Written Answers Nos. 1878-1902
1878. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended a rapid access prostate clinic for a diagnostic test during each month from January 2020 to January 2021; the percentage of these appointments that were seen within the recommended timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15753/21]
View answerThe number of attendances at Prostate Rapid Access Clinics for the period January 2020 to January 2021 is as follows:
Prostate Rapid Access Clinics Data
The January 2021 data has not been finalised and so may be subject to some change.
1879. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in providing better and more efficient access to paediatric rheumatology for children with special needs; the progress to date in securing additional paediatric rheumatologists within the HSE since the recruitment drive closed in December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1880. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the various Covid-19-related public information campaigns run by his Department to date; and the number that relate specifically on the way to properly wear a face covering and to dispose and wash face masks appropriately. [15764/21]
View answerMy Department has invested in significant public health campaigns to ensure that all members of the community are aware of the public health guidelines, and the significant work carried out by the NPHET.
On 16 March 2020, in response to COVID-19, my Department acknowledged the importance of people maintaining their wellbeing to help them push through this unprecedented outbreak and the months that follow. With regards to this, a national wellbeing initiative was launched in April 2020. The Healthy Ireland team in my Department, together with the HSE and Government Information Systems (GIS), led the collaborative development and delivery of the Government’s COVID-19 wellbeing campaign ‘In This Together’ to promote cross-Departmental resources and initiatives to support health and wellbeing during this challenging time.
The #Inthistogether Wellbeing and Mental Health campaign featured radio advertising and social media activity to raise awareness about the need for social distancing in support of people who are visually impaired and people with disabilities.
My Department also produced a radio ad campaign to promote awareness of the introduction of regulations making the completion of the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form compulsory. The campaign was launched on 28 May 2020 and ran for two weeks across more than 30 radio stations including national, regional and local broadcasters.
Also during the ongoing pandemic, my Department has produced a TV campaign to promote safe shopping habits during the COVID-19 crisis in April and May of 2020.
With regards to my Departments social media campaign, one item of social media advertising is planned for 2021. This is the continuation of the KEEP WELL campaign into 2021 which will be used to promote 4 videos which includes promoting the correct use of face masks.
Furthermore, my Departments regular NPHET press conferences provide a substantial opportunity to respond to media queries and to raise the profile of the key public health campaigns required to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the importance of the wearing of face coverings in shops, crowded outdoor spaces, on public transport and indoor communal working spaces.
On Thursday 7th January, the Chief Medical Officer took the opportunity to highlight the possible misuse in the wearing of face coverings and to advise people to review the guidance on how to wear a face covering which is available on the gov.ie and HSE.ie websites. For example: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/aac74c-guidance-on-safe-use-of-face-coverings/ and https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-coverings-masks-and-covid-19/when-to-wear.html#when-to-wear.
To support the ongoing public health guidance by the NPHET, my Department’s Press and Communications unit works closely with the HSE Communications team to raise the awareness further with regards to these campaigns amongst the general public. In June 2020, the HSE engaged a public awareness campaign around wearing masks / face coverings.
As this question also relates directly to the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1881. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will consider on grounds of equity allowing provision for medical card holders to access specialist women’s healthcare treatments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/21]
View answerWomen who have a medical card are entitled to a range of services including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards (including consultant services), all out-patient public hospital services (including consultant services).
In relation to care under the specific areas the Deputy has mentioned, it is recommended that women who experience menopausal symptoms which they find difficult to deal with see their GP. GPs can offer treatments and suggest lifestyle changes if a woman has severe menopausal symptoms that have a significant impact on her everyday activities.
In relation to lactation consultants, Midwives and Public Health Nurses are trained and are skilled in providing breastfeeding support commencing in the antenatal period in the delivery of antenatal/breastfeeding education. Midwives support the establishment of breastfeeding immediately after birth and help mothers learn the skill of breastfeeding in the immediate post-natal period. Public Health Nurses, many of whom also trained as Midwives and Paediatric Nurses, are trained and skilled in providing breastfeeding support throughout the post-natal period.
