Written Answers Nos. 2256-2274
2256. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); his views on same; the progress on the implementation of an e-prescribing system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20303/21]
View answerMy Department is aware of the HIQA Recommendations on the Implementation of a National Electronic Patient Summary in Ireland, published in January 2021. Key stakeholders in digital health and ePharmacy, including officials from my Department, were members of the advisory group that developed the recommendations. In 2019, my Department approved HIQA National Standards on information requirements for a national electronic patient summary and information requirements for national community-based ePrescribing to support the roll-out of eHealth, as envisioned in the eHealth Strategy and the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.
The implementation of ePrescribing is a significant programme of work and will take time to embed in acute and primary care settings. To support access to prescriptions during the Covid-19 pandemic, a new service to facilitate the secure electronic transfer of prescriptions (ETP) between GPs and community pharmacy was deployed in response to Covid-19.
Electronic transfer of prescriptions is just one aspect of the large programme of work involved in the full implementation of ePrescribing. This service has proven to be successful with approximately 50,000 scripts now being transferred electronically between GPs, community pharmacies every day. To build on this work, the HSE has established an ePharmacy Programme which will be responsible for the implementation of a national ePrescribing solution for the health service.
2258. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the policy to permit two fully vaccinated persons to meet indoors also applies to nursing home residents receiving outside visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20306/21]
View answerThe impact of COVID-19 on society in general and especially those living in nursing homes has been considerable and this remains a very difficult time for nursing home residents and their families. The importance of continued social interaction of residents and their families cannot be overstated and every effort should be made, in line with public health advice, to ensure that these interactions continue.
The surge in COVID-19 in January of 2021 and the resulting harm to residents and staff in nursing homes is a reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance to prevent introduction of COVID-19 into LTRCs. Although the situation has greatly improved, there is a continuing risk of introduction of infection, even with a high level of vaccination. There is a particular concern about the possibility of introducing a new variant, against which the vaccine may be less effective. Therefore caution remains appropriate. While it is recognised that LTRCFs are residents homes, they are also healthcare facilities and an appropriate balance of consideration must be applied.
The Government’s revised plan, COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead, published on 23 February, recognises that the challenge of balancing protective health measures and normal living has been particularly important in the context of visitations to long-term residential care settings (LTRC). LTRC visiting guidance has remained under ongoing review throughout the pandemic.
In light of the advanced stage of rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in LTRCs for both residents and staff, the NPHET (the National Public Health Emergency Team) requested that the HSE progress a process for considering the scope and application of LTRC visiting restrictions in the context of the Framework of Restrictive Measures, having regard to international and national evidence, the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and the level of disease in the community. The HSE drafted new visiting guidance, taking the above-detailed considerations into account, which was published on 11 March and came into effect on 22 March.
At its meeting of 11 March, the NPHET committed to reviewing visiting guidance in LTRCs in April. This review process is ongoing and it is expected that any new proposals arising from this will be considered by NPHET this month.
2259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for speech and language therapy by CHO, age category and length of time they have been waiting, in tabular form. [20307/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
2260. 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. [20308/21]
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.
2261. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health if he plans to add drugs for treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum to the drugs payment scheme; the approved drugs list for the condition under the drugs payment scheme; the treatments available under the drugs payment scheme to treat the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20314/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2262. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the options he is considering for students returning from abroad for the summer or Irish citizens who are otherwise repatriating in relation to mandatory hotel quarantine; if they will be added to the list of essential travellers and permitted to self-quarantine; if the cost of hotel quarantine will be covered or subsidised by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20329/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1947, as amended, provides that all persons arriving in Ireland from a designated state, or having travelled through a designated state in the previous 14 days, are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility unless they are an exempted traveller under the Act. All applicable travellers must reserve and pay for a place in mandatory hotel quarantine.
The Health (Amendment) Act 2021 identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine. This now includes persons fully vaccinated with a European Medicines Agency approved vaccine.
The provisions of the Act also allows for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine; however this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun.
