Written Answers Nos. 1351-1370
1351. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person who has availed of two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine in two different EU countries can avail of the EU Digital Covid Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42508/21]
View answerUnder the EU regulation ((EU) 2021/953) Digital COVID Certificate are issued in the EU country where the medical event took place. In cases where a person has received a vaccine in two separate EU countries, they should apply for a Digital COVID Certificate in the country where they received their second dose of the vaccine.
In cases where the EU country issuing the Digital COVID Certificate after the second dose requires proof of the first, individuals may request a single dose vaccination certificate as proof from the country of issue
1353. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for mental health services by CHO and age category; and the breakdown by the length of time they have been waiting in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1354. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason data on adult mental health waiting lists is not captured nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42515/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1355. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to commitments given by his predecessor to Dáil Éireann on 10 December 2019 on Report Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019, if he will outline the engagement to date between his Department and Health Insurance Authority on the exclusion of coverage of level 2 hospitals by an insurance provider; his plans to review those regulations in respect to the exclusion of level 2 hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/21]
View answerThe Health Insurance Authority (HIA) has carried out two reviews of the Minimum Benefit Regulations in recent years, first in 2010 and then in 2016. Following Minister Harris' commitment to review the regulations on foot of the Deputy's query in 2019, Department officials contacted the HIA in respect of the clause pertaining to coverage of public hospitals. The HIA advised that their reviews included consideration of this issue and they are satisfied that there should be no change to this provision of the regulations. This position has become more relevant with the introduction of Sláintecare which aims to exclude all private practice from public hospitals. These matters are being kept under review by the HIA and Department officials on an ongoing basis and in line with government policy on healthcare and health insurance.
1356. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen by the rapid access haematuria clinic at Roscommon University Hospital; the cancer detection rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/21]
View answerA pilot Rapid Access Haematuria Clinic (RAHC) has been in operation in Roscommon University Hospital since December 2018. Patients who have symptoms of blood in the urine can be referred to this clinic, which aims to see patients in line with the national clinical guideline for urgent assessment within 28 days.
While the clinic has continued to run throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme has advised that the most recent data available is for 2019.
In 2019, a total of 419 patients were seen in the clinic. Of these, 70% were seen and treated in one visit, and 100% were seen within the national clinical guideline for urgent assessment within 28 days.
In 2019, 10% of patients who attended the RAHC were diagnosed with cancer.
1357. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 583 of 17 December 2020, 646 of 3 February 2021 and 160 of 7 July 2021, the reason that the HSE has refused to disclose the location of the 18 ambulatory care hubs; if his Department has been provided with locations for some or all of these hubs; if so, the locations of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42534/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1358. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the hospitals which had a TRASNA telemedicine stroke machine installed; the number of times the equipment was used in the past 12 months in each hospital; the corresponding figure for use in stroke diagnostics; the plans if any to replace the equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42535/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1359. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the Strengthening Disability Services Fund of €20 million announced in 2020 has been distributed in full; if not, the amount currently available in the fund; and the number of organisations that have received moneys from the fund. [42540/21]
View answer1360. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the Strengthening Disability Services Fund of €20 million announced in 2020 has been distributed in full; if not the amount currently available in the fund; and the number of organisations that have received moneys from the fund. [42541/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1359 and 1360 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1361. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if the PCRS will re-issue a breakdown of the income and outgoings in relation to the decision that was made on a medical card application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
1362. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the HSE IT systems will be back to normal service; and when Members can resubmit parliamentary questions on HSE operational issues for answer (details supplied). [42558/21]
View answerSince the cyberattack, our colleagues in ICT, along with their counterparts in the HSE and OGCIO have been working diligently to restore the PQ referral system to the HSE. This work has been completed and we can now begin referring PQs to the HSE once more.
The majority of IT systems have also been restored within the HSE but access to historical data can still be a challenge and may be more time consuming in certain instances. This may impact how quickly we can respond to certain PQs but this will need to be addressed on a case by case basis.
1363. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount paid by University Hospital Kerry in external consultancy fees relating to microbiology. [42572/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1364. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the monthly spend on antibiotic treatments in University Hospital Kerry for 2021 year to date in tabular form. [42573/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1365. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to the WRC Labour Court Recommendation LCR22195 on interim compensation for travel the reason the HSE is now seeking repayment of overpaid travel hours that have been paid to HSE home support workers since that judgment was issued; the reason this refund was sought in 2021 when travel payments post the LRC decision were paid in arrears; if it is the case that a delay in the HSE revising their payment systems has now lead to the request for repayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42582/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1366. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the total amount of money sought by the HSE from home support workers for travel compensation since 1 March 2020; the number of persons involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42583/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1367. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Southdoc have reneged on their commitment to a full return to service in their Blackpool facility and will instead operate curtailed hours. [42593/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1368. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the due diligence his Department and the HSE took to ensure that any personal protective equipment procured by the State during the Covid-19 pandemic had not been made using slave or forced labour and was of a sufficient standard to ensure a proper protection level in view of a report in the UK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42594/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1369. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his advice regarding school children under 13 years of age having to wear a mask (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42595/21]
View answerThe Deputy is advised that the NPHET for COVID-19 is currently considering updated advice provided by the HIQA on the policy question:
“Should the minimum age for the application of mask wearing requirements and recommendations be reduced?"
The HIQA issued previous advice to the NPHET on this matter on 8 April and 3 March 2021 respectively, available here: www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/reducing-minimum-age-mask-wearing
For both the advice issued on 3 March and 8 April 2021, and subsequently endorsed by the NPHET, the HIQA recommended that there should be no change in the minimum age for requirements and recommendations with respect to mask use in the community. In making this recommendation, it was recognised that the potential benefits of a requirement or recommendation for children to wear face masks must outweigh concerns regarding potential harms associated with face mask use.
The NPHET will consider the latest updated HIQA advice at its next meeting, scheduled for mid-September. The Minister for Health will be informed of the NPHET’s recommendation(s) on same in the usual manner after the NPHET meeting.
1370. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reinstating the phlebotomy service at Peamount Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42598/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
