Written Answers Nos. 1031-1050
1032. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the system in Ireland to count and detail each side effect that occurs as a result of each Covid-19 vaccine delivered; the body that collects this information; and the details of the statistics collected. [41614/21]
View answerThe Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) operates the national adverse reaction reporting system, through which healthcare professionals and members of the public can notify a report of a suspected adverse reaction (ADR) to vaccines on a voluntary basis.
It is important to note that the HPRA receives reports based on suspicion that an adverse experience may be associated with vaccination. This does not necessarily mean that the vaccine caused the adverse experience. The information received by the HPRA may also be limited at the time of initial reporting (for example the report may or may not specify whether the patient has been hospitalised), and more information about individual reports may become available through follow-up.
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 of preventing COVID-19 illness. Overall, the national reporting experience in Ireland continues to support the assessment that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks.
The HPRA has been publishing regular public safety updates on reporting experience with COVID-19 vaccines, including information on the numbers and nature of these reports. To date, ten such updates have been published and are accessible from the HPRA website (www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/covid-19-updates/covid-19-vaccine-communications), with the most recent publication issued on 12 August.
1033. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he plans to introduce legislation to amend the assisted human reproduction Bill to ensure that children born to LGBTQ+ couples will have a legal parent-child relationship with both parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41621/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (Act of 2015) reforms and updates family law to address the needs of children living in diverse family types. Parts 2 & 3 of the Act of 2015 commenced in May 2020 and provide a legal framework for parentage of children who are born as result of assisted human reproduction (AHR) involving donated eggs or sperm or embryos. Records are also required to be kept in relation to the identity of the donor(s), the child, the mother and the intending parent for the purposes of enabling donor-conceived children to access information relating to their genetic heritage.
Drafting of a bill on AHR and associated areas of research is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation encompasses the regulation, of a wide range of practices, including: gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; domestic surrogacy; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and embryo and stem cell research. The legislation also provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR.
Subject to certain criteria being met, AHR treatment will be available to people irrespective of gender, marital status or sexual orientation.
The aim of the AHR legislation is to promote and ensure the health and safety of children born as a result of AHR, people undergoing AHR and intending parents.
1034. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when pre level 3 medical exams will recommence. [41624/21]
View answerThe PRES 3 exams are hosted on behalf of the Medical Council by the medical schools. Due to the pandemic, the PRES 3 exams scheduled to take place in March 2020 were postponed and it has not been possible to reschedule the exams since. The Medical Council has had discussions with the medical schools to explore the possibility of running the PRES 3 exams but due to the pandemic and resulting public health restrictions, the medical schools did not feel they could safely host the exams for the Council. The Council is in contact with the Medical Schools and the matter is being followed up as a matter of urgency so as to be able to offer the PRES at the earliest opportunity.
1035. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if HIQA or the HSE have undertaken any prosecutions against any residential care facilities, proprietors, persons in charge and entities for any breaches of regulations; if so, the regulations breached by each such facility, persons and entity; the name of the persons, facilities and entity prosecuted; the outcome of such prosecutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41625/21]
View answerThe Chief Inspector of Social Services in the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is the statutory independent regulator in place for the nursing home sector, whether a HSE managed or a private nursing home. The Chief Inspector, established under the Health Act 2007, has significant and wide-ranging powers up to and including withdrawing the registration of a nursing home facility, which means that it can no longer operate as a service provider.
As the independent regulator of nursing homes, the Chief Inspector determines the appropriate approach and interventions required to monitor and ensure compliance with the regulatory framework. The Chief Inspector adopts a risk-based approach to regulation, prioritising monitoring, inspection and enforcement, based on the assessment of the risk, including the type of enforcement action to be taken.
Part 8 of the Health Act 2007 sets out the tools for enforcement available to the Chief Inspector in the event that a provider is non-compliant with specific provisions within the Act or the aligned regulations.
Specifically the Chief Inspector may issue the provider with a warning and time frame to come into compliance and where there is a sustained failure to achieve compliance the Chief Inspector may:
- place conditions on a centre’s registration;
- cancel the centre’s registration or refuse to renew the registration;
- prosecute the provider.
