Maurice Quinlivan
Question:420. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the wait time for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32880/21]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (420)
Written answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services.
Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Question No. 421 answered with Question No. 340.
Health Services
Questions (422)
Denis Naughten
Question:422. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if a service (details supplied) will be reinstated; the reason funding was withdrawn; if there are plans for an alternative service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32882/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Health Services
Questions (423)
Denis Naughten
Question:423. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will have their service restored; the reason for the withdrawal of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32883/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (424)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:424. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a vaccine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32887/21]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland's COVID-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
The programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
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 the Department of Health. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis.
Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland.
The current Guidelines state:
There are currently four COVID-19 Vaccines authorised for use in Ireland. The vaccines are not interchangeable. For vaccines that have a two-dose schedule, the same vaccine should be used for both doses. The NIAC will continue to review the evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of a heterologous vaccination strategy (using a different vaccine for the first and subsequent doses of a multi-dose schedule) as it becomes available.
You can read the guidelines at:
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
Vaccination Programme
Questions (425, 431)
Pa Daly
Question:425. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a vaccine (details supplied) will be recommended in Ireland for the age group of 12 to 15 years of age in particular those in this age group with underlying conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/21]
View answer
Neasa Hourigan
Question:431. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health when children aged 12 to 15 with conditions leading to a higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19 can expect to be vaccinated following the recent approval by the European Medicines Agency of a vaccine (details supplied) for children aged 12 to 15. [32960/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 431 together.
Ireland welcomes the EMA age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to include use in children aged 12 to 15. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is reviewing the matter and will make a recommendation as appropriate. Currently, Ireland's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is administering vaccines to those aged 16+.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (426)
Chris Andrews
Question:426. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date to receive a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. [32915/21]
View answerWritten answers
On 4 June I announced a shorter interval between doses for the Vaxzevria® (AstraZeneca) vaccine. This follows updated recommendations from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), which have been endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer. The NIAC has concluded that those of any age (without any previous COVID-19 infection), who have received their first dose of Vaxzevria® should receive their second dose 8-12 weeks later.
The HSE recently received updated advice from the NIAC in relation to reducing the dose interval for the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine from 12 weeks to 8. Extensive planning has been required to put in place a programme that will now see the remaining, approximately 450,000 people, in receipt of the AstraZeneca vaccine fully immunised through the administration of this second dose and it is expected to be substantially completed by 19 July.
Health Services
Questions (427)
Martin Browne
Question:427. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the cost of running the former St. Michael’s psychiatric unit in Clonmel, County Tipperary in each of the five years up until it closed in 2012. [32925/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Question No. 428 answered with Question No. 316.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (429)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:429. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 22 April 2021, if he will again seek a response from the Health Service Executive in relation to the lack of a general practitioner service in Enfield, County Meath; and if the reply will issue as a matter of urgency. [32958/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Health Services Staff
Questions (430)
Niall Collins
Question:430. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health when section 39 workers can expect to see full restoration of their pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32959/21]
View answerWritten answers
Section 39 agencies are agencies under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 where the HSE provides a grant to allow the agency to provide services similar or ancillary to the HSE. They were not and are not party to the Public Service Agreements and are therefore not covered by the pay restoration provided for in these Agreements.
In October 2018, an agreement was reached by the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to a process of pay restoration for staff employed in a pilot group of 50 section 39 organisations who are funded by way of a Service Level Agreement (SLA). Pay restoration commenced with an annual pay increase of up to €1,000 in April 2019. Any outstanding balance was and will be paid in two equal amounts in October 2020 and October 2021.
The agreement reached at the WRC noted that some of the organisations (approximately 250) which did not form part of the pilot phase are also likely to have pay restoration issues. A further WRC engagement followed in December 2020 in relation to a final phase of 250 SLA funded organisations who were identified as part of the earlier agreement. A payment arrangement consisting of three phases was agreed with the first two payments to be made in 2021.
