Written Answers Nos. 789-810
790. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding foreign travel during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9503/21]
View answerThe Government has introduced a range of measures to mitigate the risk of importing variants of concern including a mandatory testing requirement for arriving passengers. Since the 16th January passengers arriving in Ireland from overseas (including those entering via Northern Ireland) are required to present evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel upon arrival.
The Department of Health is aware of residual positive tests in some recovered COVID patients and is examining the issue with public health officials. The issue is common to many countries with travel testing requirements and is also being discussed at EU level.
Under the current mandatory testing regime in Ireland, exemptions from the pre-departure test requirement are in place for international transport workers, passengers travelling with an urgent medical need and for travellers with genuine humanitarian emergencies unable to obtain a pre-departure RT-PCR test before travel.
791. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if emigration is considered essential travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9507/21]
View answerThe Government continues to advise against all non-essential travel at the current time. SI No 29/2021 provides a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for travel to an airport or port for purpose of leaving the State. These reasons include:
- To work, comply with a contract of employment or contract for services, or otherwise engage in work or employment;
- To provide services to, or perform the functions of, an office holder appointed under any enactment or under the Constitution, or a member of either House of the Oireachtas, the European Parliament or a local authority;
- To provide services essential to the functioning of diplomatic missions and consular posts in the State;
- To attend, for educational reasons a primary or secondary school, or a university, higher education institution or other education and training facility, to the extent that it is necessary for such educational reasons to attend in person;
- To accompany any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person, to one of the education facilities mentioned above;
- To attend a medical or dental appointment, or accompany, to such an appointment, any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person;
- To seek essential medical, health or dental assistance for the person, for any other person residing with the person, or for a vulnerable person;
- To attend to vital family matters (including providing care to vulnerable persons);
- To attend a funeral;
- To fulfil a legal obligation (including attending court, satisfying bail conditions, or participating in ongoing legal proceedings), attend a court office where required, initiate emergency legal proceedings or execute essential legal documents;
- if the person is a parent or guardian of a child, or a person having a right of access to a child, to give effect to arrangements for access to the child by the person, or another person who is: (I) a parent or guardian of the child, or (II) a person having a right of access to the child; and
- where the person is not ordinarily resident in the State, to leave the State.
The Government gives continuing consideration to travel policy informed by the epidemiological situation internationally and public health advice.
792. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for delivery of the second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/21]
View answerFunding was allocated in the Capital Plan for the provision of a second Cath lab at UHW with planning permission subsequently received from Waterford City and County Council in January 2020.
The Disability Access certificate was granted in April 2020. The Fire certificate was granted in June 2020. Preparation of contract documentation commenced, and contractor selection is complete subject to a cooling off period. The project went to tender on the 30th September 2020. The Tender process being used is a 2 Stage process which normally takes about 4 months to complete. Tenders for the main Contractor were received on the 24th November, while the tenders for the mechanical and electrical sub-contractors were received in on the 21st December.
Works to the new Cath laboratory are due to commence in Q1 of 2021 with a proposed 12-month build. No delay due to current Level 5 restrictions are anticipated.The HSE is expected to receive a full tender report in relation to the 2nd Cath Lab in the coming weeks. This report will analyse all of the submissions from the three separate tender processes and recommend the acceptance of the preferred main building contractor, the preferred specialist mechanical sub-contractor and the preferred specialist electrical sub-contractor.
793. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for expanding provision of primary percutaneous coronary intervention, PPCI, hours at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9516/21]
View answerIn 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing cath lab should be extended.
The Herity Report also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services at UHW should cease to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned work. The then Minister for Health asked the Department to address the implications of this recommendation by arranging for a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.
The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 with Professor Phillip Nolan as Chair of the Steering Group. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service.
While substantial progress has been made on the Review, the work of the Steering Group has been interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Chair’s involvement in the response, both as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. However, it is intended that the Cardiac Services Review will continue and it is planned that work will progress again in the coming months.
Future decisions in relation to cardiac services will be informed by the recommendations of the National Review.
794. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent cardiologists at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9517/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
795. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent interventional cardiologists at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
796. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years of age awaiting ear, nose and throat or ENT intervention by acute hospital, age and gender, in tabular form [9523/21]
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 National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided the information requested by the Deputy in relation to acute hospitals and is outlined in the attached document.
The NTPF has advised my Department that it does not report for gender breakdown or for further age breakdown under 18 years.
798. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 856 of 10 February, the funding allocated in the 2021 HSE service plan for the hospice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9532/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the strategy in place to vaccinate children certified as high risk for Covid-19 by Tusla and their in-home caregivers. [9533/21]
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 the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for the Department of Health 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.
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. Vaccination of this group began in February.
On 23 February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death.
The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
The NIAC continues to monitor data around this disease and indeed emerging data on effectiveness of vaccines on a rolling basis.
Further details are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b44b2-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-vaccine-allocation-strategy/
The ongoing review process will continue to look at the other priority groups yet to be vaccinated, along with the competing needs of those working or living in high-risk situations, carers who deliver essential services to highly dependent individuals in the home setting and those who are socially vulnerable/disadvantaged.
801. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the criteria for the selection of a site as a Covid-19 vaccination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9553/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
802. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is taking steps to review access to services for persons with eating disorders given the diversion of funding from that area; if not, if the establishment of a working group for same has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9554/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
803. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if a list of sites will be provided in Drogheda, County Louth, that were proposed to his Department and-or the HSE for consideration as sites for the Covid-19 community vaccination programme; the reason a site (details supplied) was chosen ahead of others to accommodate a centre for County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9556/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
804. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that young transgender persons receive the healthcare that they need in view of the fact that the gender-identity service, that was situated in Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin, is no longer receiving further referrals; his plans to ensure a rapid implementation of a multidisciplinary team to support the provision of care for young trans persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9558/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
805. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 vaccination programme implemented by a company (details supplied) for its staff is in co-ordination with the HSE and the Government's plans; if private companies will be able to privately acquire vaccines to vaccinate staff outside of the parameters of the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9559/21]
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.
Vaccines obtained through this process are being made available free of charge to all residents of Ireland who wish to receive them. They are not being provided privately.
Vaccines are being allocated in line with the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy.
Further information on the Strategy is available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
806. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the reimbursement of FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system for persons with type 1 diabetes; if he has considered extending the availability to all persons over 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9563/21]
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.
807. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of extending the reimbursement scheme for the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system to all type 1 diabetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9564/21]
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.
808. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current HSE staffing levels in comparison with the previous peak in April 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9567/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason he considers it not appropriate to repeat the same arrangements for student nurses and midwives currently on, or soon to commence, clinical placement regarding the provision of the report that points out that the Government always has the option to repeat the exercise from April 2020 should the need arise, given the current levels of positive cases of Covid-19 that the healthcare system is dealing with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9568/21]
View answerStudent clinical placements across a variety of care settings are a vital part of nursing and midwifery learning in the educational programmes. Clinical placement learning makes up 50% of these programmes. Placements, where students are immersed in the care environments enables students to develop the practical knowledge, clinical skills and professional behaviours required to qualify and be eligible to join the professional register. Supernumerary clinical student placements ensure learning takes place on the frontline and that the experience is gained under the supervision of a registered nurse or midwife. I want to protect their status as students and protect their graduate programme which has delivered so many benefits.
As the Deputy is aware, supernumerary clinical placements for 1-3rd year nursing and midwifery students were temporarily suspended from the 18th January to support the HSE request to release senior, qualified staff employed to support student placements who had the necessary experience to help directly with the COVID-19 response. However, placements with the necessary supports in place have been gradually resuming and last week 1,473 ( or 89%) of the 1,659 nursing and midwifery students who were due to be on clinical placement were on placement. This gradual resumption is continuing.
810. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason for not providing final year interns who are rostered members of staff, who are remunerated within an agreed salary with an increased salary equal to the rate that interns were offered in spring 2020 for the duration of their rostered internship, particularly given the significant increase in hospitalisations since that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9569/21]
View answerIn spring 2020, a temporary measure was put in place to provide additional and immediate support to the national effort to increase recruitment for the health service, to assist it dealing with the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ‘Health Care Assistant initiative’ (whereby student nurses and midwives were offered temporary contracts to work as Health Care Assistants) began in April 2020 and ceased in August 2020. Student nurses and midwives who took part in this initiative received payment of the first point of the Health Care Assistant salary scale at that time, €28,493. Also, as part of this initiative, 4th year nurses and midwives who were on paid work internship placements at that time had their contracts temporarily augmented and paid at the first point on the Health Care Assistant salary scale.
Since the start of the pandemic, the HSE has also added significant additional numbers of nursing, medical and support staff as part of their response to the demands COVID-19 has made on the health service. Budget 2021 has been the largest investment in the health service workforce, with a current estimated increase of 15,838 Whole-Time Equivalent staff across 2020 and 2021. This includes a significant increase in the number of nurses and midwives. Already the HSE reports that a total of 1,712 additional Whole-Time Equivalent nursing and midwifery staff were added between December 2019 and December 2020. The Pay and Numbers Strategy is currently being finalised and will confirm the total projected increase of nurses and midwives in 2021.
Unlike March 2020, this significant increase in staffing numbers means the HSE is now better prepared to deal with the recent surge in admissions. My Department has made it clear to the HSE that it stands ready to provide additional supports if needed, including a similar initiative to last year’s if required. To date, the HSE have not requested any re-opening of this initiative as part of their staffing needs.
It should be noted that the regular pay for 4th year student nurses on paid internship increased by 2% on 1st October 2020. The annualised salary for this group is now €21,749 (or €10.72 per hour) for general nursing and midwifery students and €22,229 (€10.96 per hour) for psychiatric nursing students.
I would also like to confirm to the Deputy that a review is due to commence on long-term matters regarding supports for student nurses and midwives on clinical placements, including those on paid internship placement. My Department is currently engaging with the nursing unions on this matter and I expect this review to commence its work in the near future.