Conditions on a centre’s registration
Every designated centre is registered with 3 standard conditions which reflect the service, the building and the number of residents who can live in that centre. Applying additional conditions to the registration of a nursing home makes it clear that the ongoing registration of the nursing home is dependent on the registered provider adhering to the condition. The following is an example of an additional condition:
"Condition 4
Notwithstanding the requirements placed on the registered provider to comply with the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated centres for Older People) Regulations 2013, the registered provider shall take all necessary action to comply with: Regulation 23: Governance and Management Regulation 4: Policies and Procedures Regulation 26: Risk Management Regulation 27: Infection Control Regulation 8: Protection Regulation 17: Premises Regulation 6: Healthcare Regulation 5: Individualised assessment and care plan to the satisfaction of the Chief Inspector ."
To date:
- 113 nursing homes have additional restrictive conditions placed upon them.
Cancellation of a centre’s registration or refusal to renew its registration
Repeated findings of regulatory non-compliance and concern about the care and welfare of residents may result in the Chief Inspector cancelling the registration of a centre or refusing to renew the registration of a centre.
Since the beginning of 2020 the Chief Inspector has:
Used Section 50 of the Health Act to:
- refuse an application to register a nursing home on the grounds that the applicant could not demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations;
- refuse an application to renew the registration of a nursing home on the grounds that the applicant could not demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations; and,
- to reduce the occupancy of a nursing home from 53 to 37 when the provider failed to come into compliance with relevant regulations.
Used Section 51 of the Health Act to:
- cancel the registration of one nursing home when the provider passed away; and,
- issue a notice of proposed decision to cancel the registration of one nursing home when the provider failed to come into compliance with relevant regulations.
Used Section 52 of the Health Act to:
- reduce the occupancy of a nursing home from 86 to 43 when the provider failed to come into compliance with relevant regulations.
Used Section 59 of the Health Act to:
- apply to the District Court to cancel the registration of two nursing homes:
1. Donore Nursing Home, Bray (Registered Provider: Brecon Care Limited)
2. Oaklands Nursing Home, Listowel (Bolden (Nursing) Limited.)
Prosecutions
The Chief Inspector has twice prosecuted registered providers of nursing homes for breaches of the Health Act 2007.
Chief Inspector v Registered Provider, Carysfort Nursing Home
Section 65 of the Health Act 2007 requires a registered provider of a designated centre to submit information to the Chief Inspector of Social Services which the Chief Inspector deems necessary for the performance of her functions under the Health Act 2007. The defendant was named on the register maintained by the Chief Inspector as the registered provider of Carysfort Nursing Home. In March 2018, the defendant failed to submit information requested by the Chief Inspector under Section 65 of the Health Act 2007 to enable the Chief Inspector to carry out her functions under the Health Act 2007. The Chief Inspector commenced a prosecution against the defendant in March 2018 contrary to section 79(2)(a) of the Health Act 2007 as amended, the penalty for which is provided for under Section 79(4) of the Health Act 2007 as amended. The defendant pleaded guilty to the offence at Dublin District Court on the 12 March 2020 and was convicted and a fine was imposed of €500 with 6 months to pay.
Chief Inspector of Social Services v. Hillcrest House Nursing Home Limited
Section 46 of the Health Act 2007 prohibits the operation of a nursing home in the absence of registration and this is an offence under Section 79 of the Health Act 2007. This prosecution was commenced by the Chief Inspector of Social Services on the 21 December 2018 against the provider of residential service to older persons, namely Hillcrest House Nursing Home Limited. The prosecution was for failure to comply with Sections 46(1) and 79(1)(b) of the Health Act i.e. failure by the service provider to register the residential service with the Chief Inspector in accordance with the legislation. Hillcrest House Nursing Home Limited pleaded guilty to the offence at a sitting of Donegal District Court on the 20 March 2019. The District Court convicted the defendant and imposed a fine of €500 with 3 months to pay.
1036. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the compensation or reward that will be paid or given to nurses and midwives in view of their efforts throughout the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41629/21]
View answer1306. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation, INMO, compensation claim; if he has responded to the INMO; the steps he is taking to recognise the contribution of healthcare workers during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42408/21]
View answer1396. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide ten days of compensatory leave for healthcare workers due to fatigue and overwork throughout the pandemic as requested by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42785/21]
View answer1399. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his response to the call from a union (details supplied) for nurses and midwives to receive additional compensation for their work during the pandemic, including compensatory leave due to fatigue and overwork. [42788/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1036, 1306, 1396 and 1399 together.
