Seán Sherlock
Question:350. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the operational activity and numbers at a hospital (details supplied). [55265/21]
View answerHospital Admissions
Questions (350)
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (351)
Seán Sherlock
Question:351. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance calls registered for accidents on the N20 Cork to Limerick road in 2020 and to date in 2021. [55266/21]
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 (352)
David Cullinane
Question:352. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the resumption of daycare services in north County Sligo; the arrangement his Department will put in place to deliver daycare services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55267/21]
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 Services
Questions (353, 354)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:353. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the availability of scalp-cooling services to cancer patients in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55271/21]
View answerNeasa Hourigan
Question:354. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure the availability of scalp-cooling services in the oncology ward of the Mater Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55272/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together.
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) advise that the provision of systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) for patients with cancer can include many other additional elements to support the patient in the management of adverse effects associated with their treatment. Scalp cooling is an example of one such supportive care measure.
There are 26 public hospitals providing SACT in Ireland. A patient’s consultant will consider each patient’s supportive care requirements, taking into account the individual patient, their treatment, and the evidence relating to the supportive care measure.
There is no clinical consensus on the use of scalp cooling as a supportive care measure for patients with cancer undergoing SACT. It is made available in some of these hospitals, based on suitability of the patient, local availability of equipment, service needs and capacity.
However, the availability of scalp cooling is currently curtailed on infection control advice, considering the public health measures in place in hospitals related to Covid-19. This is because scalp cooling is associated with additional time in the hospital environment, as well as social distancing and additional cleaning requirements.
The NCCP advises that discussions are on-going in relation to setting up a scalp cooling service in the Mater Hospital. However, any decision will have to take account of advice on public health and infection prevention and control measures in relation to Covid-19.
Question No. 354 answered with Question No. 353.
Disability Services
Questions (355)
James O'Connor
Question:355. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position regarding disability services in County Cork in particular in relation to a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55277/21]
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 (356)
Marian Harkin
Question:356. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health if Irish citizens returning to Ireland from Canada for Christmas require PCR tests (details supplied). [55286/21]
View answerWritten answers
International travellers to Ireland that meet the requirement of a vaccinated person as set out in SI 135/2021 (as amended) do not require a pre-departure PCR test result.
The vaccine products currently accepted for travel purposes are "Spikevax" (Moderna), "Vaxzevira" (AstraZeneca/Covishield), "Comirnaty", "Coronavac" (Sinovac) and "Sinopharm BIBP". As of 9 November 2021, a mixed dose of any of these vaccines is accepted provided the requisite number of days have passed since the final dose was administered. The single dose vaccine Janssen is also accepted.
Obligations on travellers to self-quarantine following travel were lifted on 31 October 2021. The Government gives continuing consideration to policy on international travel informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice.
Nursing Homes
Questions (357)
John Paul Phelan
Question:357. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason the nursing home support scheme costs for a person (details supplied) are so excessive; the measures which can be taken to put on hold the excessive costs to family members until the person’s power of attorney is finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55290/21]
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (358)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:358. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters in relation to the ambulance service (details supplied) in County Kerry [55293/21]
View answerWritten answers
As the details enclosed with the Deputy's question relate to an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (359)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:359. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if funding is available to provide a refund to a person (details supplied) following a dental procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55294/21]
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 (360)
Michael McNamara
Question:360. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if services will be put in place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55296/21]
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.