Written Answers Nos. 612-631
612. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can obtain a Covid-19 vaccination certificate in Ireland after being vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45997/21]
View answer676. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if cross-Border workers vaccinated in Northern Ireland will receive an EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46173/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 676 together.
Following the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland the Government is adding a further service to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU to obtain a Digital COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.
This service will be released in a two phased approach. During Phase 1 the portal will accept applications from Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Irish COVID vaccination certificate with a QR code.
It is expected that an announcement on the launch of the portal will be made shortly.
613. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the level of funding available for new residential care places for children with complex needs; the number of places which will be created as a result of funding assigned; when such places will be made available for service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46019/21]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
614. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and address the wait time for a very urgent procedure for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46023/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
615. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to assist women with infertility issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46025/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a commitment to introduce the model of care for infertility, which was developed by officials in my Department in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme, is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”. This model of care will ensure that infertility issues will be addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary as part of the full range of services available in obstetrics and gynaecology.
The model of care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF and other advanced assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments).
Structured referral pathways are being put in place and patients referred onwards for further investigations or treatment as required and as clinically appropriate.
Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs in maternity networks, in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients, both male and female, presenting with infertility issues without the need to undergo IVF, or other advanced AHR, treatments.
Funding of €2m was provided to the HSE to commence Phase One of the roll-out in 2020 and this was utilised specifically in respect of the development of the first four Regional Fertility Hubs – namely, Cork University Maternity Hospital, the Rotunda Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital.
Additional funding was made available in Budget 2021 to enable the continuation of Phase One this year, through the setting-up of the final two Regional Fertility Hubs, one located within the Saolta Hospital Group, at University Hospital Galway, and one within the University of Limerick Hospital Group, at Nenagh General Hospital. Work is well underway in relation to the recruitment, refurbishment and equipping of these two Hubs.
Therefore, the completion of Phase One of the roll-out of the model of care will result in fully operational Regional Fertility Hubs in each of the six Hospital Groups across the country.
Phase Two of the roll-out will see the introduction of tertiary infertility services, including IVF, in the public health system, but will not commence until such time as infertility services at secondary level have been developed across the country, required resources have been allocated and the AHR legislation commenced.
Publication of the Bill to regulate the area of assisted human reproduction is a priority for the Government, and officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General will continue to engage intensively over the next few months to finalise this complex piece of legislation.
The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.
616. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get an appointment for a primary care certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46027/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to extending the home help hours for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46030/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
618. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a respite care application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46033/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the level of engagement that has taken place to date with children’s service providers in the CHO Dublin north city and county area and in the wider CHO 9 area regarding the progressing disability services programme of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46034/21]
View answer620. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of continued dedicated supports, services and clinicians that are currently on site at special schools in the CHO Dublin north city and county area and in the wider CHO9 area further to the commitment given that these services would not be impacted by the progressing disability services programme of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46035/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together.
As these are service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
621. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of Sláintecare and the process to fill vacancies on the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46041/21]
View answerA new three-year Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan was approved by Government in May 2021. €1.235 billion was allocated to “pure” Sláintecare initiatives in the first year of the new Strategy. This funding has been used to increase acute and community bed capacity, providing enhanced care in the community, including access to diagnostics, additional home supports, including funding for up to 5 million additional home support hours, streamlining care pathways and tackling waiting lists.
On 10 September, my Department published a report on progress in the first six months of the new Strategy & Action Plan. The report shows that significant progress has been made. Of 112 deliverables for the first six months, 84 were on track and 25 were being progress with minor challenges and 3 are experiencing major challenges. The vast majority of Sláintecare projects are progressing as scheduled in spite of the difficulties presented by the cyberattack four months ago and the ongoing COVID pandemic response.
Progress is continuing in this quarter. Discussions continue with the representative groups on implementation of the public-only consultant contract, a draft preliminary business case for the elective hospitals is now complete and is undergoing internal evaluation in the Department of Health.
A new waiting list initiative will be published shortly and a proposal for the implementation of Regional Health Areas will be finalised before the end of the year.
The Sláintecare Integration Fund has been very successful; 41 projects have already transitioned to recurrent HSE funding, primarily through the Enhanced Community Care Fund while funding for many others is currently being explored as part of the Estimates process. These projects are making a significant contribution to reducing hospital admissions, presentations to emergency departments and helping people stay healthy in their communities for longer.
The question of filling vacancies on the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council is currently under consideration.
622. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of Swords primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46042/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
623. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of his Department’s efforts to curb binge drinking of alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46043/21]
View answerThe primary policy response to the health harms of alcohol consumption is the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. The Act contains measures recommended by the Steering Group Report on a Substance Misuse Strategy to address both the volume of alcohol consumed in Ireland and harmful patterns of alcohol consumption such as binge drinking. Harmful drinking patterns have particular impacts on young people with evidence showing that binge drinking impacts on the developing brain.
Pricing is one of the most effective interventions to address harmful patterns of drinking especially among young people.
The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (Sale and Supply of Alcohol Products) Regulations 2020 came into operation in January this year. These regulations have restricted price promotions in relation to alcohol products. Measures in the regulations include the prohibition of the sale of an alcohol product at a reduced price for a limited period and the prohibition of the sale of an alcohol product at a reduced price because that product is sold with another product or service.
In May of this year, I commenced section 11 of the Act on Minimum Unit Pricing. It will come into operation from 4 January 2022 and sets a minimum price of 10c per gram of alcohol. Minimum pricing is effective at addressing the harms associated with alcohol as international evidence shows that heavier drinkers tend to purchase cheaper alcohol than lighter drinkers. In addition, the introduction of a 10c minimum price will ensure that strong alcohol products are not cheaply available for children and young people.