I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to nurses and midwives 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 all frontline healthcare workers' critical and significant response to this pandemic, and are working to appropriately recognise those efforts.
1037. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding support for persons and families dealing with dementia given the lack of understanding of the illness and the effects it has on many families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41632/21]
View answerThe National Dementia Strategy aims to improve how we provide care for people with dementia, their families and their carers. Implementation of this strategy is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The National Dementia Office, within the HSE, oversees implementation of the strategy.
A range of health and social care services are provided to people with dementia, their families and carers under the National Dementia Strategy. These initiatives include:
- The Dementia Understand Together in Communities Campaign, a public awareness campaign aimed at inspiring people from all sections of society to stand together with the 500,000 Irish people whose families have been affected by dementia;
- Dementia specific homecare packages, which aim to support people living with dementia who have high support needs;
- The dementia advisor service, which provides a highly responsive and individualised information and signposting service for people living with dementia and their families;
- A network of 25 Memory Technology Resource Rooms for people who would like to know more about the products and devices which can help manage memory difficulties;
- In-home day care services for people who are unable to access day services due to the public health restrictions;
- The Intellectual disability memory service, a centre of excellence in pro-active dementia assessment and diagnosis for people with an intellectual disability.
- The National Dementia Diagnostic Services in Dublin, which are being expanded this year to include a new regional memory clinic in Cork along with four additional memory assessment support services in Mayo, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford.
Finally, 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 further implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.
1038. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding support for persons suffering the effects of long Covid and who are unable to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41633/21]
View answer1255. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of specific guidance on the treatment of long Covid; the criteria and strategies for the ongoing evaluation of patients; if research reports and data are or will be made publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42233/21]
View answer1347. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the incidence of long Covid in each age cohort; the number of persons in each age cohort with long Covid after 3,6,9 and 12 months; his plans to ensure that an effective care pathway is put in place for such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42487/21]
View answer1516. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health his plans to deploy resources to research the myriad adverse health effects of what is known as long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43158/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1038, 1255, 1347 and 1516 together.
COVID-19 is a new disease so information on it, its features, incidence 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.
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.
Specific guidance on the treatment of 'Long COVID' is presently under development both here and internationally.
The HSE is currently assessing need and the best way to care for those impacted by Long COVID to ensure the appropriate supports are in place. As part of this work on post-COVID care, the HSE is examining 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 also been in touch with a group of people who are suffering post-COVID symptoms to inform understanding.
The Department of Health will continue to develop an understanding of the implications of Long COVID to inform policy as appropriate.
1039. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the precise criteria around the rights of partners at the birth of their child; if decisions are made on an individual basis or on foot of general policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41639/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1040. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he has been appraised of expressions of dissatisfaction from expectant mothers who have had difficulty arranging for their partners to be present at maternity hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41640/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1041. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union in a case (details supplied) in which it was ruled that an EU member state may not prohibit the marketing of a cannabis product when it is extracted from the cannabis sativa plant in its entirety; and if clarification on the way Ireland will implement workable rules that are consistent with EU legislation and regulations will be provided. [41642/21]
View answerThe matters raised are sub judice, currently the subject of a legal challenge in which the Minister for Health is a respondent and can therefore offer no further comment.
1042. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if further details will be provided on capital projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41643/21]
View answerAs 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.
1043. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if a citizen of the Republic of Ireland who has been fully vaccinated by the public health authorities in Northern Ireland can obtain an EU digital Covid certificate; if so, the process in place to obtain this certificate in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41645/21]
View answer1245. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health when EU digital Covid-19 certificates will be available to EU citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42198/21]
View answer1292. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the launch of the EU digital Covid certificate portal outlining details in relation to the release of phase one and two; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42391/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1043, 1245 and 1292 together.
Following the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland, the Government is creating a specific portal to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU, with vaccines authorised for use in Ireland, to obtain a COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.
This portal is currently being advanced on a cross departmental basis involving technical and process development, and resource management. It is expected that this portal will be launched in the coming weeks.
