Written Answers Nos. 877-898
877. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the additional resources his Department will make available to tackle effectively the substantial increase in drug misuse by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9862/21]
View answerThe Department of Health does not collect data on drug misuse by county. The HSE has responsibility under the Health Act 2004, as amended, for the provision of health and personal social services including addiction services.
I have asked the HSE to provide a breakdown of the funding for addiction services by Community Healthcare Organisation, in tabular form and to reply directly to the Deputy on this matter.
Several important measures were introduced in 2020 to improve access to drug and alcohol services. These measures include the recruitment of four drug and alcohol liaison midwives to support pregnant women, the commencement of a residential treatment services for women with children in the mid-west and south regions, and the commencement of a community-based alcohol treatment service in Galway. The full year costs of implementing these measures are €2.1m in 2021.
Budget 2021 allocated €10m in new developments for drug and alcohol services and inclusion health. €4 million of this funding has been provided to enhance drug and alcohol services and address substance misuse.
This funding has been allocated as follows:
- €1m to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces, and to increase core funding for existing services.
- €2m to increase residential treatment services for people with severe drug and alcohol dependency across the country, including a step-up stabilisation facility in CHOs Cork/Kerry, Mid-West and South East and a low threshold programme in Dublin North East Inner City
- €700,000 to expand community and family support services, including initiatives in Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo, Louth/Meath, Cork/Kerry, and Dublin North Inner City
- €400,000 for harm reduction initiatives, including pilot drug monitoring at festivals and the night-time economy, expanded access to the drugs and alcohol helpline and increased provision of naloxone.
It is my intention that the €1m for targeted drug and alcohol initiatives will be directed towards new and emerging needs, informed by the mid-term review of actions in the national drugs strategy, and delivered in conjunction with drug and alcohol task forces. I will announce details of the new funding in due course.
The HSE has significantly improved access to opioid substitution treatment since January 2020 in response to Covid-19. As a result, an additional 905 people in receipt of OST at the end of January 2021 when compared with January 2020 representing an 8.64% increase. Budget 2021 provided a further €4.2 million to continue these measures in 2021.
In addition, €11m will be provided in 2021 to meet the complex health needs of people who are homeless, including those in addiction, arising from Covid-19.
878. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of SNAs working directly with children and adults who cannot adhere to hygiene etiquette who have been vaccinated to date by county. [9863/21]
View answerOnly individuals in groups 1 to 3 of the provisional vaccine allocation groups are currently being vaccinated.
This includes the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, frontline healthcare workers in direct patient contact roles, and those aged 70 and older in the following order: 85 and older, 80-84, 75-79, and 70-74. Vaccination of those aged 85 and older began on 15th February.
879. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when patients awaiting primary medical certificates from the primary care health centre in Mullingar, County Westmeath, since March 2020 will have their cases assessed by a medical examiner. [9864/21]
View answer880. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the additional staff who will be recruited to address the backlog of primary medical certificate assessments in County Longford; and when the recruitment process will start. [9865/21]
View answer881. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the additional staff who will be recruited to address the backlog of primary medical certificate assessments in County Westmeath; and when the recruitment process will start. [9866/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 879 to 881, inclusive, together.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme is underpinned by statute and comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate, which is a requirement for the Scheme. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Deputy may be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
In the context of the national effort to suppress and manage the impact of COVID, the ability to hold assessments is impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place and the role of the HSE Medical Officers in the roll out of the COVID vaccination programme. The HSE has confirmed that the community medical doctors and their teams are predominately deployed to the COVID vaccination rollout in residential care facilities and other health care settings.
I have been informed that the HSE is considering the matter of Primary Medical Certificate assessments in the context of their revision of the HSE Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
As the issues raised by the Deputy relating to Primary Medical Certificate assessments in specific locations are service matters, I have arranged to have the questions referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
882. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of women waiting for gynaecology appointments by hospital in tabular form. [9867/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result of the deferral of elective scheduled care activity in March, April and May of 2020, and since 2nd January 2021. At present the HSE recommends that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. At all times, patient safety remains at the forefront of the HSE decision to defer elective scheduled care activity.
The HSE continues to identify ways to improve access to care for example through modified pathways to care in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of private hospitals, community facilities and atypical outpatient settings
The data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF have further advised my Department that the Dublin Maternity Hospitals (Holles Street, the Coombe, and the Rotunda) do not submit full waiting list data to the NTPF. The Coombe and the Rotunda only submit Outpatient data, while Holles Street does not currently submit any data as yet. All of these sites have engaged, in detail, with the NTPF to progress steps to allow data to be submitted to the NTPF. This includes the resolution of data protection and technical issues. The Department continues to closely monitor the progress of this project through established Governance structures
The table attached provides details of the number of patients in both Inpatient (IPDC) and Outpatient (OPD) categories, on waiting lists for Gynaecology appointments by Hospital and by time-bands at the end of January 2021. This information is updated each month on the National Treatment Purchase Fund website.
883. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time by gynaecology appointment by hospital in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [9868/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result of the deferral of elective scheduled care activity in March, April and May of 2020, and since 2nd January 2021. At present the HSE recommends that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. At all times, patient safety remains at the forefront of the HSE decision to defer elective scheduled care activity.
