Written Answers Nos. 797-816
797. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his views on the practice of having expectant mothers with threatened miscarriage and who have a history of miscarriage having to go to accident and emergency departments rather than having direct access to the maternity unit, which will deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24144/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
798. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing closure of HSE day services and respite services for those in need of round-the-clock care and the damaging impact it is having on their carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24150/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
800. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) regarding the new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24155/21]
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.
801. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on access to maternity units for expectant fathers; when he expects fathers to gain full access; and if this will apply across all hospitals. [24156/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
802. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine given the medical circumstances. [24157/21]
View answerMandatory hotel quarantine has been introduced as one element of Ireland’s public health measures to combat the transmission of COVID-19 variants of concern.
The 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.
The Act identifies those who are exempt from mandatory hotel quarantine, and a full list of exemptions can be accessed on gov.ie/quarantine.
Exemptions for medical reasons pertain to a person who travels to the State for an unavoidable, imperative and time sensitive medical reason and that reason is certified by a person who is a registered medical practitioner or a person holding an equivalent qualification outside the State. Applicable travellers must produce all relevant documentation on arrival to qualify for an exemption.
With effect from 8 May, if a person has travelled abroad for unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons they will not be required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine on their return to Ireland.
As of 17th April, passengers who are 'fully vaccinated' and have the documents to confirm this are no longer required to complete mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival in Ireland. Dependents, including children, will also be exempted from the requirement to complete mandatory hotel quarantine in this instance. Please note that the 4 EMA approved vaccines currently accepted have specific definitions for when a person would be considered 'fully vaccinated'.
The provisions of the Act also allow for travellers to request a review of decisions relating to their quarantine in a designated facility; however, this can only be undertaken once quarantine has begun. Requests for review are submitted to the State Liaison Officer present in each designated facility and are considered by independent appeals officers. Decisions on requests for review are provided within a 24-hour period. The State Liaison Officer (Irish Defence Forces) in the hotel provides passengers with information on how to apply.The safety, wellbeing and comfort of all guests quarantining in a designated facility is a priority of the mandatory quarantine system, along with protecting people living in Ireland from COVID-19 variants of concern.
All guests undergoing mandatory hotel quarantine have access to a 24/7 on-site healthcare team during their stay. Guests requiring any specific, urgent or emergency care which cannot be provided on-site may also be referred to a dedicated medical facility by the on-site healthcare team.
Neither I as Minister for Health nor my Department have any role in decisions relating to whether individual persons must enter mandatory quarantine or whether individual persons are exempted travellers. All such decisions are to be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
803. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the situation in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas in which many general practitioners no longer accept new non-GMS patients, leading to great difficulties for families trying to register with a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24168/21]
View answerWhere a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. In some instances GP practices have a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients. If this happens, patients should contact other GP practices in their area.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 213 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021. The ICGP noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
804. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to ensure that the new national maternity hospital to be built at St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park will comply with the Sláintecare objectives of removing private medical care from public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24182/21]
View answerThe current Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, contains specific commitments in relation to finalising the new Sláintecare consultant contract and legislating for public-only work in public hospitals. In that regard, Government has agreed to the introduction of a public only Sláintecare Consultant contract moving towards removing private care from public hospitals.
In line with these commitments, I can assure the Deputy that the vast majority of services in the new National Maternity Hospital will be public services. I can also confirm that there will be no designated private in-patient bedrooms included as part of the new hospital development.
However, as part of the National Consultants' Contract, negotiated in 2008, some consultants holding specific contracts are entitled to engage in private outpatient practice outside of their public commitment; this commitment must be conducted on site, in the hospital where the consultant holds his/her contract.
As a result, private outpatient clinics may be undertaken on a public hospital campus, however, these clinics must be held outside contracted hours. The new hospital will have 31 rooms for Out-Patient Services. In order to support the commitment in the Consultants’ contracts, five of the 31 consulting rooms will be for private use.
805. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the full range of IVF services will be available in the new national maternity hospital to be built at St Vincent's Hospital as part of the public healthcare system; if surgical sterilisation procedures will be available to women in the new hospital as part of the public healthcare system; if funding will be provided by his Department or the HSE to the new hospital for IVF services; if funding will be provided by his Department or the HSE to the new hospital for surgical sterilisation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24184/21]
View answerFirstly, as the Deputy will be aware, the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus will be underpinned by a legal framework. The overall objective of this legal framework is to ensure that the new hospital will remain in State ownership, and that health services at the new hospital will be provided without religious, ethnic or other distinction or ethos. As such, I am satisfied that there will be no question that any services in the new NMH, including IVF (once available in the public health service) or surgical sterilisation, would be prohibited based on religious beliefs or the ethical code of the hospitals concerned.
On the specific issue of the provision of IVF in the public health system, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce the model of care for infertility. This model of care will ensure that infertility issues will be addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary. It will comprise three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments).
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has commenced and involves the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs in maternity networks. Four such Regional Fertility Hubs were established last year at Cork Maternity University Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the NMH, and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital. Additional funding has been allocated this year to establish the final two Regional Fertility Hubs.
Phase Two of the roll-out of the model of care for infertility will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system. However, Phase 2 will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed and the Assisted Human Reproduction legislation is commenced.
Finally, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, with an update in relation to the provision of surgical sterilisation procedures in the public health system.
806. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women and men, respectively, in each of the past five years in St. Vincent's University Hospital and in the Mater University Hospital; the number of IVF procedures that were carried out in each of the past five years in St Vincent's University Hospital and in the Mater University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24185/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
807. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding marquees in an outdoor setting with regarding to weddings in particular; if marquees are considered an outdoor setting in the context of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24186/21]
View answerThere has been considerable progress in reducing infection levels since the peak of the wave of infection in late 2020/early 2021 because of the widespread commitment and adherence by the public to the public health measures in place. While there is still a high level of infection nationally, the situation is considered reasonably stable and significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme.
In recognition of the improving situation, the Government announced a roadmap on the 29 April for the gradual lifting of some restrictions over the next two months, with a particular focus on allowing more outdoor activities. A range of measures will be eased in May, with a further easing of measures in June subject to the epidemiological situation at the time.
The announcement include the following changes to the measures applying to weddings: as of May 10, there can be an increase in the number of guests attending wedding services to 50 which brings this figure in line with the numbers permitted at religious services.
This increase to 50 guests relates to the service (both religious or civil) only. The number of guests attending a wedding celebration or reception should remain at 6 guests for indoor gatherings and 15 guests for outdoor gatherings. Marquees are considered an indoor setting in the context of Covid-19 restrictions.
It is important to note that while there is now scope to ease a range of public health measures, this approach must continue to be cautious, gradual and on a phased basis, with sufficient time between any easing of measures to assess the impact. This will be critical to ensuring the protection of the gains of recent months, the protection of those most vulnerable, and the protection of health and social care, education, and childcare services.
Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to continue to avoid the virus spreading and to support the safe reopening of activities over the coming months.
808. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the delays in HSE audiology fitting services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24190/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
809. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children who await a first-time appointment under CAMHS in each geographical subsection within each CHO by age, gender and time awaiting such an appointment, in tabular form. [24216/21]
View answerAs this is a service, matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
810. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to 24-hour vaccination centres; and the centres that could facilitate same. [24217/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
811. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to offer a Covid-19 vaccine to Irish athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games; and if he has engaged Sport Ireland on this issue. [24219/21]
View answerI note the announcement last week by Pfizer/BioNTech to donate doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the participants of the Olympic Games, around the world.
These doses of vaccine will be supplementary to the existing allocations that Ireland is administering and will be provided to Olympic and Paralympic athletes and support staff who are travelling to Tokyo to represent Ireland, the number of whom is in the low hundreds.
I look forward to what I hope will be a successful Olympic and Paralympic games for our athletes.
812. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 13 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24221/21]
View answer813. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24222/21]
View answer814. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 26 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24223/21]
View answer815. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 39 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24224/21]
View answer816. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the endoscopy waiting list for longer than 52 weeks at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24225/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 812 to 816, inclusive, together.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result of the deferral of elective scheduled care activity in March, April and May of 2020, and since 2nd January 2021. This impact has been witnessed across all waiting list categories, including G.I. Endoscopy.
G.I. Endoscopy services were heavily affected during the first surge of COVID-19. In 2020 the scheduled care waiting list for GI Scopes grew by 46% (+10,295) to 32,539. In early 2021, due to the further curtailment of scheduled care, G.I. Scope waiting lists increased by a further 10% to 35,634 by the end of March 2021.
The HSE continues to work to improve access, particularly to urgent colonoscopy services. The HSE’s National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acute Operations has recommended that, where possible, endoscopy services be maintained in the current surge. This may involve relocation of the service to designated non-COVID sites to preserve throughput or to private providers, if available.
In addition, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is working closely with individual hospitals to improve access to endoscopy/colonoscopy services for waiting list patients, including through the outsourcing of G.I. Scopes treatment to Private Hospitals where capacity is available.
In 2020 the NTPF arranged 7,399 scopes for patients. The NTPF continues to commission treatment for patients and plans to double the number of scopes it arranges in 2021.
The data requested by the Deputy regarding the number of patients currently waiting on the Endoscopy waiting list, and the number of patients currently waiting longer than 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks on the Endoscopy waiting list at University Hospital Kerry is outlined in the attached document.
Endoscopy, Total GI Scope Waiters by time-band (months) at University Hospital, Kerry as at 25/03/2021
|
Time-band (months) |
0-3 Mths |
3-6 Mths |
6-9 Mths |
9-12 Mths |
12+ Mths |
Grand Total |
|
University Hospital Kerry |
394 |
416 |
87 |
7 |
1 |
905 |
|
Grand Total |
394 |
416 |
87 |
7 |
1 |
905 |
|
PQ24221/21 Total GI Scope Waiters in UHK waiting over 13 Weeks as at 25/03/2021 |
|||
|
25/03/2021 |
University Hospital Kerry |
>13 Weeks |
515 |
|
PQ24223/21 Total GI Scope Waiters in UHK waiting over 26 Weeks as at 25/03/2021 |
|||
|
25/03/2021 |
University Hospital Kerry |
>26 Weeks |
97 |
|
PQ24224/21 Total GI Scope Waiters in UHK waiting over 39 Weeks as at 25/03/2021 |
|||
|
25/03/2021 |
University Hospital Kerry |
>39 Weeks |
8 |
The NTPF have advised that for Statistical Disclosure Control (SDC) reasons the information requested by the Deputy regarding the total GI Scope Waiters in UHK waiting over 52 Weeks cannot be provided to protect patient identification due to the small volume of patients waiting.