Every new mother is seen by a Public Health Nurse within 72 hours of leaving hospital and follow-up support is provided to breastfeeding mothers. Approximately 200 staff working within the HSE e.g. Midwives, Public Health Nurses, medical doctors also hold an additional International Board Certified Lactation Consultant qualification.
Integrating routine lactation consultant support has been shown to improve the experience of care that mothers receive and breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in Ireland and internationally. Breastfeeding clinics and online breastfeeding support meetings are provided by the HSE and HSE funded voluntary breastfeeding organisations around the country. Facilitators of these groups have International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant qualifications or are experienced trained peer counsellors.
The HSE also run a free online breastfeeding advice and information service staffed by experienced International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants 7 days a week, there was a 38% increase in demand for the service in 2020 with almost 4,000 breastfeeding questions answered via live chat or e-mail.
In addition to these supports, the HSE also have a cohort of posts based both within maternity services and within public health nursing services which are dedicated lactation consultant posts so as to provide specialised care for mothers experiencing challenges with breastfeeding which is over and above that referenced above. These dedicated posts also support the development of the skills and knowledge of other front-line colleagues in the area of breastfeeding.
Finally, the Women’s Health Taskforce which was established in September 2019 with the aim of improving women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare, has a key role to ensuring women’s health issues can be given more consistent, expert and committed attention within the health system and the Department of Health. This includes listening to women through a national ‘Radical Listening’ exercise and hearing their suggestions for women’s health in Ireland. These findings will be shared in the coming months.
1882. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line healthcare workers in an organisation (details supplied) in Cork who have been vaccinated. [15778/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1883. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the details of his engagement with EU member states and the UK in respect of his contribution on a proposed common Covid-19 travel certificate and or a digital green certificate in respect of travel. [15599/21]
View answerOn 17 March, the EU Commission published its proposal for Regulation for a Digital Green Certificate. This proposed regulation lays down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates to facilitate free movement. Ireland is carefully considering the proposal and its many policy, infrastructural and operational implications across a number of sectors and authorities. This proposal is part of the package of EU measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It builds, in particular, on previous technical work carried out in the Health Security Committee and the eHealth Network.
The EU Health Security Committee is a vital part of the collaborative effort to develop coordinated response to cross-border health threats from infectious diseases. My Department has engaged with this Committee throughout the pandemic. I recognise the importance of the UKs participation on this Committee during this crisis and welcome their collaboration in addressing this serious cross-border threat to health.
My Department has participated in weekly eHealth Network Co-ordinated Actions meetings since the start of the pandemic and the issue of digital certification for COVID-19 vaccinations has been discussed at this network.
I am committed to continuing this collaboration towards developing similar travel approaches where it is appropriate to do so and in line with national public health advice.
1884. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE paediatric pain specialists nationally; his plans to increase same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15788/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1885. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the spend on the HSE breastfeeding action plan for 2019 and 2020; and the way in which this compares to that which had been budgeted for this area. [15789/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1886. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health when a written policy will be in place allowing occupational health to clear for immediate return to work critical healthcare workers deemed highly vulnerable (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15794/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1887. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health when the paediatric rheumatologist will start work and see patients; when the information leaflet prepared for general practitioners by parents of children with Down's syndrome-related arthritis and which has been ready since November 2019 will be distributed to their practices and to other health professionals; when arthritis screening for children with Down's syndrome will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15795/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1888. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment and appointment of a full-time dedicated paediatric pain consultant given that children in chronic pain are now without a full-time consultant for 16 months; if the number of children on the waiting lists as published are correct ; the reason the multidisciplinary pain teams which were filled three months ago are not seeing patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15796/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1889. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if elderly persons having to travel distances to receive their vaccine will be eligible for reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15817/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1890. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the positions allocated and filled in counties Sligo and Leitrim in respect of speech and language therapy, social work, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in tabular form; and the figures at a national level. [15822/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
1891. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of independent dental practices that signed up to the dental treatment services scheme in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15823/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1893. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the cost involved in mandatory quarantining for those entering Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15826/21]
View answerAll passengers arriving into Ireland from designated States after 4 a.m. on the morning of Friday, 26 March are now required to pre-book accommodation in a designated quarantine facility, and to pre-pay for their stay. Persons arriving from non-designated States and who have had a not-detected PCRE test in the preceding 72 hours will not be required to enter a designated quarantine facility but will still be subject to other public health requirements.
