Verona Murphy
Question:628. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that have left the dental treatment services scheme in the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45000/21]
View answerDental Services
Questions (628)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (629)
Duncan Smith
Question:629. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when his Department in line with the HSE will provide transport for adults with disabilities to attend adult day services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45002/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Health and the HSE provide specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services. The HSE has no statutory obligation to provide transport services and no funding is allocated for this. Transport is not considered a core health service and as such Day Service funding does not include transport.
Some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training by to enable public transport to be used upon commencement of a day programme (where applicable), local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport providers and taxis, funded via a combination of service provider, HSE funding, service user contribution, and / or combined funding; and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.
In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State, for example the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, operated by the Revenue Commissioners; the Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and CLÁR funding, approved by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2021, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (630, 631)
Réada Cronin
Question:630. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department will introduce specific and discrete vaccination certification for the small but important number of vaccinees whose severe adverse reaction to the first dose precludes on strict medical grounds their completion of the vaccine cycle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45003/21]
View answerRéada Cronin
Question:631. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist the small number of persons who require Covid-19 vaccination completion for their workplace but whose severe adverse reaction to the first dose precludes their receiving the second; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45004/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 631 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that the possession of an EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a pre-condition to travel.
The underpinning EU Digital COVID Certificate regulation concerns the issuing and verification of certificates for medical events including vaccination, recovery, and testing related to COVID-19. The EU Digital COVID Certificate regulation, and subsequent associated national regulations, do not allow for the issuing of a certificate for individuals who have not had a medical event as outlined.
Individuals may request a Digital COVID Certificate as proof of a single dose of vaccination given in Ireland if they wish.
The indoor dining regulations (SI 385/2021 as amended) provide for the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (amongst other proofs ) to access indoor hospitality. There is currently no provision for persons who cannot provide proof of vaccination or recovery (apart from a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian or a person who is on site in a professional capacity) to access indoor hospitality premises.
Question No. 631 answered with Question No. 630.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (632)
Réada Cronin
Question:632. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is discriminatory to leave persons who suffered major adverse reaction to the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and are unable to get the second in effective certification limbo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45005/21]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has been advised to operationalise updated NIAC guidance in relation to the mixing of vaccines, specifically relating to certain people who are yet to complete a two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen.
The NIAC advice on heterologous vaccination relates to:
- those who are contraindicated from taking a second vaccine dose of a viral vector vaccine (e.g. had a severe reaction to the first dose of Vaxzevira® (AstraZeneca)) should be offered a second dose of an mRNA vaccine.
- those who have already had the first dose of Vaxzevria® and who did not complete the vaccination schedule as recommended should be offered an mRNA second dose in line with their priority grouping or age cohort.
The person would then be considered fully vaccinated after their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (7 days after Comirnaty®, 14 days after Spikevax®).
The Digital COVID Certificate was designed to support safe travel within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a requirement for travel, but rather a record of a medical event.
Under the EU regulation persons are entitled to request a Digital COVID Certificate stating they have received a single dose of vaccination in an EU Member State. Such requests can be made through the helpline.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (633)
Michael Lowry
Question:633. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the vaccination status and appropriate data for the number of pregnant women and their partners who have or are currently attending maternity services in University Maternity Hospital Limerick from January 2021 to September 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45017/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (634)
Emer Higgins
Question:634. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to improve access to general practitioner care in Lucan, County Dublin, as the population of areas such as Adamstown continue to grow and new communities such as Clonburris are developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/21]
View answerWritten answers
GPs are self-employed private practitioners and may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP.
The Government, aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. The ICGP noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
In relation to the availability of GP services in Lucan specifically, as this relates to a services matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.
Departmental Communications
Questions (635)
Carol Nolan
Question:635. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45039/21]
View answerWritten answers
Since taking office in June 2020, the Minister for Health does not conduct Government business by text. The Minister is fully aware of his obligations under Freedom of Information legislation and does not delete message that have evidential value. Emails are not deleted and all emails are stored as per the Department’s retention policies.
