Tuesday, 23 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 618-637

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (618)

Barry Cowen

Question:

618. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for orthopaedic surgery. [57184/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (619)

Barry Cowen

Question:

619. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an ophthalmology appointment. [57185/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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.

Hospital Services

Questions (620)

Martin Browne

Question:

620. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has examined additional pathways to care through the use of Nenagh hospital in order to alleviate the demand on University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57188/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (621)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

621. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to a letter from an organisation (details supplied) regarding the poor treatment of student nurses and midwives during the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57192/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware a key Government priority is to protect and support the continued education of all students, including student nurses and midwives.

I requested that a short-term review of student nurse and midwife allowances in the context of COVID-19 was undertaken. This was conducted by Professor Tom Collins at the end of 2020. This review was conducted to examine any additional challenges that the Pandemic may have created for student nurses and midwives on supernumerary clinical placement and final-year internship placement. I accepted all of the recommendations that Professor Collins made. This included the payment of a Pandemic Placement Grant (PPG) of €100 per week for each week of supernumerary clinical placement from January 2021. However, I called for the PPG to be backdated to the start of the 2020/2021 academic year.

I also directed that a second longer-term independent review of student nurse and midwife clinical placement allowances take place. This review was conducted by Mr Sean McHugh and included an examination of the existing clinical placement allowances payable to student nurses and midwives on placement.

Following this review, on 04 November 2021, I announced that the Government approved my proposal to provide significant additional supports, worth €12m for student nurses and midwives while attending their clinical placements. These temporary measures will assist student nurses and midwives while work is ongoing at my Department to progress the recommendations arising from the longer-term review.

Among these temporary measures, I extended the Pandemic Placement Grant of €100 per week to all eligible nursing and midwifery students on placement, backdating it to September 2021. This funding will support students attending their clinical placements. Furthermore, while my Department is developing detailed proposals to give effect to the recommendation relating to intern pay, the PPG shall now be extended to 4th year nursing and midwifery internship students at the rate of 50%, commencing January 2022. This will have the effect of increasing supports by €1,800 for this cohort.

The Government is also providing additional support to supernumerary students needing overnight accommodation away from their normal place of residence in order to attend some of their clinical placements. This includes increasing the cap on the vouched accommodation allowance, as outlined in Department of Health Circular 09/2004, from €50.79 per week to €100 per week of placement, which is to be backdated to September 2021.

It is important that we support our student nurses and midwives to undertake their clinical placements. I am grateful to Professor Tom Collins and Mr. McHugh for undertaking the important pieces of work as it has helped my consideration of how to best support our student nurses and midwives as they continue their undergraduate education.

Disability Services

Questions (622)

David Stanton

Question:

622. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the situation with respect to the operation of the progressive disability services programme in the Cork region; if he is satisfied that children attending special schools in the region are receiving adequate supports and services under the programme especially in relation to the central Cork disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57251/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Reviews

Questions (623)

Carol Nolan

Question:

623. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 16 November 2021, if the three-year review must be initiated or completed by January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57255/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In line with statutory and Government commitments the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 must be initiated before January 2022.

Departmental Reports

Questions (624)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

624. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a report on the death of a person (details supplied) will be published. [57256/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Mary Butler)

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (625, 627)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

625. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of additional ICU beds that have been added to the health system since 1 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57270/21]

Marc MacSharry

Question:

627. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of additional ICU beds that will be added to the health system between now and 1 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57272/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 627 together.

The Health Service Capacity Review, which was noted by Government in 2018, recommended that an additional 190 critical care beds should be in place by 2031, bringing the total to 430. Accordingly, the Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which was noted by Government in December 2020, aims to increase capacity from the 2020 baseline of 255 critical care beds, to 446 over time, to fully address the Capacity Review’s recommendations in regard to critical care.

Very significant funding of €52m was provided by Government in Budget 2021 to commence implementation of Phase 1 of the Plan. This provides for the permanent retention of 40 additional critical care beds which were funded temporarily in 2020 as part of the Covid response, and for the opening of a further 26 beds in new build capacity. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing baseline capacity to 297 although the number of beds open on any given day fluctuates as a result of a variety of factors.

An additional €10.5m is being provided in 2022. This will bring the number of permanent critical care beds from 255 in 2020 to 340 by the end of 2022/early 2023. This represents a 33% increase, or an additional 85 beds funded since 2020.