1044. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if the national children’s hospital will have any genome research facilities; if so, the details of the planned facilities and the future services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41648/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1045. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a national genetics and genomics medicine network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41650/21]
View answerA paper which considered the potential role of genomic medicine in Ireland and which reviewed genomics strategies in other countries was presented to the Department of Health management board in January 2020.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a rapid reprioritisation of the Department’s activities to manage the health and social care system’s response to the crisis.
As a result of this, the future role of genomics medicine in Ireland, and the implementation of this Programme for Government commitment, remains under deliberation by the Department of Health
1046. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the capacity level each adult disability day service provider provided after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted to allow them to reopen; the amount of funding that was allocated to each adult disability day service provider to enable them to expand their capacity; the capacity level each adult disability day service provider provided after receiving this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41651/21]
View answer1047. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the adult disability day service providers which applied for funding to enable them to expand their capacity after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted to allow them to reopen; the adult disability day service providers which did not apply for funding to enable them to expand their capacity after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted to allow them to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41652/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 and 1047 together.
Day services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. The increase in day service capacity was supported by additional funding of €30 million provided in Budget 2021 to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This funding provided an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.
I was very pleased this week to announce that adult day services for people with disabilities will return to full capacity by October 22nd, in line with our COVID 19 response ‘Reframing the Challenge’ roadmap for the lifting of restrictions.
Day service providers have been requested to develop their individual day service location roadmaps to increase the level of day service provision to 100% restoration for each day service user by October 22nd.
Infection prevention and control measures that have been introduced to support the safe delivery of adult disability day services since the onset of COVID 19 will remain in place after October 22nd. These arrangements include risk assessments, enhanced environmental hygiene, and pod like arrangements in day service locations. Mask wearing will remain in place in day services, except for those who are exempt from wearing a face covering.
I also note that on 2nd September, also in line with the government statement on ‘Reframing the Challenge’, the HSE issued guidance to all providers that day service transport can now return to 100% capacity, with all relevant infection prevention and control measures still to be observed, including the wearing of face coverings where possible and appropriate for service users.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1048. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current policy definition of fully vaccinated in the context of Covid-19; if immunocompetent persons under 50 years of age with a previous laboratory confirmed infection within nine months are considered fully vaccinated after one or two doses; the reason for this; if a second dose or booster shot will be required regardless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41653/21]
View answerThe National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) immunisation guidelines advise that those aged under 50 years of age who have had a previous laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection within the previous 9 months and are not immunocompromised should be considered fully vaccinated after a single vaccine dose. Those previously infected, aged over 50 and/or immunocompromised should receive a full COVID-19 vaccine regimen as they may have mounted a sub-optimal response to infection and require a full vaccination schedule.
The guidelines are available at:
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
The HSE will continue to offer all people a second dose, regardless of a positive COVID-19 test. The option will remain for individuals to choose not to take their second dose if they so wish. It is recommended that individuals discuss these options with their treating physician who is in the best position to give appropriate advice.
The NIAC has recently recommended an extended primary vaccination course with an mRNA vaccine for immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years and older, regardless of whether the primary course was of an mRNA or an adenoviral vector vaccine. The third dose of an mRNA vaccine should be given a minimum of two months after the last dose of the primary vaccination schedule.
The four European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved vaccines have specific definitions for when a person is considered fully vaccinated. It is essential that all individuals receive the full course of vaccination, as per the vaccination schedule if they are to be fully protected.
The following table sets out the definition of ‘fully vaccinated':
|
A full course of any one of the following vaccines |
Regarded as fully vaccinated after |
|
2 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine: BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®) |
7 days |
|
2 doses of Moderna Vaccine: CX-024414 (Moderna®) |
14 days |
|
2 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine: ChAdOx1-SARS-COV-2 (Vaxzevria® or Covishield) |
15 days |
|
1 dose of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine: Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant] (Janssen®) |
14 days |
1050. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of free general practitioner care for children aged between six and 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41661/21]
View answer1123. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when he will consult with an organisation (details supplied) on the extension of general practitioner care without fees to children aged 7 and 8 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41802/21]
View answer1517. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care will be extended to those under the age of eight years. [43175/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1050, 1123 and 1517 together.
The Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children under six years of age are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under. The initial stage of this phased expansion will be the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged between 6 and 8.The appropriate date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context. This date will be determined following consultation with the IMO. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
