Written Answers Nos. 1554-1572
1554. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if the State Claims Agency attended any of the sodium valproate project group meetings; and, if so, the reason the agency would be in attendance of the meetings. [18247/21]
View answerDepartment of Health officials did not attend meetings of the HSE Valproate Response Project team. As this is a matter for the HSE, I have asked the agency to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1555. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the actions of the CEO of a hospital (details supplied) in the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine was a misuse of State property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18251/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1556. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if patients with lupus were in category 4 and have subsequently been removed from the category (details supplied). [18252/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
On the 23rd of February, 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.
On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).
The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:
- protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;
- facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;
- improving transparency and fairness.
Further details are available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
1557. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health when the gay men’s health service will reopen; the measures he is taking to ensure that staff and funding will be made available for the programmes and survival of the clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18254/21]
View answerThe Gay Men's Health Service is a community STI service, managed through HSE Community Healthcare East (CHO6). The GMHS was, in fact, reopened in January 2021 on a phased basis, in line with Government and HSE Guidelines, and this phased re-opening is ongoing.
Existing PrEP users are being seen in the GMHS. The Clinic’s Consultant in Infectious Diseases (GMHS and GUIDE Clinic, St James’s Hospital) 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.
The temporary closure of the GMHS in 2020 resulted from the pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and related primarily to the necessary redeployment of increasing numbers of personnel to diverse COVID-19 related duties. Staff in the Gay Men’s Health Service (GMHS) were reassigned, by reason of necessity, to other HSE services. During the GMHS closure, significant efforts were made to maintain service provision through other locations, including the GUIDE Clinic in St. James’ Hospital.
Prior to the pandemic, the GMHS was staffed by 97% agency staff; this is no longer the case. Funding for the PrEP programme allowed pro-rata recurring funding to be allocated to GMHS in 2020. As a result of pandemic related pressures on staffing, recruitment in 2020 was initially focussed on the services required to support the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a recruitment campaign to fill the posts for the GMHS PrEP programme commenced in the latter part of 2020 and is progressing, with administration staff in post and IT improvements and expansion underway.
In summary, a phased reintroduction of STI services is currently under way in GMHS. The GMHS will continue to reinstate services on a phased basis and in line with the HSE’s Safe Return to Health Services Plan and in accordance with all current Public Health COVID guidelines. Officials from the Department of Health and HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme are in regular contact with CHO6 to monitor progress on the phased reopening of the GMHS.
HSE Community Healthcare East advises that they have made every effort to restore, and maintain services as far as is possible, given current pandemic related pressures on resources. It is envisaged that the current phased re-opening will continue, subject to demand for health services, arising pandemic related pressures and available resources.
Funding remains in place and will continue to remain in place for all STI clinics including the GMHS; it is hoped that these services can be delivered to their full pre-pandemic potential and developed further, once pandemic related constraints on the health service as a whole can be safely reduced.
1558. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if measures have been put in place to ensure new referrals for assessment of need are seen in a timely fashion during the transition from current services to the progressing disability service model. [18256/21]
View answer1560. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if steps have been put in place to ensure new referrals for assessments of needs are seen in a timely fashion during the transition from current services to the progressing disability service model. [18258/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1558 and 1560 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1559. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason some children have not been contacted by psychologists directly (details supplied) under the children’s complex pain service at Children’s Health Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18257/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1561. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints made to HSE local health offices regarding charges for phlebotomy services; the number of complaints upheld; the number of complaints otherwise dismissed; the number of complaints pending investigation; the number of refunds issued; the value of same; the total value of refunds issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18261/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1562. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has records of the number of homecare workers who have tested positive for Covid-19 during the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18266/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1563. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place or that are about to be put in place for pregnant women in the context of the current and changing Covid-19 restrictions in order that can they have the full range of maternity services provided to them before, during and after childbirth and in order that they will be able to have the presence and support of a friend, a partner or birth-partner at these times given the ad-hoc and sometimes traumatic situations that happened in the maternity services in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1564. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any Minister or Minister of State or adviser to a Minister or Minister of State who requested or suggested to the HSE or any Department that a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin be used as a vaccination site for Covid-19. [18271/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1565. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his Department can respond to a query (details supplied) regarding resourcing of maxillofacial surgery procedure presently suspended at University Hospital Waterford; when a surgery date for this person will be confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18276/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1566. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists for appointments for therapies (details supplied) in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18281/21]
View answerThe National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS ) comes under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills. As the remainder of the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1567. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18285/21]
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.
1568. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current funding available for the technical aids scheme by CHO in tabular form; the funding drawn down between 2016 to 2020; the eligibility criteria to access the funding; if the HSE will publish information on the application process on its website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18286/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1569. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the position of persons suffering with rheumatoid arthritis on the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out programme. [18287/21]
View answerThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
On the 23rd of February, 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.
On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and my Department , following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).
The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:• protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;• facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;• improving transparency and fairness.
Further details are available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
In relation to the categories of very high risk and high risk conditions, this list is not exhaustive. It may also include people who have been classed as at very high risk, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of need. It is recommended that the individuals concerned discuss this with their treating physician who is in the best position to give appropriate advice.
1570. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary healthcare centre being developed at Station Road, Ennis. [18291/21]
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.
1571. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary healthcare centre being developed at Tulla Road, Ennis. [18292/21]
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.
1572. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned primary healthcare centre being developed at Sixmilebridge. [18293/21]
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.
