Matt Shanahan
Question:168. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an extra 1.3 million home support hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15985/21]
View answerHome Help Service
Questions (168)
Written answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (169)
Matt Shanahan
Question:169. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for both inpatient and outpatient appointments at University Hospital Waterford in 2019 and 2020, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15986/21]
View answerWritten answers
It 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 HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
On 23 March the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”. This plan outlines a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met.
Every phase of the plan has been informed by clinical guidance and putting patient and staff safety first.
Decisions in relation to the type and volume of activity will be made at site level based on local COVID-19 numbers, available capacity and guidance from national clinical leads.
The schedule outlined in the plan for resumption of services will be regularly monitored by the HSE and updated as appropriate, dependant on public health advice and healthcare capacity.
The work of the HSE to improve access to elective care and reduce waiting times for patients is supported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This included increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.
€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.
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 information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons waiting for both inpatient and outpatient appointments at University Hospital Waterford in 2019 and 2020 is outlined in the attached document. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) publishes the Inpatient and Day Case (IPDC) and Outpatient (OPD) waiting lists on the NTPF website monthly https://www.ntpf.ie/home/inpatient.htm
Departmental Communications
Questions (170)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:170. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the dedicated email addresses for Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact his Department and bodies under its aegis as outlined in circular 25/2016. [16007/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (171)
Matt Carthy
Question:171. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 964 of 3 March 2021, the number of speech and language therapists who have been working on speech and language duties by CHO region for each month from January 2020 to February 2021, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16017/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Questions (172)
Martin Kenny
Question:172. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to recruit staff, in particular psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and nursing staff (details supplied), to CAMHS in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16018/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (173)
Verona Murphy
Question:173. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) has been included in the group 4 listing of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out; the location at which the vaccine will be administered to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/21]
View answerWritten answers
Directions have been issued by the HSE to all hospitals, both public and private, to identify eligible patients for vaccination within Cohort 4. If they meet the criteria and are under the care of a hospital then they will be contacted via that hospital.
Where patients are no longer under hospital care, the HSE has engaged with General Practices (GPs) to identify that group within Cohort 4.
The vaccination rollout for cohort 4 is only currently limited by the ongoing identification of eligible clients by Hospitals and GP practices as outlined above and by the availability of vaccines.
Those eligible within Cohort 4 will be called for their appointment as soon as possible.
Protected Disclosures
Questions (174)
Catherine Murphy
Question:174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16033/21]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
PDs received |
Deemed a PD |
Referred to 3rd Party (HSE or body under the aegis of the Department) |
|
2017 |
15 |
7 |
7 |
|
2018 |
23 |
14 |
14 |
|
2019 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
|
2020 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
|
2021 to date |
2 |
2 |
2 |
My Department has received 43 valid protected disclosures since the Protected Disclosures Act was introduced in 2014. Of these, 24 have been brought to a conclusion and 19 are ongoing.
Protected Disclosures
Questions (175)
Catherine Murphy
Question:175. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16051/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has received one protected disclosure from an official within the Department during the period referred to by the Deputy. It was received in 2020 and has been investigated in line with the Department's Protected Disclosure Policy and procedures and brought to a conclusion. No Protected Disclosures were received from former or retired officials of the Department.
Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme
Questions (176)
Michael Ring
Question:176. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of applications (details supplied) approved in County Mayo from 1 January 2021 to 19 March 2021 weekly in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16062/21]
View answerWritten answers
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) 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.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
Ambulance Service
Questions (177, 178)
David Cullinane
Question:177. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve the ambulance service in the Dublin area; the effect of the improvements to date on the waiting times for ambulances; his plans to locate an additional ambulance base in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16065/21]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:178. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average response time of ambulances in the Dublin area; the number of ambulances ordinarily based at each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16066/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin Fire Brigade provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county, by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service (NAS) also provides some emergency capacity within the greater Dublin area. Where required, the NAS provides additional resources from neighbouring counties to address demand in Dublin, including motorbikes, rapid response vehicles and emergency ambulances. In addition, ambulances from other parts of the country, which may be travelling to or from a Dublin hospital, may be available to respond to emergency calls in the Dublin area where they are the nearest resource to a patient.
The Emergency Service Baseline and Capacity Review, submitted to Government in May 2016, identified a requirement for increased ambulance resources in the eastern region, which covers Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. The review underlined the need for a multi-annual programme of phased investment in ambulance manpower, vehicles and technology. In that context, Government has provided additional annual investment for ambulance services in recent years, including €10 million in 2021 in support of initiatives including the training of additional paramedics to meet baseline capacity needs.
As the specific allocation of resources and emergency response time performance are operational matters in the first instance, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with any further information that might be available.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (179)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:179. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to the prioritisation of heart failure patients for access to the Covid-19 vaccine in view of information (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16068/21]
View answerWritten answers
On 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.
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (180)
Thomas Pringle
Question:180. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if seafarers will be exempt from the mandatory hotel quarantine for passengers arriving here from high-risk countries which is due to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16080/21]
View answerWritten answers
Section 38B(25) of the Health Act 1947 provides that certain categories of persons are "exempted travellers" who are exempted from the requirement to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.
Among the categories of exempted travellers is a person "who is an aircraft pilot, other aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew who arrives in the State in the course of performing his or her duties,".
Any person who believes they may be an exempt traveller should be aware that they may remain subject to other travel restrictions and controls and should refer to gov.ie for any additional information on these matters.
Disability Services Data
Questions (181, 182)
Pauline Tully
Question:181. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for children's disability services; the number on the waiting list for less than three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16081/21]
View answerPauline Tully
Question:182. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of children in each CHO on the waiting list for children's disability services in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16082/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (183)
Pauline Tully
Question:183. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will consider increasing the staffing numbers in children’s disability services in order to reduce the time spent by children on the waiting list for these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16083/21]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that funding for an additional 100 new therapy posts was provided for in the recent Budget. These posts, when in place, will help improve access to services for children with disabilities and developmental delays.
In addition, In August 2020 the HSE secured €7.8m through Sláintecare to address overdue Assessments of Need. This work is well underway with more than half the backlog cleared by end of February.
This is a hugely important measure, as the elimination of the historic backlog will allow the Children's Disability Network Teams to direct more resources towards providing interventions to all children who need them.
Disability Services Provision
Questions (184)
Pauline Tully
Question:184. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person (details supplied) will have to wait before they gain access to children’s disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16084/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Covid-19 Tests
Questions (185)
Thomas Pringle
Question:185. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if seafarers are exempt from having to provide evidence of a negative or not detected result from a Covid-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test before arriving here from another country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16085/21]
View answerWritten answers
SI No. 44/2021 sets out pre-departure test requirements which apply to persons who are travelling to the State from any territory outside the State other than Northern Ireland. Limited exemptions from this requirement apply including for international transport workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors travelling in the course of performing their duties. It is intended that SI No. 44/2021 will be replaced by new regulations being introduced as part of a wider legal framework giving effect to government policy on travel including mandatory quarantine at designated facilities.
Hospital Staff
Questions (186, 211)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:186. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) relating to the plan to cut six of 30 newly qualified doctors at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16100/21]
View answer
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:211. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to avail of the ability of newly qualified doctors by offering all graduating doctors in 2021 positions under the HSE as interns, thus retaining this valuable resource here, particularly in view of the high cost to the State of educating doctors and given the shortage of trained doctors here and the need in recent years to recruit many doctors from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16156/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 211 together.
Over 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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
Questions (187)
Niamh Smyth
Question:187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the decision to disallow a fair deal appeal by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if the review letter will be examined by HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16103/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.