Written Answers Nos. 3148-3168
3148. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of graduates hired in the areas of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language, dietetics and audiology in CHO1 from 2018 to 2020; his plans to reduce the backlog in waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40470/21]
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.
3149. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of applications waiting for a primary medical certificate in County Clare; the current application processing time for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40474/21]
View answerAs 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.
3150. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of home care support hours being provided in County Clare in 2021; the way this compares to 2020; the number of persons currently waiting for home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40475/21]
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.
3151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on hip and or knee surgery and cataract surgery (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40476/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13th May 2021.
On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining 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. However, the implementation of this plan has been suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals.
The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.
In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty.
A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen in the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2019. At the 13th of May 2021 there were 4,275 patients waiting for a cataract procedure compared to 6,437 in January 2019.
Specifically in terms of hip and knee replacements, the NTPF have advised the Department that at the end of May 2020 there were 3,042 patients waiting nationally for such a procedure. Through focused activity, and with the support of the NTPF, at the 13th May 2021 this figure had fallen by 26 % to 2,256 patients.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
Due to the ongoing IT issues triggered by the HSE cyber-attack, the NTPF has been unable to receive weekly national hospital waiting list data or downloads. The latest published waiting list information was collated by the NTPF on 13th May 2021. The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons waiting on hip and or knee surgery and cataract surgery in County Clare, routine and urgent, is outlined in the attached document. This information is based on the latest available data provided by the NTPF.
Total IPDC Waiting List for Hip, Knee and Cataract Surgery for Patients with an Area of Residence in Co. Clare by Clinical Priority as at 13/05/2021
|
Sum of Total |
Column Labels |
||||
|
Row Labels |
Routine Non-Urgent |
Semi-Urgent |
Urgent |
Small Volume Priority |
Grand Total |
|
Cataracts |
51 |
18 |
30 |
99 |
|
|
Hip |
38 |
38 |
|||
|
Knee |
35 |
35 |
|||
|
Small Volume Procedure |
9 |
9 |
|||
|
Grand Total |
124 |
18 |
30 |
9 |
181 |
3152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of outpatient waiting lists in the child and adolescent mental health services in the Louth south community mental health team and the Louth north community mental health team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40486/21]
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.
3153. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the status of the gynaecological outpatients waiting list in Louth County Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the position regarding the proposed community-based ambulatory gynaecology services in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40487/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.
While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13th May 2021.
On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining 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. However, the implementation of this plan has been suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals.
The HSE has been working since 14th May last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the status of the gynaecological outpatients waiting list in Louth County Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda is outlined in the attached document.
Due to the ongoing IT issues triggered by the HSE cyber-attack, the NTPF has been unable to receive weekly national hospital waiting list data or downloads. The latest published waiting list information was collated by the NTPF on 13th May 2021.
The Department continues to work with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme to improve access and ensure a more sustainable gynaecology service. The Programme has developed an Ambulatory Gynaecology Model of Care which centres on the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” ambulatory gynaecology clinics. The roll out of Phase One of the Model of Care commenced in 2020, and funding has been provided under Budget 2021 to establish and/or expand services across additional clinics in 2021, including at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The HSE has advised that work to establish the ambulatory gynaecology clinic in Drogheda is progressing, including in relation to the design, fit out, equipping, and recruitment of staff for the new clinic.
|
Louth County Hospital Gynaecology Outpatient Waiting List |
||||||
|
0-3Months |
3-6Months |
6-9Months |
9-12Months |
12-15Months |
15-18Months |
Grand Total |
|
120 |
100 |
73 |
65 |
4 |
0 |
362 |
|
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda Gynaecology Outpatient Waiting List |
|||||||
|
0-3Months |
3-6Months |
6-9Months |
9-12Months |
12-15Months |
15-18Months |
21-24Months |
Grand Total |
|
594 |
334 |
306 |
177 |
70 |
18 |
1 |
1500 |
3154. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the funding that has been allocated by his Department for projects and initiatives in County Tipperary over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40502/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated replies will be prepared into a full response to the Deputy as soon as possible.
3155. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if special consideration will be given to allow seating in shopping centres and other public areas for persons who have a disability (details supplied) in the context of the removal of seating in such areas in order to prevent gatherings and the spread of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40519/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that disability seating in shopping centres is a matter for the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and the National Standards Authority of Ireland.
3156. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of home care for a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [40520/21]
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 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.
3157. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Monaghan who accept medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40523/21]
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.
3158. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Cavan who accept medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40524/21]
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.
3159. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (detail supplied) has been waiting three months for a vaccination at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40526/21]
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.
3161. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of days the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital has been closed in 2021 as a result of staff shortages; if he will provide dates of closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40540/21]
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.
3162. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of days the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital did not take patients when it was scheduled to do so in 2021, but did not officially announce it was closed; if he will provide details of these dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40541/21]
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.
3163. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of days the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital rescheduled or cancelled an entire day’s appointments due to an inability to see patients as a result of staff shortages; if he will provide details of these dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40542/21]
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.
3164. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if there was a day in 2021 when the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital did not see patients or take referrals due to staff shortages, resulting in an effective closure of the unit and no official announcement was made that the unit would be closed that day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40543/21]
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.
3165. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when the EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40552/21]
View answer3215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40839/21]
View answer3216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40842/21]
View answer3217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40845/21]
View answer3218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an EU Digital COVID Certificate will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40848/21]
View answerI propose to take questions Nos. 3165 and 3215 to 3218, inclusive, together.
The Digital COVID Certificate Regulation is intended to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely and help to support the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner within the EU.
As the Minister for Health, I am supporting the work of my Department in collaborating with relevant Departments under the leadership of the Department of Taoiseach to assist in the on-going implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificates.
Certificates based on vaccination and recovery are now being issued. Citizens who have not received their Digital COVID Certificate and require it urgently to travel in the coming days can call the helpline on 1800 807 008.
Further information is available at :- www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/
3166. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when respite services will return for service users of adult day care services in Thurles, County Tipperary who attended a facility (details supplied) prior to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40557/21]
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.
3167. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the actions a person must take in circumstances (details supplied). [40558/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead.
While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme and the position had been broadly stable over the earlier part of June, the prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant is rapidly increasing in Ireland and this poses a significant risk, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated.
As of 26 July, indoor dining has reopened for fully vaccinated individuals and those who are considered immune as a result of recovering from a Covid-19 infection in the previous six months. The HSE guidance on when a person is fully vaccinated is available online www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/get-the-vaccine/when-you-have-been-vaccinated/
Access to businesses is being restricted to those who are fully vaccinated or recovered as the risk is still high, however the system will be kept under review and Government will consider further phases of the reopening of hospitality as the epidemiological situation allows. Details of measures in place can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/publication/41f70-reopening-hospitality/
Under the current travel measures, passengers travelling to Ireland from abroad should have appropriate valid proof of vaccination or recovery, or to present evidence of a negative RT-PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival into the country.
There is comprehensive information on international travel on gov.ie/travel and www.dfa/travel and passengers are encouraged to check the public health advice and restrictions in place in the destinations they are travelling to before embarking.
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. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.
