Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021

Vaccination Programme

Questions (3193)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3193. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the latest vaccine statistics for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40681/21]

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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.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (3194)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

3194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the plans for a health centre (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40698/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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. 3195 answered with Question No. 2191.

Question No. 3196 answered with Question No. 2354.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (3197, 3198)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

3197. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a breakdown of waiting times for assessment of needs in each of the CHO regions will be provided; and when the appointment of specialists in the area will commence to alleviate the extensive delays. [40750/21]

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Niamh Smyth

Question:

3198. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment of needs appointments in CHO1; the breakdown of specialists working within the CHO1 assessment of needs area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40753/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3197 and 3198 together.

The assessment of need process consists of two stages, the first stage is a review of the referral to the assessment of need process by an assessment officer which is an administrative exercise. The child is then referred to stage 2, if appropriate, which is for clinical assessment.

Due to the recent cyber-attack the latest information available from the HSE is that 1,110 applications were due to commence stage 2 of the Assessment of Need process at 31st March 2021.

Having regard to the remainder of the Deputy's Question, as it 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. 3198 answered with Question No. 3197.

Medicinal Products

Questions (3199)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

3199. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether sativex oromucosal spray could possibly be introduced as an approved medicine under the long-term illness scheme for multiple sclerosis patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40755/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including:

(1) The health needs of the public,

(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,

(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,

(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,

(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,

(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,

(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,

(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and

(9) The resources available to the HSE

In 2014, the HSE notified Almirall (the applicant) that there was significant uncertainty around the cost-effectiveness of Sativex (on the basis of the then application: www.ncpe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Summary-v1.pdf ) and as a consequence did not support reimbursement of Sativex (at that time).

The HSE received a revised application from Almirall for pricing / reimbursement of Sativex on the 9th February 2018.

In terms of the specific details of the revised application for pricing and reimbursement of Sativex, indicated as treatment for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) who have not responded adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate clinically significant improvement in spasticity related symptoms during an initial trial of therapy, the HSE advise the following:

- The first step in the process is the submission of a rapid review dossier. The HSE commissioned the rapid review process on the 12th February 2018. Following receipt of a rapid review dossier, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) advised the HSE (3rd April 2018) that a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was required to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Sativex compared with the current standard of care

- The HSE commissioned a full HTA on 19th April 2018 as per agreed processes.- The NCPE HTA report was received by the HSE on the 15th July 2021. The NCPE recommended that Sativex not be considered for reimbursement unless cost effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments

- The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications. I am advised that the HSE-CPU is currently reviewing the HTA report and thereafter will liaise with the applicant company to arrange a suitable date to discuss any issues arising from the report

- The Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The final HTA report will be reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group, along with any outputs of commercial negotiations, and any patient group submission(s) received during the HTA process.

- As decision-making authority, the HSE EMT will, following receipt of the outcome of the HSE Drugs Group's deliberations, make a decision on whether Sativex will be reimbursed.

The application remains under consideration with the HSE. I am advised that the HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.

Hospital Services

Questions (3200, 3201)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

3200. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new facility in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital which is intended to cater for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40758/21]

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Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

3201. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed new facility in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital which is intended to cater for cataract surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40761/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3200 and 3201 together.

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. 3201 answered with Question No. 3200.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (3202)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

3202. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if amusement arcades, bowling alleys and so on can open under the same conditions or other similar conditions in view of the decision to allow indoor dining to open on 26 July 2021; if not, when it is planned to allow them open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40764/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy 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.

Unfortunately, due to current uncertainties with regard to the Delta variant there is not yet an indication of when amusement arcades and bowling alleys will reopen. The epidemiological situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis and the level of restrictions will be kept under review by Government.

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.

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Questions (3203, 3213)

Seán Crowe

Question:

3203. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will provide funding to allow the charities that provide two soup runs in Dublin to remain in operation if the HSE close down on the foot of a HSE environmental health section report. [40765/21]

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Emer Higgins

Question:

3213. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that soup-runs and other voluntary efforts relied on for meals by many homeless persons are not discontinued due to health and safety regulations.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40835/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3203 and 3213 together.

All food businesses must comply with the requirements of food law that are relevant to the business they operate. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 provides the general framework for the operation of food safety law, and defines a food business as “any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.” Therefore, operators such as those to whom the Deputy has referred, distributing food to the homeless are food businesses for the purposes of food safety law.

Food business operators are required by law to notify the HSE (or other FSAI Official Agencies as appropriate) of their intention to carry on a food business. The frequency of inspection of food businesses is based on the risk to public health, with risk being assessed on a number of criteria including the types of foods being produced, processed, and distributed, and the vulnerability of the consumers.

The primary responsibility of the HSE Environmental Health Service (EHS) is the protection of public health. It works under a service contract for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to ensure the relevant food legislation is applied as necessary. This work is essential to ensure that food made available for people to eat is safe. Persons accessing homeless services are among the most vulnerable in our community and may be immunocompromised. There is, therefore, risk of serious illness as a result of any potential food borne infection.

The EHS supervises over 45,000 food businesses and endeavours to work with food business operators to encourage an understanding of the legal requirements and to support compliance with the minimum food safety standards regarding structure, operation, safety management systems and staff training and to ensure compliance with food law where non-compliances are found upon inspection.

The HSE has advised that it does not share any inspection details or outcomes with third parties and cannot comment specifically on any particular food business or inspection. The HSE can confirm however, that the EHS has neither served, nor threatened to serve, a closure order on any voluntary street-based service distributing food to the homeless.

The coordination of services to people who are homeless, including the provision of accommodation and food, falls within the remit of the Department of Housing, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and the local authorities.

I recognise the value of voluntary organisations in providing food and other services to people who are homeless. I would encourage these organisations to engage with the relevant homeless authorities to ensure services are provided in accordance with food safety and other regulations.

Health Service Executive

Questions (3204)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

3204. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if the HSE currently covers care for women with pregnancy related conditions such as gestational diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40825/21]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (3205)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

3205. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of children receiving psychiatric medication in the puffin ward in Cork University Hospital. [40826/21]

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Written answers

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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. 3215 answered with Question No. 3165.

Question No. 3213 answered with Question No. 3203.

Question No. 3214 answered with Question No. 3095.