Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Questions (1010)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

1010. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant positions within CAMHS Wexford south and CAMHS in Wexford north. [21854/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Questions (1011)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

1011. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons waiting for primary care psychology appointments in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21855/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Questions (1012)

Johnny Mythen

Question:

1012. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of adults waiting for a primary care psychology appointment in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21856/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

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

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Questions (1016)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1016. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will order a general review of the use and overuse of psychiatric medication in children across all CAMHS and primary care health services and in particular to review the way a lack of resources for alternative approaches is driving the overuse of medication given the concern in relation to the rapid rise in the use of psychiatric drugs in children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21860/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Screening Programmes

Questions (1017, 1018, 1019)

John Lahart

Question:

1017. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the breast screening process to those under and over 50 to 69 years of age profile (details supplied); and the reason they have been excluded. [21861/21]

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John Lahart

Question:

1018. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the reason 66% of the age group of women that experience breast cancer are excluded from the category of women that are entitled to breast cancer screening. [21862/21]

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John Lahart

Question:

1019. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if a commitment will be given to review the existing breast cancer screening service provided; and if a plan will be outlined for when all women can be screened regardless of age in view of factors (details supplied). [21863/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1017, 1018 and 1019 together.

I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service. In this regard and in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck is currently implementing an age-extension project that will see all women aged between 50 to 69 years being invited for routine breast screening.

It is important to note that population health screening measures, such as breast cancer screening, are not individual diagnostic tests. Screening is for well people who do not have symptoms. Anyone who is worried about symptoms at any time is advised not to wait for screening but to contact their GP immediately, for appropriate follow-up care.

As with all our national screening programmes, BreastCheck delivers its services in line with international criteria for population-based screening programmes, which are kept under constant review.

The balance between the benefits of screening and the potential harms or risks to the population as a whole require careful, evidence-based consideration and balancing.

Decisions about changes to our national screening programmes will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee. This independent expert group considers the evidence for changes in a robust and transparent manner. The Committee’s role is to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly. This ensures policy decisions are informed by the best available evidence and advice.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1020)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

1020. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the rationale for not including the HPV vaccine on the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.

In 2009, the NIAC recommended HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 12 to 13 year old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of secondary school.

The NIAC recommended that the HPV vaccine should also be given to boys. On foot of the NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the current immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.

The HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine.

The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.

Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage. All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme are provided free of charge.

My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.

Anyone not in 1st year of secondary school or age equivalent in special schools or home schooled during the 2020/2021 school year who wishes to get the HPV vaccine, must go to their GP or sexual health clinic and pay privately for the vaccine and its administration.

It is important to note that the schools-based immunisation programme for the 2019/2020 academic year has been completed and the uptake rates for the HPV vaccine in that academic year are 82% for the first dose of the vaccine and 77% for the second dose.

This is the highest uptake for the HPV vaccination programme since 2015/2016 and is particularly encouraging because it was the first year that boys were included in the programme and it shows that the provision of vaccine in community clinics did not adversely affect the uptake.

The programme for the academic year 2020/2021 was paused during the first few months of 2021 due to school closures and redeployment of staff to the Covid-19 immunisation programme.

The inputting of uptake information for the schools-based programme has also been delayed due to redeployment of administrative staff. However, Community Healthcare Organisations have reported that the vast majority of second level schools had their first dose of HPV vaccine delivered between October and December 2020.

The uptake rate for the first dose of the HPV vaccine in the 2020/2021 academic year, as at 15 April, is 63% and this figure is expected to increase because data input on vaccine uptake is ongoing.

Plans are now being developed by the HSE for the recommencement of the schools-based vaccination programmes, including the second dose of the HPV vaccine. Some areas have already recommenced these programmes or are in the process of arranging school visits.

Question No. 1021 answered with Question No. 1008.

HSE Data

Questions (1022)

Carol Nolan

Question:

1022. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE senior trainees that are undergoing international training in the dilation and evacuation procedure (details supplied); the location such training is being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21888/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Irish Language

Questions (1023)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1023. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21905/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

In accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003, the current Language Scheme of my Department sets out the extent to which the Department’s services are currently available through Irish, and identifies areas for future enhancement. Examples of services delivered through Irish are : All written correspondence addressed to the Department in Irish is replied to in Irish and any telephone queries are referred to one of the members of staff competent in Irish; all press releases issued by the Department are made available in Irish as soon as possible after issue; web content is published and updated as required in both languages simultaneously and the Department regularly issues social media posts in Irish as well as publishing all guidance material in both languages simultaneously. A revised Language Scheme to cover the period 2021-2023 is currently being drafted and it is expected that the scheme will be finalised for approval by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media by the end of June 2021.

My Department has asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the services it provides through Irish. Information in relation to services provided through Irish by the Non-Commercial State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is being collated and will be provided to the Deputy under separate cover.

Irish Language

Questions (1024)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1024. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if all forms issued by his Department and agencies under his remit are available in both the Irish and English languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21923/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Applications for health services from the public are dealt with by the HSE or other health agencies under the remit of my Department rather than the Department itself and therefore, forms are generally not a feature of the Department’s work. However, the Department is committed to providing public health advice and guidance in both Irish and English in accordance with its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003.

This commitment is evidenced during the Covid-19 pandemic, where due to the extreme urgency brought about by the unforeseen circumstances, it was necessary to communicate public health advice to every household in Ireland. Four million copies of the Covid-19 public information booklet were distributed via mail drops and/or newspaper inserts, two million of which were issued in Irish and two million in English. Public health information in relation to Covid-19 and other health matters continues to be issued by means of daily press releases, which are published in both the Irish and English languages.

My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the forms that it issues in Irish. The information relating to the Non-Commercial State Agencies under the remit of my Department is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy by separate cover.

Drugs Payment Scheme

Questions (1025)

Alan Kelly

Question:

1025. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if the HPV vaccine will be made available under the drugs payment scheme to allow teenagers that wish to get the vaccine while the school administration scheme is suspended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21945/21]