Written Answers Nos. 2287-2307
2288. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists currently working within HSE services in south County Tipperary; the efforts South Tipperary HSE services are making to find a qualified psychologist to cover upcoming maternity leave in the south County Tipperary area; the HSE's position on the recruitment of psychologists to cover maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37258/21]
View answerAs 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.
2289. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the length of the normal processing time for a medical card and a general practitioner card; if persons whose applications were delayed due to Covid-19 related delays in getting birth certificates and PPS numbers will be reimbursed for costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37261/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) has responsibility for the processing of medical card applications. A key performance indicator within the HSE NMCU is the processing of Medical Card and GP Visit Card applications within 15 working days of receipt of a completed application. The HSE NMCU have confirmed that the processing of applications has not been delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the unprecedented challenges and capacity constraints experienced by the HSE since March 2020. For example, prior to the onset of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE, 99.63% of all applications received by the NMCU were processed within a 15 working day turnaround.
Regarding reimbursement, eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card is granted on the date when a completed application has been assessed and the applicant is awarded eligibility for a card under the scheme guidelines. Expenditure incurred prior to being granted eligibility is not reimbursable.
However, in the specific circumstance relating to the awarding of a GP visit card for children under 6 years of age, it should be noted that in cases where an applicant does not yet hold a PPSN, it is still possible to apply for an under 6s GP Visit Card through the HSE NMCU online application portal. In such cases eligibility is issued for a 3-month period, after which a PPSN number will be required to complete the application process.
2291. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the information available to him on potential adverse events in young persons taking each of the Covid-19 vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37263/21]
View answer3325. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have reported suspected adverse reactions to a Covid-19 vaccine via the HPRA Covid-19 Vaccine Adverse Reaction Reporting Form; the person or body that is monitoring and analysing the data collected via the HPRA Covid-19 Vaccine Adverse Reaction Reporting Form; the reports he has received from the HPRA with regard to the data collected via these forms; the details of any patterns that have emerged with regard to the symptoms and duration of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41348/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2291 and 3325 together.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), as the regulatory authority in Ireland for medicines, medical devices and other healthcare products is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines including vaccines that are licensed in Ireland.
As part of its remit, the HPRA operates the national adverse reaction database, to which members of the public and healthcare professionals are encouraged to submit any suspected adverse reactions to. All suspected adverse reaction reports received by the HPRA are entered into the national database for national monitoring and subsequently submitted to the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA's) adverse reaction database for inclusion in global signal detection and monitoring activities.
Up to 7 July, the HPRA received 11,445 reports describing suspected side effects in association with COVID-19 vaccines, of which 6011 were in association with mRNA vaccines (Comirnaty and Spikevax (previously COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna)), 5361 in association with Adenoviral vector vaccines (Vaxzevria and Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen) and 73 reports were in association with vaccines where the brand was not known or provided at the time of reporting.
The majority of regularly reported suspected side effects are consistent with the types of events typically observed following vaccination, including those described in the product information for the individual vaccines. Whilst not experienced by everyone, all vaccines have some side effects, the vast majority of which are mild to moderate in nature. These side effects need to be continuously balanced against the benefits in preventing COVID-19 illness. Overall, the national reporting experience continues to support the favourable assessment that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks.
The HPRA has been publishing regular public safety updates on reporting experience with the COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the numbers and nature of these reports. To date, nine such updates have been published and are accessible from the HPRA website with the most recent publication issued on 15 July: www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/safety-notices/item?t=/safety-update-covid-19-vaccines-overview-of-national-reporting-experience-15-july-2021&id=7cee0f26-9782-6eee-9b55-ff00008c97d0
2292. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the wait time for a person (details supplied) for a procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37264/21]
View answerAs 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.
2293. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been provided to nursing homes under the temporary assistance payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37276/21]
View answerThe Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary administrative measure in response to the challenges faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. As the pandemic continued, additional support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been delivered through the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Due to the ongoing high level of risk associated with COVID-19 during this period, the Department of Health extended the scheme twice, far beyond the originally planned timescale of three months. The further extension of the scheme was outlined in the Government’s Plan 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19', published in September 2020. This provided assurance of the Scheme’s availability and a planned timeframe of operation to the end of June 2021.
