Ivana Bacik
Question:206. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 5 May 2021, the status of a review of thresholds for still birth registrations. [49975/21]
View answerCivil Registration Service
Questions (206)
Written answers
The HSE and the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland have produced a framework document in relation to the management of extreme pre-term birth. The framework document recommends that the threshold of foetal viability should be reduced from 24+0 weeks gestation to 23+0 weeks gestation. It replaces the previous consensus document from 2006 which stated that the threshold of fetal viability was 24+0 weeks gestation. This framework document has been published at the following link:
www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/paediatrics-neonatology/resources.
In light of this change in clinical practice, consideration is being given to potential changes that may need to be made to the definition of stillbirth within the Civil Registration Act 2004. As part of this process, officials from my Department are engaging with other relevant Departments regarding this potential definition change.
Medicinal Products
Questions (207, 229)
Seán Canney
Question:207. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he will establish a Ministerial stakeholder group as agreed by him in November 2020 to review and strengthen current risk reduction measures for women of childbearing potential prescribed valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49978/21]
View answer
Emer Higgins
Question:229. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress in establishing a Ministerial stakeholder group as agreed in November 2020 to review and strengthen current risk reduction measures around the use of sodium valproate to treat epilepsy in women of child-bearing potential; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50103/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 229 together.
Details of the proposed stakeholder group referred to by the Deputy are currently under consideration by officials within the Department of Health.
Health Services Staff
Questions (208, 230)
Seán Canney
Question:208. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit four unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49979/21]
View answerEmer Higgins
Question:230. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the progress of recruiting four unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts as agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50104/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 230 together.
As these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Staff
Questions (209)
Gino Kenny
Question:209. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that based on the population number living in the catchment area of Tallaght University Hospital, national and international guidelines recommend that there should be 20 neurology nurse specialists employed in the neurology department and that there are currently 3.5 nurses; his plans to increase the level of neurology nurses at Tallaght University Hospital; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49980/21]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (210)
Mattie McGrath
Question:210. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the Covid certificate of recovery is only valid for 180 days from 11 days after a positive PCR result when the HSE is treating the period of immunity following Covid-19 as existing for nine months and informing those that have recovered that they do not need to restrict their movements and so on if they are a close contact for a period of nine months after having Covid-19; the reason the certificate of recovery is only valid for six months when the period of immunity is a period of nine months; if he will extend the certificates of recovery in line with the HSE official position on immunity, a period of nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49984/21]
View answerWritten answers
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. The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardized across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.
The dataset to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate is specified in Annex I of the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. The dataset for a certificate of recovery includes the requirement that it is a ‘certificate valid until (not more than 180 days after the date of first positive NAAT test result)’.
State Bodies
Questions (211)
Thomas Gould
Question:211. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason family support networks no longer have a seat on the National Oversight Committee; and when this will be restored. [49996/21]
View answerWritten answers
The national drug strategy Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery represents a whole-of-government response to the problem of drug and alcohol use in Ireland. It emphasises a health-led response to substance use in Ireland, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery.
The strategy aims to promote the participation of service users and their families, including those in recovery, in local, regional and national decision-making structures and network. The National Family Support Network was a member of the National Oversight Committee from 2017, when the committee was established, until the network went into voluntary liquidation earlier this year.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Health has completed a mid-term review of the actions in Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery. Arising from the review, a number of strategic priorities have been identified and a proposal for new oversight structures to support the implementation of these priorities is under consideration. This proposal will change the membership of the NOC going forward and broaden and deepen civil society involvement in the strategy. The strategy provides that the final membership of the oversight committee is a matter for me as Minister of State.
I am committed to the active involvement of civil society in the national drug strategy. Representation of family support networks will be considered in the context of broadening of civil society participation.
Departmental Priorities
Questions (212)
Thomas Gould
Question:212. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the progress on establishing a national family support network. [49997/21]
View answerWritten answers
Strategic action 17 of the National Drug Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, commits to strengthening services to support families affected by substance misuse. The HSE funds a number of organisations that provide family support services at both local and regional levels.
The strategy also recognises the role that families can play in the planning, design and delivery of drug and alcohol services and polices .
The Department is aware of the closure of the National Family Support Network (NFSN). This was a voluntary organisation, made up of local and regional family support networks.
The Department has engaged with local and regional family support networks following the closure of the NFSN and is supportive of their efforts to work together. However, the Department of Health has no role in establishing a national family support network.
