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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Questions (1013, 1014, 1015)

Gerald Nash

Question:

1013. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of instances in which a Covid-19 case has been reported among staff or residents of nursing homes since vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21857/21]

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Gerald Nash

Question:

1014. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to investigate occurrences in the facilities in which there have been any positive Covid-19 cases post vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21858/21]

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Gerald Nash

Question:

1015. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to protect residents in any facilities in which there have been any positive Covid-19 cases post vaccination; if he will ensure that all residents in these facilities are now tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21859/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1013 to 1015, inclusive, together.

The Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of Covid-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. The Expert Panel report has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of Covid-19 to date. The report also recommends additional analysis and examination of the relevant public health and other data sets in order that further causal and protective factors for Covid-19 clusters are identified.

 Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to Covid-19, is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Continued learning and understanding of progression of the disease in Ireland is an integral part of those recommendations. Residents of nursing homes are vulnerable because of their age, underlying medical conditions, the extent of their requirement for direct care involving close physical contact and the nature of living in congregated settings. The very infectious nature of Covid-19 makes it difficult to prevent and control in residential care settings. The transmission of the virus into and within nursing homes is multifactorial. As identified by the Nursing Homes Expert Panel, where there is ongoing community transmission, settings like nursing homes are more vulnerable to exposure.

The State’s responsibility to respond to the public health emergency created the need to set up a structured support system in line with NPHET recommendations. This has been a critical intervention in supporting the resilience of the sector in meeting the unprecedented challenges associated with Covid-19. The Expert Panel highlighted the value of those supports and recommended their continuation. These supports continue to be provided.

The range of supports provided to nursing homes include:

- Enhanced HSE engagement;

- Multidisciplinary clinical supports at CHO level through 23 Covid-19 Response Teams;

- Supply of precautionary and enhanced PPE, free of charge;

- Serial testing programme for all staff of nursing homes;

- Where possible, access to staff from community and acute hospitals;

- Suite of focused public health guidance and training resources.

- Temporary accommodation to nursing home staff to support measures to block the chain of transmission;

- HIQA implemented a Regulatory Assessment Framework of the preparedness of designated centres for older people for a Covid-19 outbreak and published an Infection Prevention and Control Assurance Framework for Nursing Homes

In addition a temporary financial support scheme established for private and voluntary nursing homes, has provided over €86.4m in additional funding support as of 23 April. The Scheme opened in April 2020 and was extended until 30 June 2021.

Most nursing home residents are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and the positive benefits of the vaccine are being seen. For example, in recognition of the effective vaccine rollout to nursing home residents, and the increasing evidence of the protection conferred by full vaccination, new guidance has been developed that further expands the scope of visiting.

People living in nursing homes where there is high vaccine coverage will be facilitated with four routine visits every week from 4th May

Although the situation in nursing homes has greatly improved, the risk associated with Covid-19 remains very real. Therefore, caution remains appropriate and the various infection prevention and control measures remain important and in place.

As part of the questions relate to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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