Written Answers Nos. 538-557
538. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for appointments in nursing; the average waiting times by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56874/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
539. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on a hospital-based medical or surgical service; the average waiting time after the completion of an assessment of needs by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56875/21]
View answer540. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average number of interventions received after a child is identified as needing a hospital-based medical or surgical service after completion of an assessment of needs since the initial intervention in the first 12 months by CHO area in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56876/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
541. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for appointments for a hospital-based medical or surgical service; the average waiting times by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56877/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last twenty months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.
The current surge in Covid-19 cases has put increasing pressures on hospitals and ICUs. As part of the response to this the HSE has advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which include a 14 day period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and time sensitive work in particular in Model 4 hospitals. The situation is to be reviewed after that period.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.
In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
In relation to the issues raised by the Deputy, the attached waiting list reports, published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund on their website show the breakdown by time-band of children on Acute Hospital waiting lists for Outpatient and Inpatient/Day case appointments at the end of October 2021.
542. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on a dentistry service; the average waiting time after the completion of an assessment of needs by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56878/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
543. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average number of interventions received after a child is identified as needing a dentistry service after completion of an assessment of needs since the initial intervention in the first 12 months by CHO area in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56879/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
544. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for appointments in dentistry; the average waiting times by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56880/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
545. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting on a service for the deaf and hard of hearing; the average waiting time after the completion of an assessment of needs by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56881/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
546. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the average number of interventions received after a child is identified as needing a service for the deaf and hard of hearing after completion of an assessment of needs since the initial intervention in the first 12 months by CHO area in the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56882/21]
View answer547. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for appointments in services for the deaf and hard of hearing; the average waiting times by CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56883/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
548. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence regarding obtaining a vaccine certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56884/21]
View answerAn EU Digital COVID certificate of recovery is available from 11 days after a positive PCR test carried out by the HSE, and is valid for no more than 180 days after the positive test, as per the EU Regulation.
Individuals can now fill out an online form to request a certificate of recovery or call the EU Digital COVID Certificate helpline directly.
549. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56886/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
550. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that young persons turning 18 years have seamless access to specialist prescriptions for medications such as ritalin given that the adult waiting list can be up to three years, in which case persons are then without vital medications due to the fact that general practitioners cannot prescribe same; if he will address the planning situation for these prescriptions in north County Kildare specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56893/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
551. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to update the EU digital Covid certificate to include proof of booster vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56894/21]
View answer640. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health when the details of a Covid-19 booster vaccine will be reflected on a person's EU digital Covid certificate particularly to allow international travel to countries that are requiring proof of booster vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57370/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 640 together.
The Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/2014 of 17 November 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1073 laying down technical specifications and rules for the implementation of the trust framework for the EU Digital COVID Certificate established by Regulation (EU) 2021/953 was adopted by the Commission on 17 November and published on 18 November in the Official Journal.
The technical specifications in this Implementing Decision relating to additional Covid vaccination doses are being considered with a view to the issuing of certificates for booster doses.
552. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of Covid-19 deaths per day in Ireland is no longer being publicised by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56896/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
553. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will consider adding capacity to walk-in Covid-19 test centres given many are lacking in appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56898/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
554. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be issued with a hoist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56900/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
555. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when audiology services will be made available at Tuam primary care centre, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56901/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
556. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be given a date for an assessment by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56902/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
557. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE provides funding to an organisation (details supplied); if there are formal agreements in place with the organisation; if he plans to enhance collaboration between the health services and the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56905/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