I am committed to working with family support networks to implement the national drugs strategy.
Health and Safety
Questions (213)
Thomas Pringle
Question:213. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he plans to review the current blood donation ban on sexually active gay and bisexual men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49999/21]
View answerWritten answers
The remit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. A major objective of the IBTS is to ensure that it always has the necessary programmes and procedures in place to protect both the recipients and the donors of blood and blood products. The IBTS constantly keeps all deferral policies under active review, in the light of scientific evidence, emerging infections and international evidence, to ensure the ongoing safety of blood and the products derived from it.
The IBTS established an independent Advisory Committee for Social Behaviours Review to review the evidence base for donor selection, deferral and exclusion in Ireland in relation to social behaviours that may increase the risk for acquiring specific blood-borne infections.
The work of the Advisory Committee is the subject of consideration between my Department and the IBTS.
Hospital Services
Questions (214)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:214. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 633 of 15 September 2021, when a response will issue (details supplied). [50000/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, the previous PQ was referred to the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. My officials have been in further contact with the HSE seeking that the issue of a reply be expedited.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (215)
James O'Connor
Question:215. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50002/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the correspondence enclosed by the Deputy relates to operational matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (216)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:216. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be rescheduled for a recently cancelled procedure in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50004/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Departmental Priorities
Questions (217)
Brendan Howlin
Question:217. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the supports his Department provides for research into motor neuron disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50009/21]
View answerWritten answers
My Department funds research on Motor Neuron Disease (MND/ALS) through the Health Research Board (HRB). The HRB is the largest funder of health research in the state and, in the past ten years, has funded research on MND/ALSO to a value of almost €10.9m. Of this, €3.2 million was leveraged from non-exchequer sources in Ireland and elsewhere, such as the charity sector (Research Motor Neuron - €243k), through our Health Research Charities Ireland joint funding scheme and co-funding with European partners of the Joint Programme in Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND) (co-funding of €5.55 million).
Projects funded in MND/ALS have spanned most broad research areas and a number of clinical or academic domains. Over half of the funding in MND/ALS was for neuroscience and clinical neurology research, seeking to understand the nature of the disease, understand risk factors in the Irish population, develop diagnostic tools and identify possible therapeutic targets. The balance of the research activity has/is focusing on understanding the experience of MND/ALS, the healthcare and health service needs of patients with MND/ALS and their caregivers, and how best to address these.
In addition to research specific on MND/ALS, over the past 10 years the HRB has invested almost €18 million in understanding the underlying mechanisms and aetiology of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation more generally (which is of course relevant to MND/ALS), and co-funding of a JPND project looking at development of a European eHealth care model for rare neurodegenerative diseases.
Dental Services
Questions (218)
Niamh Smyth
Question:218. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a referral to the public dentist in Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50011/21]
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 Overcrowding
Questions (219)
Richard O'Donoghue
Question:219. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding and the lack of beds at UHL Limerick; his plans to alleviate the problem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50016/21]
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.
Mental Health Policy
Questions (220)
Richard O'Donoghue
Question:220. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increase in the number of persons that are seeking mental health support and taking medication for such issues in the knowledge that this medication is highly addictive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50018/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (221)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:221. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50020/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (222, 223)
Ivana Bacik
Question:222. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department will undertake research to discern the number of persons in Ireland that are living with long Covid and to produce recommendations to him regarding a national response to long Covid including provision of occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics and counselling. [50041/21]
View answerIvana Bacik
Question:223. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department has developed a plan to deliver best practice guidelines, guidance and training to general practitioners treating long Covid patients. [50042/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 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. You may wish to note that the HSE is recruiting for the position of an Implementation Lead to oversee the implementation of a national model of care.
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.
My Department will continue to develop an understanding of the implications of Long COVID to inform policy as appropriate.
Question No. 223 answered with Question No. 222.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (224)
Niamh Smyth
Question:224. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot get a hip operation; the reason for the delay; the reason the hospital has no record of an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50053/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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.
Mental Health Policy
Questions (225)
Róisín Shortall
Question:225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has finalised a draft general scheme to amend the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50065/21]
View answerWritten answers
The General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Mental Health Act was approved by Government on 13 July and is available on the Department of Health's website at gov.ie - Draft Heads of a bill to amend the Mental Health Act 2001 (www.gov.ie).