Written Answers Nos. 1592-1610
1592. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve access to sexual health testing for members of the LGBTQ+ community in areas of the country outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18378/21]
View answerDecisions concerning the provision of sexual health services are made in line with the objectives and strategic vision of the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 - 2020 (NSHS), which aims to improve sexual health and wellbeing and reduce negative sexual health outcomes by ensuring that everyone living in Ireland has access to high quality sexual health information, education and services throughout their lives.
Subsequent to publication of the NSHS in 2015, very significant progress has been made in implementing the objectives of the Strategy. Key achievements to date include:
- The rollout of a national treatment programme of Pre – Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Ireland’s membership of the Fast Track Cities HIV global partnership project which is driving the response to HIV/AIDS across 300 cities worldwide
- Establishment and expansion of the National Condom Distribution Service, which distributes free condoms and lubricant sachets to a range of groups at higher risk of STIs
- A wide range of educational and promotional work with the education system, parents, children and young people to ensure that they receive the information and resources they need to support healthy relationships and sexuality
- An ongoing programme of research to provide the evidence base needed to ensure robust policy development
- Responding to the challenges posed by the Covid 19 pandemic in the maintenance of vital HIV/STI services. All health services, including STI/HIV services are continuing to face service restrictions due to the current impact of Covid-19 on the hospital system and social distancing requirements. Public STI clinics are prioritising those with symptoms or requiring treatment, and this includes anyone who may be referred for confirmation HIV testing.
The current Strategy was intended to cover the period from 2015 – 2020, but has now been extended to 2021. It is the intention of my Department to conduct stakeholder consultations and a review of the NSHS this year. The outcome of the consultations and the review will determine the future direction of the Strategy.
It should be noted that the HSE is currently piloting a free home STI/HIV testing service, supported by the Sláintecare Integration Fund, in Dublin, Cork and Kerry. The first phase of tests were made available early January. As a result of very high initial demand for the service, tests will now be made available in a phased manner to ensure there is sufficient capacity in local clinics for service users who may need follow-up treatment or support.
Learnings from this pilot will inform the future direction of online testing, which may prove to be a very valuable intervention in terms of meeting demand for STI services, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, given the ongoing need to comply with necessary pandemic restrictions, including social distancing
Decisions in relation to the manner and location of future sexual health services will be made in the context of the above factors. It is hoped that STI services can be delivered to their full potential and developed further, once pandemic related constraints on the health service as a whole can be safely reduced.
1593. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the person he has appointed as the designated appeals officer under the Health (Amendment) Act 2021 for Covid-19 detention facilities; the criteria in terms of experience and qualifications he considered in making this appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18383/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1947, as amended, allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine, as well as provisions for leaving quarantine under exceptional circumstances, such as medical emergencies or for humanitarian reasons.
An independent panel of appeals officers has been established under the aegis of the Department of Justice to review appeals from guests undergoing quarantine in a designated facility. There are a total of 35 appeals officers currently on this panel, all of whom are qualified barristers or solicitors with experience in reviewing appeals/queries in relation to provisions of legislation, in this case the Health Act 1947.
1594. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the number of appeals that have been made to the designated appeals officer for Covid-19 detention facilities to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18384/21]
View answerAn independent panel of appeals officers has been established under the aegis of the Department of Justice to review appeals from guests undergoing quarantine in a designated facility. There are a total of 35 appeals officers currently on this panel, all of whom are qualified barristers or solicitors with experience in reviewing appeals/queries in relation to provisions of legislation, in this case the Health Act 1947.
The total number of appeals to Monday 19th of April, is 448. Some of those total appeals lodged were repeat requests facilitated from a small number of guests undergoing quarantine.
1595. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the number of vaccinators that have been recruited for the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the number of those recruited that are still awaiting deployment; when those recruited will be commencing employment; the number that have undergone induction training; the number that have received their own vaccinations ahead of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1596. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to address waiting lists for cataract operations; if the Sligo scheme is being considered as a strategy to tackle waiting times for eye procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18386/21]
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. 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 plan 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 (NTPF). This includes 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. 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.
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible on the expansion of community ophthalmology services and the Sligo pilot model.
1597. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if patients in category 4 will be identified by their attending hospital; if not, if they will need to identify themselves to their hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18391/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1598. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if general practitioners and other healthcare professionals will be given any discretion during the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine to prioritise clinically vulnerable patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18392/21]
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.
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.