Pay restoration was applicable to Section 39 organisations who met certain criteria, rather than types of individual workers that are employed in them. The list of section 39 organisations that was compiled, included only agencies that had service arrangements in place back in 2013 and that were still under service arrangements in 2019. Only organisations who received in excess of an agreed, specified amount from the HSE by way of the Service Level Agreement process were included.
Pay restoration is absolutely limited and only applicable to those included in the initial WRC agreement.
I can also confirm that there is no scope to revisit the eligibility criteria for the process.
Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 425.
Hospital Services
Questions (432)
Kathleen Funchion
Question:432. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that women are being refused gynaecology care in emergency departments in State-run hospitals that have gynaecology wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32971/21]
View answerWritten answers
I understand, from interactions with the Deputy's Office, that the matter in question related to care at the emergency departments in certain private hospitals, rather than HSE hospitals.
The Department of Health does not have responsibility for private hospitals and so cannot provide specific information in relation to the hospitals concerned or the health services that they provide.
The HSE has advised that, all public funded and provided 24/7 Emergency Departments in our acute general hospitals are designed and delivered such that they will manage patients presenting with any symptoms, i.e. there are no clinical exclusion criteria. In addition, further to triage and review, an emergency department may place the patient on an alternative treatment pathway which may include onward referral as required.
Health Services Staff
Questions (433)
Paul Kehoe
Question:433. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health if additional staff will be recruited for a centre (details supplied); when and the location in which he expects these positions to be advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32972/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Cannabis for Medicinal Use
Questions (434)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:434. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when the commencement of the medicinal cannabis access programme will happen in a practical sense; when this medicine will be available to eligible epilepsy patients by prescription who are in urgent need of this medicine; if this medicine will be covered by the long-term illness card and medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32976/21]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) as a result of recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in their “Cannabis for Medical User – A Scientific Review”.
The review stated that if the policy decision is to make cannabis available for medical purposes, the HPRA advised that it should recognise patient need, but be evidence based. It was advised, that treatment with cannabis be only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with the following medical conditions which have failed to respond to standard treatments;
- spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;
- intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;
- severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
Subsequently the Minister for Health established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Medical Cannabis Access Programme. This Group developed detailed Clinical Guidelines for the MCAP to be followed by clinicians, which contained inter alia guidance on ingredient combinations that are recommended for each of the three indications included in the MCAP
The Medicinal Cannabis Access programme (MCAP) is a 5-year pilot programme. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate access to acceptable cannabis-based products for medical use that are of a standardised quality and which meet the requirements outlined in the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended).
There are currently 4 products assessed by the HPRA for inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Regulations, more products are currently being assessed by the HPRA.
Reimbursement of the products, prescribed by approved medical consultants and supplied through community pharmacies for a specified therapeutic indication in line with Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended) will be on an individual named patient basis aligned to the patient’s eligibility under the community drug schemes (Medical Card, Long Term Illness Scheme and Drugs Payment Scheme). It cannot be assumed that reimbursement approval will be forthcoming on submission of applications. A reimbursement decision will be communicated with the prescribing consultant in writing.
The HSE has indicated that the medical cannabis access programme is rapidly progressing and I hope to be in a position to update the Deputy shortly.
Mental Health Services
Questions (435)
Bernard Durkan
Question:435. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the appropriate support can be provided by CAMHS including documentation outlining medical history and detailed interaction with psychological services in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32996/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Primary Medical Certificates
Questions (436)
Mattie McGrath
Question:436. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of applications waiting for a primary medical certificate by county; the current application processing time for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32997/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and to resume normal services.
Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Dental Services
Questions (437)
Brendan Griffin
Question:437. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will directly intervene in the crisis in dental services for medical card holders in County Kerry given there are currently no dental practices in the county providing dental services for medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32998/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care, free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme.
I am aware that there has been a reduction in the numbers of dentists participating in the DTSS since the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some people are experiencing problems in accessing a service close to their home. However, I have been assured by the HSE that their local services on the ground will assist any persons who are experiencing problems in accessing a service.