As of 21 July 2021, €112.2m has been paid out under the scheme.
2294. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if Covid-19 assessment clinics will be provided to support persons with continuing symptoms of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37277/21]
View answerCovid-19 is a new disease so information on it, its features and its course are still emerging. Scientific and clinical evidence is evolving on the long-term effects of COVID-19. An increasing number of reports and studies are now being published on the topic, however, at present there is no agreement on the definition or the terminology.
Scientific and clinical evidence is evolving on the long-term effects of COVID-19. It is recognised that persistent and prolonged symptoms can occur after acute COVID-19 infection in a proportion of patients, including in some patients who did not develop symptoms severe enough to require hospitalisation. My Department, through the Health Research Board, continues to fund research into the clinical impacts of COVID-19.
Patients with persistent symptoms following Covid-19 infection may be followed up by their GP or in hospital settings as clinically appropriate. People in the community who are concerned about persistent symptoms following Covid-19 should contact their GP in the first instance. Treatment is currently focused on management of specific symptoms. In line with Sláintecare, we need to ensure that as much reablement and rehabilitation care as possible is delivered in the community, as close to people’s homes as possible. General practice plays a key part in the delivery of a national post-acute (Long) COVID-19 service.
Specific guidance on the treatment of Long Covid is presently under development both here and internationally.
The HSE is assessing need and the best way to care for those impacted by Long COVID. I can advise the Deputies that the HSE as part of its work on post-Covid care, is now looking at how it can model the possible numbers that will be affected, noting that this will take time as more evidence emerges. I understand that the HSE has been in touch with a group of people who are suffering post-Covid symptoms to inform understanding. Guidance is being developed to align needs with care provision and to develop criteria and strategies for the ongoing evaluation of patients.
The Department of Health will continue to develop an understanding of the implications of Long Covid to inform policy as appropriate.
2296. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessments of needs by CHO area; the average waiting time for assessments in each CHO area; the number of children on each of the waiting lists for special needs supports including speech and language, occupational therapists and so on by CHO area; the average waiting time length for each service in each CHO area; the number of full-time equivalent occupational therapists and speech and language therapists; and the number of full-time equivalent staff employed in the assessment of need team and disability team in each CHO area in tabular form. [37280/21]
View answerAs 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.
2297. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a day facility for the elderly at Farranree family resource centre has yet to reopen. [37281/21]
View answerDay centres are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population and play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities. The pandemic and associated restrictions has had a profound impact across society and especially for our older population.
All Community Health Organisations through the National Older Persons Office were requested in April 2021 to provide information on the status of their Day Care Services in order to ascertain the level of service that could resume on receipt of updated public health guidance. As a result, it was intended that approximately 100 day centres would re-open week beginning 5 July. It was also intended that an additional 55 centres would resume in July and August, with a further 90 centres that require works expected to reopen before the end of the year. It was indicated that these dates may be subject to change as the HSE continues to deal with the significant challenge of the ongoing cyber-attack.
Since then updated Public Health guidance to support the re-opening of Day Care Services for Older People was provided in June 2021 to facilitate re-opening plans. Following on from this a further information request issued to HSE Services to obtain an update on re-opening plans. The process for reopening of the centres has already commenced and it is expected that more centres will reopen in the coming weeks.
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 ongoing, 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.
2298. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the vaccine bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37282/21]
View answer2626. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the vaccine bonus for those who are 28 days post the first dose of a vaccine (details supplied) in view of concerns raised regarding the delta variant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38432/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2298 and 2626 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.
While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme, the rapidly increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant, and the significant risk this poses, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated, meant that a number of higher risk indoor activities did not recommence as planned on 5 July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.
Disease incidence has increased rapidly in recent weeks, especially among those who are not yet fully protected through vaccination and the outlook for the coming weeks is very uncertain.
