Written Answers Nos. 249-262
249. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has reviewed the scope of the national cancer registry with a view to increasing and optimising the use of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56395/21]
View answerThe National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) is charged with collecting and classifying information on all cancer cases that occur in Ireland. NCRI data is used widely in the development of cancer services, service planning and in monitoring progress being made under the National Cancer Strategy.
The NCRI Strategic Plan 2020-2022, launched in September 2020, sets out the high-level goals of the NCRI over 3 years. The Strategic Plan facilitates an enhanced contribution to the development of cancer policy by the NCRI and will enable the NCRI to more effectively address its core functions, while expanding the cancer patient data it collects.
The strategic priorities for the NCRI, as laid out in the plan, cover:
- Data Capture;
- Information Communication; and
- Organisational Development.
The Strategic Plan focuses on increasing and optimising the uses of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients. It is available at
www.ncri.ie/sites/ncri/files/pubs/strategic-plans/NCRI%20Strategic%20Plan%202020%20-%202022.pdf
250. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the appropriate endoscopy capacity is being provided in hospitals to allow for the expansion of BowelScreen to all persons aged between 55 to 74 years of age by year end 2021 as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56396/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
251. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has liaised with the health and education authorities to increase places in third-level institutions for the training of radiographers and sonographers as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56397/21]
View answerThe Department of Health engages with health and education authorities on an on-going basis regarding issues of relevance to cancer care.
There has been a considerable increase in the places in third-level institutions for the training of radiographers since the launch of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 .
In 2018, the number of places on the undergraduate degree programme in radiography provided by University College Dublin was increased from approximately 45 to 100 per year, in line with increasing demand. This will start to impact on the availability of radiographers from mid-2022.
252. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that investment in infrastructure, facilities, personnel and programmes in the designated cancer centres will have a goal of ultimately developing at least one comprehensive cancer care centre that will optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research during the strategy period as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56398/21]
View answerThe model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.
As indicated, the National Cancer Strategy recommends that investment in the Designated Cancer Centres will have the goal of ultimately establishing at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre. The Department of Health and the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme have commenced consideration of the steps required towards the implementation of this recommendation. Decisions on the establishment of at least one Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre during the Strategy period will be made in the light of available resources and developments in the best performing centres worldwide. This has always been seen as something that would be progressed in the latter part of the Strategy period.
The development of a Comprehensive Cancer Centre is included in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.
253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that patient representatives are involved in policy making, planning, practice and oversight of cancer services at local, regional and national levels as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56399/21]
View answerMy Department, working closely with the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), strives to ensure that patient representatives are included in policy making, planning, practice and oversight of cancer services. In particular, the Cancer Patient Advisory Committee, established by the Department, plays an important role in this regard.
Wide consultation and collaboration with patient groups and advocacy organisations takes place on an on-going basis. Patients are involved through participation in working groups, regular consultation, and the appointment of patient representatives to projects. The NCCP maintains a formal policy on patient engagement, and has a Patient Engagement Manager who co-ordinates and monitors partnerships of patients and projects. In addition, many projects and initiatives are opened for public consultations that are advertised through print and social media, as well as disseminated through the NCCP’s communication networks.
My Department and the NCCP consider engaging with cancer patients to be an integral element of the work to implement the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 .
254. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of private health insurance by age group (details supplied). [56415/21]
View answerThe number of insured persons in the health insurance market increased in the period July 2020 – July 2021 by 2.1%, from 2,179,402 at 1 July 2020 to 2,226,235 at 1 July 2021.
The table below provides a breakdown of the private health insurance market membership as of 1 July 2021 by age group:
|
Age Group |
Number of insured persons |
|
Aged 17 and under |
506,766 |
|
Aged 18 to age 29 |
266,835 |
|
Aged 30 to age 39 |
289,494 |
|
Aged 40 to age 49 |
356,756 |
|
Aged 50 to age 54 |
156,222 |
|
Aged 55 to age 59 |
146,503 |
|
Aged 60 to age 64 |
133,019 |
|
Aged 65 to age 69 |
118,441 |
|
Aged 70 to age 74 |
100,709 |
|
Aged 75 to age 79 |
73,804 |
|
Aged 80 to age 84 |
45,376 |
|
Aged 85 and over |
32,310 |
|
Total |
2,226,235 |
255. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the restored overtime pay as set out in HSE HR Circular 31/2021 will be paid for non-consultant hospital doctors; and if they will also be paid for back pay accumulated since July 2021. [56420/21]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter. I am aware that there have been issues in relation to payment at time and a half from 1 July, the agreed rate, in some hospitals and understand that these have now been resolved.
256. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the reason public health bodies are not being instructed to resume close contact tracing and informing close contacts due to the high level of numbers in primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56421/21]
View answerIn line with recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, it was agreed that from September 27th 2021, automatic contact tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children aged over 3 months and less than 13 years, in Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities, primary education and social and sporting groups was no longer recommended.
The recommendations which have come into effect are based on evidential learning from throughout the pandemic, primarily
- Children seem more likely than adults to have no symptoms or to have mild disease
- Investigation of cases identified in school settings suggests that child to child transmission in schools is uncommon and not the primary cause of Sars-CoV-2 infection in children, particularly in pre-school and primary educational settings
- Children are rarely identified as the route of transmission of infection into the household setting
- Children are not more likely than adults to spread infection to other people.
As case numbers increase in younger age groups, the situation in our schools continues to be monitored closely in consultation with the Department of Education. I am reviewing all available options for the further protection of children in our schools. Following advice from the Chief Medical Officer, I have requested that the HSE, liaising as appropriate with the Department of Education, establish a programme of rapid antigen testing of close contacts in specific primary school settings in response to the notification of COVID-19 cases, guided by agreed thresholds and criteria informed by recently published ECDC guidance on the management of close contacts.
Asymptomatic child household close contacts aged 13 years or less continue to be advised by the HSE to restrict their movements (stay at home) and the HSE will arrange PCR testing as appropriate. Asymptomatic children aged 13 or older (which includes children of secondary school age) who are fully vaccinated close contacts are already included in the HSE programme in which close contacts are provided with antigen tests for self-testing. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is advised to immediately self-isolate and seek a PCR test through the HSE.
Further information is available in the Guidance for COVID-19 Contact Tracing for Children (>3 months to under 13 years of age) published by the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre, available at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Contact%20tracing%20under%2013s.pdf
The role of testing and contact tracing, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance.
257. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will consider resuming both local and national radio and television Covid-19 awareness campaigns based on the latest public health figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56422/21]
View answerThe Department of Health will be launching a new campaign in the coming days. #LayerUp will be a social media and public material campaign encouraging the public to ‘Layer Up’ their protections against COVID-19. Advice on all the layers available will be displayed including vaccine, face covering, social distance, indoor ventilation, hand hygiene, etc. The #LayerUp campaign will be promoted across Government, stakeholders and will be visible in public facing premises.
Additionally, the Department conducts regular media briefings and interviews.
The HSE has also launched a new TV and radio advertising campaign, covering two themes:
1. Thank you – stay at home if you have symptoms.This campaign aims to strengthen people‘s response when they’re sick. To keep others safe we ask you to stay at home when sick, and act quickly on symptoms and get a COVID-19 test.
2. Heads Up - Keep protecting yourself and others from COVID-19
These campaigns are on TV and radio throughout winter, along with digital out of home advertising, digital marketing on all social media platforms, search and websites, and cinema advertising during November and December.
Health Services and Self-care
Winter communications programme also includes ongoing updates and messaging from our health services, including practical advice on self-care for common winter illnesses, advice for people with chronic illness on being winter-ready, and information on how to access the care you need when you need it. This will be supported by a programme of news media interviews, social media and other public and staff communications over the coming weeks and months.
258. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if antigen tests will be supplied to preschools and crèches for testing close contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56423/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of sterile crack pipes that have been distributed by the HSE and charity services in County Galway to date in 2021; the way this compares with 2020 figures; if there are demographic breakdowns for service users of those seeking supports for crack cocaine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56424/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
260. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of acute hospital beds to be removed at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56447/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of each type of bed, that is, geriatric, acute and short stay at HSE-provided community and district hospitals in County Kerry in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56448/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
262. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health when construction of the Tullow primary care centre serving Tullow, Rathvilly and Hacketstown will commence (details supplied); the current status of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56453/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
