Written Answers Nos. 188-207
188. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the data recording systems operated by the State in order to record all relevant personal data arising from the Covid-19 vaccination programme. [16104/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
189. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the way in which records are being kept and will be accessed in order to enable persons who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to show they have been vaccinated. [16105/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
190. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will increase funding to an organisation (details supplied) in order to extend its services to those over the age of 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16108/21]
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.
191. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 24 February 2021, if he will furnish a reply. [16110/21]
View answerIn my reply at the time to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 24 February 2021, I advised that I would survey the Department and revert with collated material. A full response has since issued to the Deputy.
192. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if those who have particular underlying conditions which make them more vulnerable to the potential side effects of certain Covid vaccines, for example those who require blood-thinning medication, those who have hypertension and so on, can be offered the option of being vaccinated with another vaccine which does not give rise to those side effects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16115/21]
View answerThe European Medicines Agency (EMA), through its safety committee, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), initiated an urgent review of all blood clotting events occurring with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to determine if there is a possible safety risk. As a member of PRAC, the Health Product Regulatory Agency (HPRA) is involved in the review of all cases of thromboembolic events, and other conditions related to blood clots, reported post-vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine.
EMA’s safety committee PRAC, concluded its preliminary review of a signal of blood clots in people vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca at its extraordinary meeting of 18 March 2021. The Committee confirmed that:
- the benefits of the vaccine in combating the still widespread threat of COVID-19 (which itself results in clotting problems and may be fatal) continue to outweigh the risk of side effects;
- the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots (thromboembolic events) in those who receive it;
- there is no evidence of a problem related to specific batches of the vaccine or to particular manufacturing sites;
- however, the vaccine may be associated with very rare cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia, i.e. low levels of blood platelets (elements in the blood that help it to clot) with or without bleeding, including rare cases of clots in the vessels draining blood from the brain (CVST).
The EMA statement stresses these are very rare events. Around 20 million people in the UK and EEA had received the vaccine by 16 March 2021. The EMA had received reports of only 7 cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and 18 cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST). A causal link with the vaccine is not proven. However, because of the rarity of these events a possible association cannot be excluded and deserves further analysis.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) have convened and reviewed the European Medicines Agency (EMA) statement in relation to the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
Firstly NIAC acknowledges the vaccine’s proven efficacy in preventing hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 outweighs the extremely small possibility of developing rare clotting events and recommends that the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca® administration should be recommenced for use in all those aged 18 and over.
However, in light of the reports of these rare events of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and cases of CVST, NIAC recommends that patients and healthcare providers should be aware of the remote possibility of such syndromes, and if symptoms suggestive of clotting problems occur patients should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare professionals of their recent vaccination.
Healthcare professionals and vaccine recipients should be informed that very rare, complicated thromboembolic events have been reported in a small number of people who have recently received COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca
In addition, NIAC advises that patients need to be alerted to the signs and symptoms that may occur related to these rare events and to this end recommends:
Recipients of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca® should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling and/or persistent abdominal pain within weeks of vaccination. Additionally, anyone with neurological symptoms including severe or persistent headaches (particularly 3 or more days after vaccination) or blurred vision, or who develop petechiae or ecchymoses beyond the site of vaccination, should seek prompt medical attention. These rare events have usually occurred within 14 days of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca®.
In addition, NIAC recommends that healthcare professionals need to be cognisant of these rare events and report to the Health Products Regulatory Agency (HPRA):
Healthcare professionals should be alert to the signs and symptoms of thromboembolism and/or thrombocytopenia and report any suspected adverse reactions to the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
That a specialist care pathway is established to treat any such cases should these arise.
Healthcare professionals should seek early expert advice from the National Coagulation Centre about the specialised testing and treatment options for patients presenting with thromboembolic events that are associated with thrombocytopenia, (including Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) or Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST)) occurring within weeks following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca®.
193. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason some elderly persons (details supplied) over 90 years of age are still waiting on the Covid-19 vaccine given they were to be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16117/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
194. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on the zero Covid strategy of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16118/21]
View answerSince the emergence of COVID-19, the Government has been guided at all times by the emerging scientific understanding of the virus and in particular has been in receipt of advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The advice of NPHET is usually provided in the form of a letter to the Minister for Health from the Chief Medical Officer, in his role as the Chair of NPHET. This advice is subsequently published on the Government website. It has set out a consistent set of advices and recommendations that are available for inspection by all.
The clear advice from NPHET has been and continues to be that our overarching objective must be to suppress the virus to the lowest level possible and to maintain it at a low level. This is essential for protecting public health and our core priorities of education, health and social care services and shielding the most vulnerable from the disease.
195. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the status of the waiting list for the asthma drug Xolair at Tallaght Hospital; the number of persons waiting for same; the length of time they have been waiting given that some persons have already been waiting more than two years for the drug; the status of funding for the drug at Tallaght Hospital and all hospitals concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16119/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
196. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the number of adults living in HSE-run or HSE-funded facilities in CHO7 requiring safeguarding in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of safeguarding visits made to each of the adults in the same period; the number of social workers designated as and or tasked with undertaking safeguarding actions of that cohort in the CHO7 area in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16124/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
197. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to ensure the retention of newly qualified junior doctors in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital with reference to interns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/21]
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.
198. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the wait times for speech and language therapy, SLT, occupational therapy and psychological services in CHO7 for the Dublin 12 area. [16127/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
199. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is on the waiting list for a procedure in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. [16129/21]
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.
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.
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.
200. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of adult primary care posts in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16135/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
201. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of child primary care posts in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16136/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
202. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for services within child primary care in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
203. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for services within adult primary care in CHO8 for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16138/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
204. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if it is a condition that charitable voluntary groups must first be in compliance with the company law requirement to file annual audited accounts before they receive funding from his Department or from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16143/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
205. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the wait times for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and psychological services in CHO7, Dublin 12. [16144/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
206. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if therapists are still redeployed for swapping; and the number from CHO7. [16145/21]
View answer208. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if therapists are still redeployed for swabbing for Covid-19; and the number from CHO7. [16153/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 208 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
207. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health where the 300 new therapists will be located. [16146/21]
View answerIn 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.