The national approach to future oral health service provision will be informed by Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy, which was published in 2019. The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs.
I am committed to ensuring the sustainability and viability of the DTSS, which will need to be revised to align it with modern evidence and the aims of the new Policy. There was an intention to commence a review of the DTSS contract last year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this was not possible. Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the Irish Dental Association to commence this process.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (438)
Paul Murphy
Question:438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have arrived in Ireland from the UK since the requirement for home quarantining was introduced; the number of those who have taken PCR tests after five days of quarantining as has been the rule up until now; and the percentage of those PCR tests that are negative and positive, respectively. [33015/21]
View answerWritten answers
Since 4th February travellers arriving from the Great Britain to Ireland have been required to complete a period of 14-day home quarantine. Under the current regulations (S.I. 135/2021) this legal requirement to home quarantine can be shortened if a negative/not-detected result is obtained from a PCR test taken no less than 5 days after arrival.
All passengers arriving into the state are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form (PLF) in accordance with SI 45/2021. There are limited exemptions from this requirement, as set out in the regulations, such as for international transport workers or for diplomats. It should be noted that PLF data does not constitute formal arrival data into the state, due to the different intended purpose for the system and also the number of exempted persons as set out above. In addition, some passengers may complete a PLF in advance but be unable to travel as intended, and the data below may include some duplicates for certain travellers. Passengers may have completed a PLF and continued their journey without staying overnight in the state or having transiting onto Northern Ireland.
According to data provided by the Passenger Locator Form service provider the total number from the UK is 135,390 for the period 4th Feb 2021 to 13th July 2021. This figure only accounts for the incoming adult passengers and does not take into account children arriving to the State.
On 4 June, the HSE launched a test booking facility which allows intending travellers to Ireland to pre-book a RT-PCR test from the HSE, free of charge, five days after their arrival. The test may be booked at a time and place convenient to the address the person will be staying at. In addition, any person wishing to take a test may also present as a walk-in at any of the HSE swabbing centres located around the country, details of which are available on the HSE website. It is not possible to provide statistics on tests booked through the platform by country of travel.
Medicinal Products
Questions (439)
Cormac Devlin
Question:439. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider new arrangements for patients using a drug manufactured by a company (details supplied) who currently have to pre-pay for medication and reclaim the costs resulting in many having to hold €10,000 available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33028/21]
View answerWritten answers
The products you refer to are manufactured by the dispensing pharmacy in the Netherlands. The Dutch authorities will not allow the commercial export of oil-based cannabis products to pharmacies or wholesalers. Representations were made to the Dutch authorities about having the products exported to Ireland to facilitate their inclusion in the Access Programme if the producers wished to do so. The Dutch authorities replied that magistral preparations may only be provided directly to patients or their representative on the basis of a prescription, presented for dispensing.
Since April 2020 owing to the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements the Department of Health has been collecting patients prescribed products and delivering them to Irish patient’s homes, collections occur approximately every four weeks. In December 2020 the Minister for Health said this scheme would be made permanent.
Owing to the restrictions the manufacturers of the Dutch products are not in a position to apply to the Health Products Regulatory Authority to have the products included in the Access Programme and treated in the same manner as the products included in the Access Programme.
It is a requirement for patients or their families to pay the dispensing pharmacy in the Netherlands and a reimbursement application can subsequently be made to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service in the HSE.
Pursuant to Section 10B of the Health Act 2004 the Minister for Health shall not give a direction under section 10, or specify a priority or performance target under section 10A, as respects
(a) any function of the Executive relating to the provision of treatment or a health or personal social service to any particular person,
(b) any function of the Executive relating to a decision concerning—
(i) whether or not a particular person is eligible for a particular health or personal social service (including the payment of a grant or allowance),
(ii) the extent to which and the manner in which a person is eligible for any such service.
I have asked Departmental officials to examine this issue further with the HSE.