1599. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the resources being provided to hospitals to roll-out the Covid-19 vaccine for category 4 patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18393/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1600. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a school (details supplied) is to lose all onsite therapists, including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists as part of the progressing disabilities service roll-out; if so, the rationale for the school losing interventional therapies onsite for the 160 children attending the school given the optimal use of the time of the students, their families and the school and the minimum disruption in the students’ school day by having onsite therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18394/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1601. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if a school (details supplied) is to lose all onsite therapists, including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists as part of the progressing disabilities service roll-out; if so, the rationale for the school losing interventional therapies onsite for the 160 children attending the school given the optimal use of the time of the students, their families and the school and the minimum disruption in the students’ school day by having onsite therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18395/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1602. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the document in which it has been established that a blood test should not have been charged by the local general practitioner (details supplied); the number of refunds that have been issued to persons that have made a complaint in relation to the matter; the value of these repayments; the number of deductions from regular payments that have been made to general practitioners; the value of same in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/21]
View answerPersons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition. This has been advised to GPs by the HSE.
If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
In relation to your request for information on the document concerned and the refunds processed from 2019 to date, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters, as soon as possible.
1603. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the actions he proposes to take in relation to the dossiers maintained by his Department in respect of families and children as highlighted on a programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/21]
View answerI take the allegations made in recent media reports including the RTÉ Investigates broadcast of 25 March extremely seriously. I know that the headlines generated will have caused distress for some families.
The Report of the Department of Health team set up to establish the facts in respect of specific allegations by RTÉ Primetime Investigates Programme was published this morning. This report deals with each of the allegations made in the programme and related articles on the website.
This Report is clear that the Department of Health has never gathered sensitive medical and educational information on children involved in court cases in the manner portrayed in recent media reports.
There is no evidence that the Department of Health was secretly compiling dossiers on children with autism involved in Special Educational Needs litigation as alleged.
I welcome an inquiry by the Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is currently investigating data collection practices regarding the cases. My Department looks forward to the findings of this review and, where necessary, will make improvements based on their recommendations.
The Department of Health has appointed an Independent Support Liaison Officer to engage directly with the 29 families involved in open Special Educational Needs litigation related to these allegations. These families are being contacted through the solicitor on file offering the opportunity to engage directly with the Independent Support Liaison Officer.
1604. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding approval for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18404/21]
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.
1605. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if his Department is participating in an EU Commission initiative on the monitoring of Covid-19 and its variants in wastewater and availing of funding from the Commission for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18409/21]
View answerWastewater surveillance involves the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in sewage samples which will capture both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in the community, providing an early warning system that will identify when SARS-CoV-2 levels are increasing in the community.
At its meeting on 12 November 2020, the NPHET endorsed a paper “SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance in Ireland” and recommended that the NVRL and HPSC work collaboratively to implement a national wastewater surveillance network for SARS-CoV-2. The paper is available online: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/#november
An inter-agency wastewater surveillance group has been established to develop this national wastewater programme. Sampling is already being undertaken in Dublin and there is a plan in place to expand sampling to more than 60 wastewater treatment plants across all 26 counties. This will be fully operational in the coming weeks. The programme is funded by the HSE.
It should be noted that this type of enhanced surveillance doesn't provide much additional information when there are high levels of virus circulating, but it can be an effective early warning system when there are low levels of circulating virus in the community and it will form an important component of Ireland's overall surveillance system in the coming period.
1606. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of orthognathic surgery provision in the south-east; and if a person (details supplied) will be given a date for a procedure. [18420/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1607. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the details of the NIAC guidelines (details supplied) which advise the allocation of MRA vaccines to the immunocompromised; and if it will be ensured that this is made clear during daily Covid-19 briefings which to date have indicated that there is no preferential vaccine for the immunocompromised. [18423/21]
View answerThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) have recommended that mRNA vaccines should be preferentially given to those aged 16-69 years at very high or high risk who have conditions which may limit their immune response to the vaccine.
However, preferential selection of an mRNA vaccine should not result in a vaccine delay of more than 3 weeks, as any benefit of using a higher efficacy vaccine may be lost.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1608. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will assist a person (details supplied) in being recategorised in order that they can access transitional care funding while a fair deal application is pending. [18424/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1609. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a gallbladder removal operation given the nature of their medical condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/21]
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.
1610. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if there are staffing shortages at Cork University Hospital; if so, if he can account for these shortages; and if he can account for significant delays in inpatient procedures for persons due to same. [18429/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
