Written Answers Nos. 1728-1752
1728. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints received in respect of the contact tracing database since it was set up to date in 2021; and if he and or the HSE are engaging with the Data Protection Commissioner in respect of the robustness of the data protection measures in place in respect of the database. [15249/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1729. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the plans of the HSE for newly qualified doctors at each hospital; and if they will be retained. [15250/21]
View answerOver the past number of weeks, my Department and the HSE have been reviewing the option to increase the number of medical intern places for July 2021.
I have announced an increase of 120 medical intern posts for July 2021. The increase in the number of intern places will be supported with accompanying increases in postgraduate training places, to ensure these doctors can avail of the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.
The six Intern Training Networks, that organise and oversee intern training in Ireland, are responsible for the allocation of intern posts within their particular networks. The networks have now been informed of the additional intern posts for July 2021, and will allocate the additional posts appropriately.
1730. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified doctors being retained at Cork University Hospital. [15251/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1731. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified doctors being retained at a hospital (details supplied). [15252/21]
View answerOver the past number of weeks, my Department and the HSE have been reviewing the option to increase the number of medical intern places for July 2021.
I have announced an increase of 120 medical intern posts for July 2021. The increase in the number of intern places will be supported with accompanying increases in postgraduate training places, to ensure these doctors can avail of the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.
The six Intern Training Networks, that organise and oversee intern training in Ireland, are responsible for the allocation of intern posts within their particular networks. The networks have now been informed of the additional intern posts for July 2021, and will allocate the additional posts appropriately.
1732. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified doctors being retained at Mallow General Hospital. [15253/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1733. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a petition to retain newly qualified doctors. [15255/21]
View answerOver the past number of weeks, my Department and the HSE have been reviewing the option to increase the number of medical intern places for July 2021.
I have announced an increase of 120 medical intern posts for July 2021. The increase in the number of intern places will be supported with accompanying increases in postgraduate training places, to ensure these doctors can avail of the next step in the training pathway following completion of an internship.
Over the next number of months, the HSE will be undertaking a formal review of the number of intern posts and postgraduate training positions to ensure the number of intern places are in line with future medical workforce planning requirements of the health service. As part of this review the clinical sites where additional intern posts are most needed will be considered to ensure that the current configuration provides the most efficient and educationally appropriate model.
1734. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of vaccinations for pharmacy staff. [15261/21]
View answerOn the 23rd of February 2021, 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 next cohort to be vaccinated (Cohort 4) are those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe illness and death. Vaccination of this group began in March.
Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in direct patient contact roles are being vaccinated in Cohort 2. This includes HCWs working in public, private, and voluntary settings. Other HCWs, not in direct patient contact, will be vaccinated in Cohort 6.
It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.
1735. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of the primary medical certificate processes. [15263/21]
View answerThe 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) Community Medical Doctors 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.
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 HSE to recommence assessments from 1st January, 2021.
The ability to hold assessments has been impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place to suppress and manage the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately there are delays in the processing of assessments due to the involvement of the HSE Medical Doctors in the national COVID-19 response, which I know are causing undue strain on applicants.
I recently met with the HSE to discuss the issues around the delay in accessing Primary Medical Certificate assessments. The HSE has confirmed that it is continuing to monitor the situation in the context of resuming the range of services that are provided by Community Medical Doctors under the HSE Service Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
1736. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 720 of 17 February 2021, the breakdown of capital submissions received, approved, under evaluation and not approved from acute hospitals and hospital groups since 2018 by hospital; and if a brief description and valuation of each proposed project will be provided. [15271/21]
View answerAs 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.
1737. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting to receive omalizumab in Tallaght University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15276/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1738. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be made available for Tallaght University Hospital in relation to omalizumab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15277/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1739. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided in relation to a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding medical negligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15278/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1740. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [15280/21]
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.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1741. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE national screening service will update its BreastCheck screening standard operating procedure guidelines to notify women regarding personal breast density to improve early cancer diagnosis and help prevent advanced disease through dissemination of information regarding this independent breast cancer risk factor; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15281/21]
View answerThe National Screening Service (NSS) in the HSE have advised my Department that BreastCheck delivers its services in line with international criteria for screening programmes, based on the best international evidence.
The NSS notes that breast density measurement is not used in any population-based breast screening programme internationally, as there is no evidence to support improved overall outcomes for the population. In addition, there is no accepted standardised way of measuring breast density or international guidance to be given to women and no specific action that can be taken.
The NSS and BreastCheck monitor new research regularly to review for any potential changes or improvements that can be made.
Any proposed future changes to national population-based screening programmes will be assessed by the National Screening Advisory Committee, which was established in 2019. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly.
It is important to emphasise that BreastCheck is a screening service for otherwise well women with no symptoms. Any woman, regardless of age or eligibility with BreastCheck, who has any concerns relating to their breast health should contact their GP immediately to discuss their concerns.
1742. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if the decision to let go 15 newly qualified doctors from University Hospital Galway will be reversed given the doctors are needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15283/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1743. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the reason the Covid-19 testing centre in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow was closed for Covid-19 testing on 13 and 14 March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15286/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1745. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number of children in counties Sligo and Leitrim that are currently awaiting initial assessment, initial treatment or further therapy in speech and language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15290/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1746. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of need will be completed and the statutory obligations of the HSE met in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15295/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1748. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he has received approaches from the Minister for Justice in relation to moving members of An Garda Síochána forward on the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out schedule; if he considers this as important; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15301/21]
View answerOn the 23rd of February 2021, 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 next cohort to be vaccinated (Cohort 4) are those aged 16-69 and at very high risk of severe illness and death. Vaccination of this group began in March.
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.
It is important to emphasise that vaccination is only one part of our response to the prevention of COVID-19 infection. People who are vaccinated need to continue with all the public health measures that have been proven to reduce the risk of infection, i.e., limiting our social contacts, physical distancing, wearing a mask, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and avoiding non-essential travel until a sufficiently large proportion of the population are immune.
1749. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the day services at a facility will be reopened for all attendees that have disabilities such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15304/21]
View answerAll day service locations with the exception of those being utilised as COVID-19 isolation or testing centres have reopened since August. Service users that usually received their supports from these locations are now either receiving supports at another location or receiving outreach or home-based supports.
Day services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency day service capacity is reduced, this is due to the physical limitations of the buildings available, the lack of mainstream community activities, and the continued restrictions imposed by social distancing guidance. Many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions, and as the threat of COVID-19 remains, unfortunately so too does the need for these restrictions.
Guidance published by the HSE on 6 January 2021 confirms that day services continue to be prioritised and delivered subject to a revised Risk Assessment, Public Health Guidance and direction. People with complex medical/ clinical related needs are to remain at home and where possible, to receive the same number of hours support in the home as they had been in receipt of pre-Christmas in day service locations. Providers have been asked to reduce contacts via hubs/bubbles, with dedicated staff for dedicated service users, where possible. Where families are uncomfortable with allowing their family member to return to a day service location, a package of support within available resources will be agreed with the service user and family.
Additional funding of €30 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for day services to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This will provide an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly in relation to the individual case, as soon as possible.
1750. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding changes to the organisation and provision of health services to children and young persons with developmental delay and disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15310/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1751. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of CORU registration for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15312/21]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised I have asked CORU (the Health and Social Care Professional Council) to respond to the Deputy directly.