I can confirm to the Deputies, that following NPHET advice on 28 June, the vaccine bonus now only applies to an individual once two weeks have passed since they have received the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Details of this advice can be found online here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ba4aa0-letters-from-the-cmo-to-the-minister-for-health/#2021
Significant and sustained 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. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.
2299. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have been hospitalised from the effects of the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37284/21]
View answerAs 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.
2300. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the details of the social impact assessments carried out by his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37304/21]
View answerSocial Impact Assessment (SIA) is an analytical framework that is designed to examine the demographic profile of public services users, and how they are impacted by budgetary policy decisions. The framework complements existing budgetary impact assessment exercises conducted by the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform (including Equality Budgeting), Finance, Employment Affairs and Social Protection and externally by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
A Social Impact Assessment on specialist disability services for people with intellectual disabilities was carried out jointly by IGEES (Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service) staff in the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The paper was published in January 2020 and is available at: igees.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Intellectual-Disabilities-SIA.pdf
Other IGEES Social Impact Assessments can be found at: igees.gov.ie/publications/economic-analysis/social-impact-assessment/
2301. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 124 of 22 April 2021, the status of the implementation plan for providing services and supports for people with Prader-Willi syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37306/21]
View answerAs 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.
2302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the progress made in implementing the National Dementia Strategy. [37308/21]
View answerA key commitment in the Programme for Government is the implementation of the Irish National Dementia Strategy, which aims to improve how we provide care for people living with dementia. The National Dementia Office, established within the HSE, oversees implementation of the Strategy.
In Budget 2021, the Government allocated €12.9 million for a number of dementia specific measures. This allocation comprised of €7m for an additional 250,000 hours of home support for people living with dementia, €0.9m to expand the dementia advisor service operated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and €5m for implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.
In furtherance of the National Dementia Strategy, the HSE's National Service Plan (NSP) 2021 contains plans to further develop dementia diagnostic services through the establishment of a specialist memory clinic in Cork and progressing four new regional memory assessment and support services. NSP 2021 also commits to enhancing acute care pathways for people with dementia through the recruitment of more clinical nurse specialists and the implementation of a National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medication for non-cognitive symptoms in people with dementia. The additional NSP funding will also be used to enhance Memory Technology Resource Room services in 9 sites.
The National Dementia Office also supports a Dementia Adviser Service set up by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in 2014. 10 additional dementia advisors were recruited in 2020 and a further 11 dementia advisors will be recruited this year. This will enable an increased level of service to be provided throughout the country.
Finally, as the Deputy will be aware, there has been a continued focus on meeting the needs of people living with dementia who were impacted by the suspension of day care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dementia Understand Together Campaign developed a range of initiatives and resources to ensure that people living with dementia stayed safe, well and connected during the crisis. NSP 2021 provides funding to continue support for in-home day care services set up in the context of COVID-19.
2303. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reduce the waiting lists for persons seeking appointments with psychiatrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37309/21]
View answerAs 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.
2304. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if the HSE is providing tension-free vaginal tape procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37310/21]
View answerIn response to concerns raised in Ireland regarding complications associated with the use of mesh devices in late 2017, the then Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to prepare a report on the matter, which was published in November 2018: www.gov.ie/en/publication/791f2a-the-use-of-uro-gynaecological-mesh-in-surgical-proecedures-report-to/. The report was informed by the available national and international evidence and the personal experiences of women who have suffered complications following mesh surgery.
In July 2018, in advance of publication of the full report, the CMO requested the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so. This pause remains in place.
As this Parliamentary Question also 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.
2305. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is provided with the awarded amount of home help hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37311/21]
View answerAs 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.
2306. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of new early intervention teams that have been established since July 2020 in view of the Programme for Government commitment to fully implement the access and inclusion model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37312/21]
View answerAs 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.
2307. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of running a full-staff early intervention team including an occupational therapist, psychologist and speech and language therapist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37313/21]
View answerAs 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.