Before travelling to Ireland, persons arriving from designated States or who have been in a designated State in the previous 14 days must, under the law, reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine using an online booking portal for their entire party.
The cost of mandatory hotel quarantine will depend on the number of persons in the arriving party and the number of any additional adults and children involved. F ull details are available on the online booking portal https://www.quarantinehotelsireland.ie/
1894. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person with a brain injury who is over 65 years of age and who could gain significantly from rehabilitation is unable to access community neurorehabilitation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15827/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government – Our Shared Future’, includes a commitment for advancing neuro-rehabilitation services in the community.
The Health Service Executive is leading on the implementation framework in respect of the recommendations of the National Policy and Strategy for the provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015. The focus of the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy is on achieving best outcomes for people, by providing safe, high quality, person-centred care at the lowest appropriate level of complexity. This must be integrated across the care pathway and provided as close to home as possible or in specialist centres, where necessary.
The framework will guide the reconfiguration and development of neuro-rehabilitation structures and services at national and local level, through a 10-step Framework. It proposes the formation of Managed Clinical Rehabilitation Networks (MCRNs), with the set-up of one demonstration MCRN suggested as the first step. The ultimate goal of this approach is to put in place a national framework of acute, inpatient and specialist community services.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1895. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare workers in each category that have received the Covid-19 vaccine to date; the number of persons between 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 over 85 years of age, respectively who have received the vaccine to date; the number of persons at very high risk of severe disease who have received the vaccine to date by condition; and the number in each type of long-term care facility, for example, nursing homes, residential disability, and residential mental health institutes that have received the vaccine to date in tabular form. [15829/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1896. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the definition for the term "not coded" which is used on Covid-19 data hub in relation to the persons who have been administered a vaccine. [15830/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1897. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the IT system for the vaccination roll-out is capable of issuing appointments for vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15831/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1898. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the clinical evidence in relation to the point at which persons in an age cohort are no more likely to develop severe disease if they catch SARS-CoV-2 than the general population; (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15832/21]
View answerThere is a large body of consistent national and international surveillance and research evidence to indicate that the risk of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 increases sharply in older age groups and in patients with certain underlying conditions. Surveillance of COVID-19 in Ireland, including the collection of age-specific risk of hospitalisation and death data, is an executive function of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1899. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he plans to take measures providing equal treatment to patients taking products manufactured by a company (details supplied) and to allow the type of medical cannabis products to be funded at source similar to those under the compassionate access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15833/21]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to Section 10B of the Health Act 2004 under which the Minister for Health may not give a direction to the Executive in the manner as sought by the Deputy.
1900. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if an updated vaccine supply forecast will be provided for quarters 1, 2 and 3 (details supplied). [15837/21]
View answerIreland is working as part of the EU to secure a safe and stable supply of Covid-19 vaccines and expects to receive up to 1.1 million doses of three currently authorised vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca) before end March 2021.
Advance planning for April, May and June shows Ireland receiving over 1 million doses per month from Advance Purchase Agreements. The delivery timeframes are still being worked on with manufacturers. Janssen, the fourth authorised vaccine, will start supplying vaccine doses in the latter half of April.
Vaccines continue to be administered very quickly after their arrival into the country, although supply is currently limited by a number of factors including manufacturing constraints. Further significant progress will be made over the coming months, as additional quantities of vaccine supplies arrive into the country and more vaccines are approved for use, which will substantially increase capacity to administer vaccines and reach broader population coverage.
1901. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if office bound HSE staff have received a Covid-19 vaccine; the number of this cohort who have received a vaccine; the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15838/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1902. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on Covid-19 testing and tracing in 2020; the amount budgeted for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15843/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
