to tighten restrictions on travel into and out of the State as a matter of urgency.
289. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the additional mental health supports available to front-line health workers given they are now in the midst of the greatest pressures they have faced since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and while exhausted continue to persevere, despite high levels of stress and anxiety, to protect the public and keep the health service from collapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4907/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
290. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time before a person unable to attend a Covid-19 test centre in person is contacted by a community health team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4908/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
291. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of outbreaks of Covid-19 in meat processing plants by county from 1 November 2020, in tabular form. [4909/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
292. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the number of staff working at Mayo University Hospital vaccinated against Covid-19 during January 2021, by grade, in tabular form; the number of staff yet to be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4927/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
293. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the preferred bidder was awarded the contract to supply the information technology system for the vaccination programme; the criteria used in the bidding process; the scoring differences between the preferred bidder and the awardee; the reason behind any decision taken to award the contract to a company other than the preferred bidder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4930/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
294. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions for eating disorders in each month over the past year; the projected impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on eating disorder prevalence; the reason the full spending allocated to eating disorders was not used in 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4931/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the specialist and dedicated diabetic services and personnel available in County Louth in the community, in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and in Louth County Hospital for patients with diabetes; his plans to increase availability and resources to treat such patients and to further improve services; if there are vacancies or gaps in the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4933/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a public health consultant grade; the number of posts that will be assigned to each HSE area in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4945/21]
View answerWork on a reformed public health model is ongoing. The Department of Health and the HSE met with Irish Medical Organisation yesterday in relation to this and and related matters including a public health consultant grade and further engagement is planned.
297. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if it will be ensured that in cases in which maternity services know that distressing or potentially distressing information is being presented to patients in maternity services that patients will be allowed to have their partner or an accompanying person with them in the context of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4946/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
298. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the current guidance from the National Women and Infants Health Programme will be made available to maternity hospitals and services regarding restrictions on partners and accompanying persons attending the labour and prenatal appointments in the maternity services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4947/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on putting in place the resources to extend the medical assessment unit opening hours in Bantry General Hospital to a 24/7 basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4948/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
300. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for elective surgery in each hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4949/21]
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.
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.
The data requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached document, listing the IPDC waiting list in each Hospital in Cork. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) publish the Inpatient and Day Case (IPDC) on the NTPF website monthly, https://www.ntpf.ie/home/inpatient.htm
IPDC Waiting List, Cork Hospitals as of 23/12/2020
|
Row Labels |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
Bantry General Hospital |
102 |
95 |
42 |
71 |
27 |
13 |
0 |
350 |
|
Cork University Hospital |
475 |
196 |
78 |
144 |
86 |
54 |
122 |
1155 |
|
Cork University Maternity Hospital |
288 |
54 |
11 |
56 |
37 |
35 |
171 |
652 |
|
Mallow General Hospital |
122 |
37 |
6 |
10 |
7 |
6* |
188 |
|
|
Mercy University Hospital |
488 |
138 |
70 |
137 |
107 |
69 |
152 |
1161 |
|
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
1311 |
449 |
103 |
126 |
96 |
62 |
88 |
2235 |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
173 |
53 |
18 |
75 |
36 |
12 |
5 |
372 |
|
Grand Total |
2959 |
1022 |
328 |
619 |
396 |
248 |
538 |
6113 |
*Due to the small volume of patients waiting, to preserve patient confidentiality, when the number of patients is <5, these have been included within broader timebands and aggregated into a 'Small Volume Group' cohort.