Finally in November this year, two sections of the Act relating to alcohol advertising and alcohol sponsorship will become operational. The purpose of these provisions is to reduce the visibility of alcohol in daily life, particularly for children. Those provisions are:
- A prohibition on alcohol advertising on a sports area during a sporting event, at events aimed at children or at events in which the majority of participants or competitors are children.
- A prohibition on alcohol sponsorship of events aimed at children, events which the majority of participants or competitors are children and events involving driving or racing motor vehicles.
624. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to tackle youth smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46044/21]
View answerThe Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study 2018 found that 5 percent of children aged 10 to 17 smoke, a decline of 3 percent on the 2014 figure. While this decline is welcome we want to drive the number of children who smoke down to zero and there are a number of initiatives taking place at national and at local level that are working towards that outcome.
The Public Health (Tobacco & Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will ban the sale of tobacco products at places or events intended for children, from mobile units or containers, and from self-service vending machines, all of which will reduce the availability of tobacco products to children. It will also prohibit the sale of tobacco products by people under the age of 18 and prohibit the sale of nicotine inhaling products to those under 18. Finally, it will create a licensing system for the retail sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, with increased enforcement options available to the HSE in dealing with non-compliant retailers.
In addition to legislation, community initiatives such as the ‘Not Around Us’ campaigns in Limerick, Galway and Clare are contributing to the denormalisation of smoking for children and young people while the HSE Tobacco Free Ireland programme has worked with educators to develop content on the dangers of tobacco use as part of the Junior Cycle SPHE curriculum. This multi-faceted approach is, and will continue to be, crucial in ensuring that young people do not take up smoking.
625. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that in the very rare occasion of a person receiving a Covid-19 vaccination having an adverse reaction that results in a stay in hospital that their inpatient charge and any other fees are waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46053/21]
View answerCurrently, the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to the statutory in-patient charge, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory public in-patient charge, subject to a number of limited exemptions which include;
- medical card holders;
- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);
- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;
- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;
- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;
- women receiving maternity services;
- children up to 6 weeks of age;
- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card;
- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.
The question of waiving statutory in-patient charges and other fees for persons who experience an adverse reaction to Covid-19 vaccination, will require further consideration in the context of broader health policy, legal and financial implications which may arise.
626. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high level of general practitioners and maternity hospitals that are not providing abortion services; the steps he will take to improve access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46054/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
627. 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. [46056/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
628. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available to appoint a clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes multidisciplinary team; his views on whether psychosocial support in diabetes care is not formally embedded as part of diabetes management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46058/21]
View answerDiabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition, the management of emotional and psychological well-being is an important part of diabetes care and self-management. Self-management education programmes such as DAFNE (for people living with type 1 diabetes) and DESMOND and Discover Diabetes (for people living with type 2 diabetes) help provide psychosocial support for many people living with diabetes.
The Model of Integrated Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes sets out that diabetes is to be managed within the acute system by the diabetes multidisciplinary team including access to psychology support where available. However, I acknowledge there is a deficit in the number of hospital staff providing psychological services dedicated to diabetes care.
The 2021 National Service Plan recognised the need for an unprecedented expansion of the permanent health workforce through permanent appointments. Funding has been provided for an increase to approximately 135,655 WTE across the health service by December 2021, which is an increase of 15,838 WTE over funded 2020 levels. There is significant workforce recruitment underway. The HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy identifies the specific roles and grades to be hired.
629. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available to provide a diabetes psychology resource to each community diabetes specialist team hub under the Integrated Model of Care for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease Implementation Guide; his views on whether access to psychosocial support in these teams should be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46059/21]
View answerIn 2021, significant funding of €150 million was allocated to deliver a programme of Enhanced Community Care, a key component of which is the provision of 30 Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, COPD, and asthma in the community. Each CST will provide support across three Community Healthcare Networks, serving a population of approximately 150,000 patients per team.
These multidisciplinary teams will support individuals with chronic disease in the community setting by providing specialist care closer to home. The CSTs for chronic diseases will also ensure integration between preventative supports, primary and community care, and acute ambulatory care services.
The Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (ICPCD) focuses on improving the standard of care for four major chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes. The ICPCD leads out in the development and implementation of a model of care for the Integrated Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease in Ireland.
This model includes the provision of chronic disease CSTs and provides a suite of job descriptions for various team roles, which for diabetes includes a diabetes clinical nurse specialist (CNS). The diabetes CNS role includes the undertaking of comprehensive patient assessments to include physical, psychological, social and spiritual elements of care; this assessment is used to develop and implement holistic plans for care management.
Diabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition, the management of emotional and psychological well-being is an important part of diabetes care and self-management. Community specialist care provides supports to the GP to care for patients in the community including diabetes structured patient education services. Self-management education programmes such as Discover Diabetes for people living with type 2 diabetes help provide psychosocial support for people living with diabetes.
630. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available to appoint a 0.5 whole-time equivalent clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes paediatric diabetes team; his views on whether psychosocial support in paediatric diabetes care should be available in each team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46060/21]
View answer793. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to appoint a 0.5 whole-time equivalent clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes paediatric diabetes team; his views on whether psychosocial support in paediatric diabetes care should be available in each team; the reason there is no access to this support outside of Dublin paediatric diabetes services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46636/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 793 together.
The information necessary to answer the Deputy's question is not available at this time. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide me with the information and I will respond to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
631. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available to appoint a clinical psychologist to the diabetes multidisciplinary team in Navan Hospital or Navan primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46061/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