Abortion Services
Questions (636)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:636. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health if the unplanned pregnancy support and abortion care study commissioned by the HSE and carried out by a person (details supplied) is part of the three-year review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the stage the study is at; and when it is due to be published. [45058/21]
View answerWritten answers
The review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 is being progressed this year, in line with statutory and Government commitments. It will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation.
An independent expert will be appointed to lead the review. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review. An invitation will also be extended to all interested groups, organisations and members of the public to provide their views to inform the review of the operation of the legislation.
It is my understanding that the research study commissioned by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme will be published before the end of the year. The service user strand of the review will draw on the research, which is a large-scale qualitative on women’s experiences of abortion and unplanned pregnancy support services since the implementation of the Act on 1 January 2019.
A full report collating all three strands of the review, and including any necessary recommendations, will be submitted to me, as Minister for Health, for consideration once complete.
Hospital Equipment
Questions (637)
Gino Kenny
Question:637. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of ventilators ordered from China by the HSE or others on behalf of the HSE in 2020; the cost of the ventilators ordered; the number of ventilators delivered; the number that have been deployed in clinical situations; the number that have not been delivered; the amount paid for the ventilators; and the amount owed in refunds. [45064/21]
View answerWritten answers
As procurement of medical equipment is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
Disability Services
Questions (638)
David Stanton
Question:638. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the current situation with respect to respite care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45066/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (639)
Cormac Devlin
Question:639. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if a solution to the issue will be found; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45085/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Questions (640)
Carol Nolan
Question:640. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he and the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People will address concerns raised with their respective offices by care champions pertaining specifically to safeguarding concerns within the nursing home sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45098/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government takes adult safeguarding and matters and allegations of suspected neglect and abuse in health settings very seriously. Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse and harm by others in the context of their interactions with the health sector is a key objective of the Department of Health, every statutory body under its aegis, and every health and social care service that interacts with such adults.
In the health sector, a framework of standards, policies and procedures for safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse, harm and exploitation within the sector is in place, and further measures are being developed to strengthen this framework. The framework includes:
- joint national adult safeguarding standards developed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Mental Health Commission, approved by the Minister for Health and launched in 2019;
- the significant inspection and other regulatory powers of HIQA and the Mental Health Commission in relation to the quality and safety of healthcare and social care provision generally (under the Health Act 2007 and the Mental Health Acts);
- the HSE’s national operational adult safeguarding policy Safeguarding Vulnerable People at Risk of Abuse – Policy and Procedures (2014), which is in place primarily in all HSE and HSE-funded social care settings.
A range of structures and processes are established by the HSE to support and further develop its national operational adult safeguarding policy, including:
- a HSE National Safeguarding Office leading policy development and oversight;
- specialist Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each of the 9 HSE Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas;
- over 1,700 designated safeguarding officers nominated by service providers and provided with additional training; and,
- clear guidelines set out in the existing policy for HSE and HSE-funded staff to follow in cases of suspected abuse or neglect of adults at risk;
- an adult safeguarding policy and procedures training programme, and a requirement that staff must attend training. The training is also accessible to non-HSE and HSE-funded services;
- a “zero tolerance” approach to abuse, meaning that abuse must be reported by staff in all instances; and
- implementation planning for a revision by the HSE of its operational adult safeguarding policy which is expected to extend the policy outside of the social care pillar and to all HSE and HSE-funded services.
I have met with and corresponded with Care Champions on their issues of concern. I have also met with HIQA and I have been assured that it has robust mechanisms in place to address safeguarding matters. Specifically in relation to the nursing home sector, under existing law nursing home providers have an obligation to take all reasonable measures to protect residents from abuse. The person-in-charge of the nursing home has a legal obligation to investigate any incident or allegation of abuse. The nursing home is obliged to maintain a record of any incident in which a resident suffers abuse or harm, and the records must include the nature, date and time of the incident, whether medical treatment was required, the name of the persons who were respectively in charge of the designated centre and supervising the resident, and the names and contact details of any witnesses, the results of any investigation and the actions taken. There is also a statutory requirement that the nursing home notify the Chief Inspector of any allegation (suspected or confirmed) of abuse of any resident within 3 days.