In some limited circumstances such as the emergency repatriation of Irish citizens abroad, the Department of Foreign Affairs may be able to advise or provide assistance to such citizens when they are arranging their stay in a mandatory quarantine designated facility. Such persons should contact their local embassy or mission in such emergency situations.
I understand that my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is establishing a refund mechanism for students returning from Erasmus programmes who are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in a designated facility.
The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice, including the possibility of future exemptions.
Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have a role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers.
2263. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the medication Epidiolex; when it will be approved for reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20340/21]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
2264. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the medication PCBD-110; if it will be approved for addition to the medical cannabis access programme or otherwise approved for prescription and reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20341/21]
View answerProspective suppliers of products to the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) can apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), acting on behalf of the Minister for Health, to have a cannabis product considered for inclusion in the schedule to the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019.
Applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate that the proposed cannabis product meets the requirements of a ‘specified controlled drug’ as defined in the MCAP legislation. The onus is on prospective suppliers to submit applications to the HPRA.
Reimbursement is a matter for the Primary Care Reimbursement Centre (PCRS) in the HSE.
2265. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if, in view of Brexit, any products currently listed as to be available via the medical cannabis access programme will be available in June 2021; if he will bring forward amendments to the legislation which underpins the programme or has consulted the Minister for Justice to permit the addition of products which have not been produced and prescribed in another EU state to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20342/21]
View answer2266. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is considering amendments to legislation relating to the medical cannabis access programme or has consulted the Minister for Justice on such matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20343/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2265 and 2266 together.
Products are submitted to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) for assessment under the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and control of supply of cannabis for medical use) Regulations 2019 for inclusion in the MCAP. The operationalisation of the programme is the responsibility of the HSE and it is expected to commence in June.
Amendments to the legislation underpinning the MCAP are a matter for the Minister for Health only. Departmental officials have been made aware by HPRA of applications by producers of cannabis-based products which currently do not meet the requirements as set out in the legislation and is the subject of ongoing discussions.
2267. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he is considering adding any pure cannabidiol product with trace tetrahydrocannabinol content to the medical cannabis access programme considering that no products on the programme currently are suitable for treating epilepsy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20344/21]
View answer2268. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if there are barriers to adding pure cannabidiol products to the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20345/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2267 and 2268 together.
The objective of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) is to allow access to products containing a substance controlled under the Misuse of Drugs framework.
Pure CBD (containing no THC, a controlled substance) does not fall within the framework, and is therefore not eligible for inclusion in the MCAP.
2269. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the terms of reference of the sodium valproate inquiry; when this inquiry will be established; the status of the planned inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20346/21]
View answerDetails of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland are being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
2270. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will outline any additional staff recruitment per discipline and by team that was undertaken in CHO 4 in each of the years 2018 to 2020 to address the backlog of assessments of need for children and to meet the needs of children for intervention following assessment; and the general staffing levels, by discipline, across the relevant CHO 4 teams in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [20364/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
2271. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of social prescribers by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20365/21]
View answerSocial prescribing is a great example of what can be achieved by taking a holistic approach to healthcare solutions. It provides wonderful supports for mental health and social connection and very much aligns with the visions for Sláintecare and Healthy Ireland, to ensure that more sustainable approaches to the provision of health and social care services are developed into the future.
The HSE has been developing social prescribing further in recent years and continues to expand its reach in this area. Furthermore, the Sláintecare Integration Fund and Healthy Ireland Fund have been supporting a number of Social Prescribing programmes, including Social Farming, in Dublin, Waterford, Cavan, Monaghan, Sligo, Leitrim, Wicklow, Cork and Kerry.
With regard to the specific details sought, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if doctors in south County Kerry will receive vaccines for persons aged from 70 to 85 years of age (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20368/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2273. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the new Killarney community hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20369/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
2274. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when works for the major expansion and refurbishment for the facilities at St. Joseph's care centre, Longford town, are due to be completed (details supplied). [20370/21]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