The HSE continues to identify ways to improve access to care for example through modified pathways to care in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of private hospitals, community facilities and atypical outpatient settings
The data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and is outlined in the attached document. The NTPF have further advised my Department that the Dublin Maternity Hospitals (Holles Street, the Coombe, and the Rotunda) do not submit full waiting list data to the NTPF. The Coombe and the Rotunda only submit Outpatient data, while Holles Street does not currently submit any data as yet. All of these sites have engaged, in detail, with the NTPF to progress steps to allow data to be submitted to the NTPF. This includes the resolution of data protection and technical issues. The Department continues to closely monitor the progress of this project through established Governance structures.
The tables attached provide details of the average waiting time for Gynaecology appointments for both Inpatient (IPDC) and Outpatient (OPD) categories by Hospital for years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
884. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer following gynaecology consultation in 2018, 2019 and 2020. [9869/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
885. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients by hospital with a cancer diagnosis who had surgery delayed as a result of Covid-19 in tabular form. [9870/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
886. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with a cancer diagnosis attending Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, for treatment who had surgery postponed as a result of Covid-19. [9871/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
888. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health his views on whether women should be facilitated with a supportive partner while presenting at hospital due to pregnancy loss. [9876/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
889. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of cases that have been recorded in the State of post-Covid-19 paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome; the hospitals in which these cases have been treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9881/21]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
892. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the use of antigen testing regimes in non-healthcare settings to facilitate return to sectoral activity when emerging from level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9885/21]
View answer992. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 antigen tests purchased by the State; the expected uses of same; and if he plans greater use of antigen testing when the economy begins to reopen. [10272/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 892 and 992 together.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) considers the use of Antigen Detection Tests (ADTs) on an ongoing basis and has endorsed recommendations on the use of ADTs that have been validated as a supplement to PCR testing in certain situations, and particularly when the availability of PCR tests may be limited.
Validation studies, both here in Ireland and in Europe, are showing significant disparities in test performance (particularly in relation to sensitivity) versus some manufacturer claims, with some tests not meeting minimum performance requirements set by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Furthermore, their intended use is typically in symptomatic individuals in the early stages of infection, where samples are taken, and tests conducted by trained health professionals. There is limited performance data currently available for the use of antigen tests in asymptomatic populations. The studies also show that performance in symptomatic individuals is much better than in asymptomatic individuals where data are available.
While rapid Antigen Detection Tests (ADTs) are described as rapid and simple to perform, they are not designed to be delivered in large numbers and there are considerable human resource, operational, quality assurance, and clinical governance considerations in their administration. To date, validation work indicates that ADTs are most effective in detection of symptomatic cases, when symptom onset is within the last 5 days and when the likelihood of test positivity is greater than 10% among the target population.
The HSE is currently putting in place deployment options for the use of ADTs for specific indications in the acute hospital setting and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community setting in symptomatic vulnerable populations and their close contacts, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. This includes updating the case definition for SARS-CoV-2 to accept notification of positive results from ADTs undertaken in the public health system and reporting of such cases to the COVID Care tracker and to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) information system developed to manage the surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ireland.
Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the use of ADTS in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis due to the role they can have in the national testing strategy. In particular, further setting-specific ADT validation work continues to be undertaken by the HSE. Antigen testing will not, however, replace the requirement for large scale PCR testing which remains the gold standard for community testing.
On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to detect, and mitigate the impact of, the virus across the population. This includes keeping Ireland’s national testing policy under continuing review.
893. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the plans being considered for the reopening of the gay men’s health service which has been closed since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9886/21]
View answerThe Gay Men's Health Service is a community STI service and is managed through HSE Community Healthcare East (CHO6).
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented interruption to normal healthcare activity, with all services affected. The closure of the GMHS in 2020 related primarily to the necessary redeployment of increasing numbers of personnel to diverse COVID-19 related duties. Following the GMHS closure, significant efforts were made to maintain service provision.
In 2021, all health services continue to face restrictions, as the health system needs to prioritise treating those with COVID-19 and rolling out the vaccination programme. Notwithstanding these pressures, CHO6 are continuing to work to reopen the GMHS on a phased basis. The recruitment of permanent staff is progressing with administration staff in post and IT expansion under way.
Existing PrEP users are being seen in the GMHS. The Clinic Consultant and other doctors are providing virtual consultations, and PrEP service users attend GMHS for STI screening and blood testing. Those with diagnosed STIs or requiring Hepatitis and/or HPV vaccine continue to be treated in GMHS also.
In summary, a phased reintroduction of STI services is currently under way in GMHS. All services are being and will continue to be delivered in accordance with current Public Health COVID guidelines. Officials from the Department of Health and the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme are in regular contact with CHO6 to monitor progress regarding the phased reopening of the GMHS.
It should also be noted that phone lines, the GMHS website and other resources such as www.man2man.ie and www.sexualwellbeing.ie are regularly updated to reflect current service delivery and to signpost users to the HSE list of approved STI and PrEP services.
894. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the way in which he plans to address the gap in data relating to sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV in the absence of regular screening and testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9887/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
895. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if the new primary healthcare centre in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, will include full changing places and toilets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9898/21]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
896. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if the new primary healthcare centre in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, will include a hoist available to assist persons to treatment beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9899/21]
View answerAs the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
897. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the interdisciplinary measures taken recently to reduce the loss of life in the Corrib river in view of recent tragic loss of life in waters in County Galway; if further measures will be investigated such as an interdisciplinary task force; if such measures will be implemented to address the urgency of these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9902/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
898. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate a regional respite service (details supplied) in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9912/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