The Chief Inspector, in discharging her duties determines, through examination of all information available to her, including site inspections, notifications received and records, whether a nursing home meets the regulatory requirements in order to achieve and maintain its registration status. Should a nursing home be deemed to be non-compliant with the Regulations and the National Quality Standards, it may either fail to achieve or lose its registration status. In addition, the Chief Inspector has wide discretion in deciding whether to impose conditions of Registration on nursing homes.
Significant regulatory reform is ongoing in conjunction with HIQA, in line with the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel’s recommendations and lessons from the pandemic. Earlier this year, Government agreed the progression of interim enhancements to the current regulatory framework for nursing homes this year, with a view to commencing a wider, root and branch review of nursing homes regulation in 2022. Subject to Government approval, the interim enhancements to the legislative framework are expected to include enhanced powers and oversight for the Chief Inspector and enhanced reporting of key data by nursing homes providers.
To strengthen the health sector’s wider adult safeguarding framework, the Department is currently developing a national policy on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector. This national sectoral policy will be in place in all private, voluntary and public health and social care settings and services and will be underpinned by any legislation that may be required. To date, the Department, assisted by a high-level Steering Group, has completed key stakeholder consultation and primary evidence development phases of this major and complex policy project. In developing the policy, the Department is considering the merit of a number of issues including appropriate access to non-public health settings.
The Department is now preparing for a formal public consultation exercise, to be launched later this year, and a costing study, with a view to submitting a draft policy to Government for approval and, thereafter, preparing any legislation required to underpin the approved policy.
Medical Cards
Questions (641)
John Lahart
Question:641. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health if a medical card application can be completed online; and the amount spent on the online medical card application form by the HSE. [45106/21]
View answerWritten answers
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (642, 644)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:642. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when he expects an inquiry will be established to investigate the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to pregnant women without them being made aware of the impacts it could have on their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45107/21]
View answerMichael Fitzmaurice
Question:644. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the stakeholder group consisting of representatives of those involved in the treatment of women with epilepsy will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45109/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 644 together.
Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland, and of the stakeholder group referred to by the Deputy, are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
Medicinal Products
Questions (643, 645)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:643. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the six epilepsy nurse specialists will be recruited for the pregnancy prevention programme to help ensure pregnant women are fully informed of the side effects of sodium valproate given that to date only two of these nurses have been put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45108/21]
View answerMichael Fitzmaurice
Question:645. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when the community operations programme will commence which was agreed in 2018 as part of a range of services that were to be put in place for families who were caring for children impacted by exposure to sodium valproate and to date no family has availed of such service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45110/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 643 and 645 together.
As these questions relate to operational and service matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
Question No. 644 answered with Question No. 642.
Question No. 645 answered with Question No. 643.
Health Services
Questions (646)
Catherine Murphy
Question:646. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of in-person newborn and infant developmental checks carried out by public health nurses by CHO region in 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of checks carried out by phone; the number of checks not conducted; and the backlog of same. [45111/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (647)
Catherine Murphy
Question:647. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the date on which public health nurses will resume in-person checks; and the number of days public health nurses have been not in regular active service since March 2020 to date. [45112/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (648)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:648. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when child and family psychology services will recommence in Galway city west, Oughterard and Moycullen, County Galway; the reason for the significant delay in issuing appointments for the service; the steps he will take to tackle the extensive waiting list for the service to ensure that children and families will be issued with appointments as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45117/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (649)
Noel Grealish
Question:649. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health his plans to further reduce the size of the chapel at University Hospital Galway which had already been reduced in size previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45126/21]
View answerWritten answers
Saolta Hospital Group advise that a section of the Chapel at University Hospital Galway is required to create an alternative waiting area for patients attending the Acute Medical Assessment Unit which is close by.
This waiting area is required due to two projects currently being undertaken at the hospital close to the Acute Medical Assessment Unit, namely the creation of a new Cardiothoracic Ward and the replacement of an MRI machine. Both projects have implications for the Unit, as patient space will be lost for periods during construction work.
The hospital is committed to returning the chapel to its original size once these works are completed in Q2 2022.
Question No. 650 answered with Question No. 599.
Health Services
Questions (651)
Ivana Bacik
Question:651. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department will take to provide the necessary capital and revenue resources arising from public health guidelines to facilitating the full reopening and safe operation of day care services. [45140/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.