Thursday, 9 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1011-1030

Disease Management

Questions (1011)

David Cullinane

Question:

1011. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated total annual diabetes-related expenditure. [41545/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (1012)

David Cullinane

Question:

1012. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual expenditure change if provision of continuous glucose monitor, CGM, devices was replaced with flash glucose monitoring devices, for example, the FreeStyle Libre device. [41546/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1013)

Pa Daly

Question:

1013. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the reason full Covid-19 data is not being published in particular the data on test numbers, positivity rates and data on Covid-19 cases in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41549/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive’s (HSE) IT systems suffered a major cyber-attack on Friday 14th May 2021. This led to disruption of regular COVID-19 data updates.

In relation to test numbers and positivity rates, the cyber-attack did not lead to any pause in the HSE’s weekly updates. All HSE weekly ‘Covid-19 Testing and Contact Tracing Updates’, with data on test numbers and positivity, are available here: www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/covid-19-testing-contact-tracing-updates.html

The automated data transfer processes which updated the daily test numbers and positivity rates on the COVID-19 Data Hub: covid-19.geohive.ie/ were disrupted by the cyber-attack and these updates were paused. Full reporting of testing and positivity rates was restored to the COVID-19 Data Hub in mid-August with the full back-series of data for the period of the disruption also made available. This data is updated daily Monday-Saturday covid-19.geohive.ie/pages/hospitals-icu--testing

In relation to data on Covid-19 cases in hospitals, reporting of this data in the Department of Health’s daily statement resumed shortly after the cyber-attack. This was based on a manual data collection process implemented by the HSE as an interim solution. On 17th July, the HSE resumed publication of the Daily Operations Update report www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/coronavirus-daily-operations-updates.html with details of Covid-19 on Covid-19 cases in hospitals and ICU.

Daily updates of Covid-19 cases in hospital also resumed on the COVID-19 Data Hub in mid-July, with a full back series of data for the duration impacted by the cyber-attack covid-19.geohive.ie/pages/hospitals-icu--testing. This data is updated daily Monday-Sunday

Mental Health Services

Questions (1014)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1014. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which efforts are being made to upgrade and expand children and adolescent mental health services with particular reference to the need for early assessment, diagnosis and support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41553/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (1015)

David Cullinane

Question:

1015. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41556/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (1016)

David Cullinane

Question:

1016. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when a second endocrinologist will be appointed to University Hospital Waterford; if he will provide details regarding the start date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41557/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1017)

David Cullinane

Question:

1017. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the wait times for brachytherapy by hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41559/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Questions (1018)

David Cullinane

Question:

1018. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason brachytherapy is not available at the University Hospital Waterford; his plans to introduce brachytherapy for public patients at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41560/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1020 answered with Question No. 996.

Question No. 1019 answered with Question No. 996.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1021)

David Cullinane

Question:

1021. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting an endoscopy at University Hospital Waterford; the number of persons who have been waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41577/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen 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 associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid protocols.

My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

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 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 HSE continues to work to improve access, particularly to urgent colonoscopy services. In addition, the NTPF is working closely with individual hospitals to improve access to endoscopy/colonoscopy services for waiting list patients, including through the outsourcing of G.I. Scopes treatment to private hospitals for clinically suitable patients, where capacity is available.

The data requested by the Deputy regarding the number of persons awaiting an Endoscopy at University Hospital Waterford; the number of persons who have been waiting up to 30, 30 to 60, 60 to 90 and more than 90 days is outlined in the attached document.

endoscopy

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1022, 1165)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1022. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied) calling for compensation for healthcare staff in recognition for their sacrifices made as workers on the frontline of a health service dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will provide a formal response to the campaign. [41579/21]

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

1165. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health his plans to compensate frontline workers for their exceptional work carried out during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41917/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1022 and 1165 together.

I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to health sector workers in relation to their continuing efforts in the delivery of health services during this very challenging pandemic period.The Department is supportive of efforts by all sides to seek a resolution of this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment any further given that this matter has been referred to the Labour Court, save that the Department and the HSE acknowledge frontline healthcare workers' critical and significant response to this pandemic, and are working to appropriately recognise those efforts.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (1023)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1023. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount a company (details supplied) is being paid to operate the EU digital Covid certificate helpline on behalf of his Department; and if there are penalties for missed targets and poor delivery of service by the company. [41580/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Over 3.3m Digital COVID Certificates have been issued via post and email from July 12th and remaining certificates are being processed for issue. Of course there are a small percentage of the overall number who have yet to receive their vaccination certificates and this relates to a number of factors e.g GPs who are uploading remaining data and also in cases where the quality of data is sufficient. This accounts for less than 0.9 % of all those vaccinated to-date.

To support the roll-out of Government policy, a helpline through the DCC Call-Center was set up to allow those members of the public who are travelling to deal directly with queries relating to the Digital COVID Certificate from Monday 19th of July 2021. The call centre has also since introduced new additional service channels. A new online form to request Recovery certificates for eligible persons was released on 22 July. Following this a portal allowing for Vaccine Certificate Request, Vaccine Certificate Details Update and a Vaccine Status portal were launched on the 30th July.

