Written Answers Nos. 916-936
916. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department has considered to enable partners of pregnant women to attend antenatal appointments and labour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24588/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
917. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 tests carried out at each pop-up testing centre for persons not displaying Covid-19 symptoms nationally. [24608/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
918. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if persons over 70 years of age with terminal cancer qualify for a medical card irrespective of their income given a recent report in a national newspaper in relation to same. [24615/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without undue hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from, the social and medical impacts of an illness.
The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, I also recognise that patients require a responsive and compassionate health system to meet their medical needs, particularly in cases of terminal illness. I am therefore pleased to confirm that the Government recently agreed to introduce an administrative arrangement for up to 12 months on an interim basis, that will enable persons who have been certified by their treating Consultant as having a prognosis of 24 months or less, to be awarded a medical card. These applications will not require a means assessment nor will they be reassessed.
Furthermore, it should be noted that since 2015 all persons aged 70 years and over are automatically eligible for a GP visit card.
919. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of commitments provided by the HSE that it will revise and update the 2015 model of care for neonatology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24616/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
920. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of commitments provided by the HSE to develop a national strategy for the provision of neonatal resuscitation training nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24617/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
921. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of the measures being taken to expand access to termination of pregnancy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24618/21]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply to the Deputy.
922. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite a commitment given to the HSE, SouthDoc is refusing to see persons in its Blackpool, County Cork, facility in cases in which they indicate that they cannot travel to Kinsale Road; and if he will engage with SouthDoc on this issue and support the HSE in formally pursuing the full reopening of SouthDoc, Blackpool, through whatever means necessary including financial penalties. [24619/21]
View answerHSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) was advised by SouthDoc on 22nd April 2021 that the Blackpool treatment centre would be available for appointments the following week. The Blackpool treatment centre has opened to patients by appointment.
CKCH have advised that SouthDoc has confirmed that they plan to restore out-of-hours GP services at the Blackpool centre to pre-Covid-19 levels. The HSE continues to engage with the SouthDoc Board of Directors in relation to the return to its full level of service.
As SouthDoc are a private organisation, individual complaints regarding the provision of service should be made directly to SouthDoc.
923. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the level of service to be provided by SouthDoc, Listowel, County Kerry, upon its reopening; the persons who will be eligible for the service; and the proposed hours of operation. [24620/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
924. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the projects in Cork city and county for which funding was allocated for extensions or improvements of hospital facilities, community home facilities and nursing homes; the amount allocated for each project; if the projects have been fully completed with reference to the years ending 31 December 2018, 2019 and 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24621/21]
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.
925. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time chiropodists working in each primary care centre in CHO9 in tabular form; and if this number will be increased. [24624/21]
View answerIn 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.
926. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list to see a consultant transplant surgeon at St. Vincent's University Hospital. [24625/21]
View answer927. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of children aged between three and nine years of age currently on the waiting list for kidney transplant. [24626/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 927 and 926 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
928. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of coronary calcium scans carried out at St. James's Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [24627/21]
View answerIn 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.
929. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting cardiothoracic surgeon in CHI. [24628/21]
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.
Elective care in public hospitals was curtailed for the first quarter of 2021, in line with the rapid increase in Covid -19 hospital admissions, with only critical time dependent elective procedures undertaken.
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.
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 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 to improve access to care, €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.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached tables show the number of children on the Children's Health Ireland Outpatient and Inpatient/Day Case waiting lists for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery as at the end of March 2021. This information is also published monthly on the National Treatment Purchase Fund Website https://www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.
930. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for robotic surgery for prostate cancer patients at University Hospital Galway in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [24629/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
931. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants attached to the dermatology department at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [24630/21]
View answerIn 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.
932. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants attached to the urology department at University Hospital Waterford in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [24631/21]
View answerIn 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.
933. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the capital works projects that were carried out at the national maternity hospital in each of the past five years; and the estimated cost of each project in tabular form. [24632/21]
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.
934. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Sligo on the waiting list for an autism assessment. [24633/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
935. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of nurse graduates Mayo University Hospital will be hiring in 2021. [24634/21]
View answerIn 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.
936. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish students who are completing studies abroad of courses not available in Ireland and who are returning to see family and work after a period of quarantine will find the cost of mandatory hotel quarantine prohibitive and this will substantially affect their ability to complete their studies; his views on the fact that Erasmus students' mandatory hotel quarantine costs are being covered by their colleges acknowledging that students should not be expected to pay this themselves; if he will consider waiving the charges for returning students in order that all students are treated equally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24660/21]
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.
The Government continues to evaluate wider policy on international travel as informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice. An example of this is the recently added exemption for fully vaccinated persons arriving from designated states who are now exempt from quarantine in a designated facility, although must still have a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test and complete a period of self-quarantine at home or wherever specified on their passenger locator form.
Queries relating to students abroad and any agreements to cover the cost of quarantine in a designated facility for those students not considered an exempt traveller should be referred to my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