In order to mobilise the DCC Call-Center, DoH entered into a contract with Accenture to capture service requirements for the coming months. The contract, envisaged to run for 7 months, is based on an estimated fee of €6.5 million relating to an agreed scope, assumptions and estimate volumes. The contract fee is structured on a blend of components including a time and materials rate card based on the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of External ICT Technical Support Services (between Accenture Limited and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform), an estimate of fees based on a bill of materials for a CRM system, fixed fees based on call-agents resource levels and technology deployed and projected call volume from members of the public. The actual fees are determined on a monthly basis based on actual services and their performance levels delivered during the previous months, and the actual usage of consumption based services linked to call volumes from members of the public .

Question No. 1024 answered with Question No. 996.

Hospital Services

Questions (1025)

David Cullinane

Question:

1025. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the services that will be provided in the second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; if services will include primary percutaneous coronary intervention procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41582/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (1026)

David Cullinane

Question:

1026. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for the recruitment of the additional interventional cardiologists and supporting staff to enable University Hospital Waterford to staff a 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41583/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single Cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing Cath lab should be extended.

The HSE has advised that discussions are still on-going to commence extended working days (8am-8pm) in the Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford in. It is intended to progress to 7 day extended hours working on an incremental basis during 2021.

The Herity Report also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services at UHW should cease to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned work. The then Minister for Health asked the Department to address the implications of this recommendation by arranging for a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.

The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme.

While substantial progress has been made on the Review, the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted on its progress. However, it is intended that the Review will continue and work is now underway to progress this. The Steering Group are due to reconvene in September with a view to finalisation of the Review over the coming months.

Hospital Equipment

Questions (1027)

David Cullinane

Question:

1027. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford will be fully equipped to the same standard as the first laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41584/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Departmental Staff

Questions (1028)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

1028. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41596/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 requires the Department, along with all public service bodies, to progressively increase the percentage of our workforce with a disability to 6% by 2024.

All employees within the Department are asked to declare a disability through an anonymous online survey on a voluntary basis. The responses are gathered and returned to the Central Monitoring Committee annually. The survey returns show that the number of declarations has almost doubled from 3.6% in 2015 to 7.1% in 2020.

The Department engages in the following activities to promote and support the employment of people with a disability:

- Recruitment is dealt with through the Public Appointments Service, and as such, is subject to the policies and procedures in place for that organisation, in particular, I refer you to the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities 2015-2024.

- Follows the Civil Service Code of Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities.

- Has a designated DLO to act as the point of contact for staff with disabilities, their line managers and the HR Unit to provide assistance and support to both staff and their line managers by the provision of information, advice and supports, where necessary.

- Participates in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM), which is a work placement programme that aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities. There was one WAM placement in 2020.

- The Department facilitated a weeklong transition year student work experience programme from two local schools in 2020 with 4 out of 8 of these students living with disabilities. The purpose of this programme is to encourage these students to pursue a career in the civil service.

- Provides training to staff

- The Department also periodically offers unconscious bias, disability awareness, diversity & inclusion and SAFETalk training to department staff

A Monitoring Committee within the Department of Health collects annual data on the number of people with a disability employed in the HSE (including section 38 agencies) and Non-Commercial State Agencies. Out of the 23 agencies reported on for 2020, 19 of them met or exceeded the current target of 3%. 7 of these agencies already exceeded the future target of 6%. The Monitoring Committee and the National Disability Authority work with the agencies under the Department’s aegis in order to meet and exceed the targets set. The reasons for the failure of a small number of agencies to meet the national target are explored and discussed, with feedback given to improve for the coming year.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (1029, 1031)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1029. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the risk-benefit analysis carried out by National Immunisation Advisory Committee, NIAC, with regard to the Covid-19 vaccination of the 12 to 15 years of age cohort. [41611/21]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1031. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the long-term testing there has been on the vaccine and children as young as 12 years of age. [41613/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1029 and 1031 together.

In clinical trials of children and young people aged 12-15 years in the case of Comirnaty® (Pfizer-BioNTech) and 12-17 years for Spikevax® (Moderna), the point estimate for efficacy of both vaccines was reported as 100% in these age groups. Reactogenicity occurred at a slightly higher frequency in these age groups compared to adults, but side effects from the vaccine were similar to those experienced by adults e.g. injection site pain, fatigue, headache. Vaccination in those 12-15 years is associated with short-lived, self-limited side effects.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee considered the benefits and risks to this age group of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the short and longer-term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on children and young people in this age group and recommended that vaccination be extended to those aged 12-15 years. COVID-19 infections in those aged 12-15 years are usually asymptomatic or mild. Hospitalisation rates, rates of ICU admission are very low and death is rare. This does not exclude the possibility of severe COVID-19 developing, even in the previously healthy child. The risk of hospitalisation is higher in those with underlying chronic medical conditions and can approach that of older adults with risk conditions. NIAC also considered other potential risk factors for children and young people aged 12-15 years as a result of contracting SARS-Cov-2 COVID-19 including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and long-COVID, as well as the psycho-social impact of COVID-19 on this age group.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended granting an extension of indication to both Comirnaty and Spikevax to include use in children aged 12 years and older and has concluded that the benefits of Comirnaty and Spikevax in children and young people in this age group outweigh the risks, in particular in those with conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1030)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1030. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the illness rate, hospitalisation rate, ICU rate, long Covid rate and mortality rate per 100,000 for each age cohort from 12 years of age upwards in relation to Covid-19. [41612/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.