Phase Two of the Plan will see further beds added through the development of new build capacity at five prioritised sites, subject to necessary approval processes.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (626)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

626. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of acute beds that have been added to the health system since 1 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57271/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 625.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (628)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

628. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the number of acute beds that will be added to the health system between now and 1 September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57273/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (629)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

629. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if the weekly data collected and reported by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on the epidemiology of Covid-19 outbreaks and clusters are accurate; if so, if they are taken into account by the National Public Health Emergency Team and the Government when considering restrictions and measures relevant to the control of the spread of Covid-19; if so, the way he can reconcile the focus on hospitality after midnight (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57274/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The data provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is one aspect of expertise, analysis and evidence the NPHET considers in providing its advice to the Minister for Health and Government. The NPHET’s membership is multi-disciplinary, multi-agency and multi-sectoral, in line with international best practice. No single metric is considered in isolation, nor are decisions made based on a single factor.

At all times, the NPHET’s advice is informed by numerous factors, including the epidemiological status of the disease, modelling projections, international guidance, evolving evidence and practice both nationally and internationally. The NPHET minutes outline the range of evidence and expertise considered prior to making advice and those minutes are available publicly at [ https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/ ]. The minutes for the meeting of 11th November will be published shortly following adoption by the NPHET.

The data reports from the HPSC on outbreaks and clusters are an important input into NPHET. These reports can be considered accurate in that they capture the identified outbreaks, and accurately reflect this data at the time of publication (minor amendments may be made through data reconciliation and/or updating following late notification). Given the very high levels of transmission in the community at present HSE Public Health are prioritising the investigation and reporting of COVID-19 outbreaks in key vulnerable settings e.g. residential care facilities and hospitals. Therefore, the number outbreaks reported in some other settings is underestimated.

The NPHET takes additional evidence into account when providing advice to Government. HIQA have also provided expertise and evidence to NPHET on outbreak risk. HIQA’s international evidence review (Nov ’20) identified those higher-risk environments and activities that present a greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, which further informs NPHET’s advice to Government on targeted public health measures.

The evidence points to the higher risk associated with indoor environments such as pubs or nightclubs due to the increased likelihood of crowded spaces, prolonged and intense contact with others, poor ventilation, and noise levels, and the higher risk associated with certain activities including dining, drinking, exercising, singing or shouting. The HIQA publication is available online: https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/activities-or-settings-associated-higher-risk

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (630)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

630. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if the epidemiological data on outbreaks and clusters as collected and published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre are inaccurate and-or are not taken into account and followed by National Public Health Emergency Team and the Government in setting and implementing measures and restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19; and the tangible purpose and justification for the Health Protection Surveillance Centre work in this area. [57275/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The data provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is one aspect of expertise, analysis and evidence the NPHET considers in providing its advice to the Minister for Health and Government. The NPHET’s membership is multi-disciplinary, multi-agency and multi-sectoral, in line with international best practice. No single metric is considered in isolation, nor are decisions made based on a single factor.

At all times, the NPHET’s advice is informed by numerous factors, including the epidemiological status of the disease, modelling projections, international guidance, evolving evidence and practice both nationally and internationally. The NPHET minutes outline the range of evidence and expertise considered prior to making advice and those minutes are available publicly at [ www.gov.ie/en/collection/691330-national-public-health-emergency-team-covid-19-coronavirus/ ]. The minutes for the meeting of 11th November will be published shortly following adoption by the NPHET.

The reports from the HPSC on outbreaks and clusters are an important input into NPHET. These reports can be considered accurate in that they capture the identified outbreaks, and accurately reflect this data at the time of publication (minor amendments may be made through data reconciliation and/or updating following late notification). Given the very high levels of transmission in the community at present HSE Public Health are prioritising the investigation and reporting of COVID-19 outbreaks in key vulnerable settings e.g. residential care facilities and hospitals. Therefore, the number outbreaks reported in some other settings is underestimated.

The NPHET takes additional evidence into account when providing advice to Government. HIQA have also provided expertise and evidence to NPHET on outbreak risk. HIQA’s international evidence review (Nov ’20) identified those higher-risk environments and activities that present a greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, which further informs NPHET’s advice to Government on targeted public health measures.

The evidence points to the higher risk associated with indoor environments such as pubs or nightclubs due to the increased likelihood of crowded spaces, prolonged and intense contact with others, poor ventilation, and noise levels, and the higher risk associated with certain activities including dining, drinking, exercising, singing or shouting. The HIQA publication is available online: www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/health-technology-assessment/activities-or-settings-associated-higher-risk

Vaccination Programme

Questions (631)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

631. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health when it was decided to administer Covid-19 booster shots given the waning of the antibody within the vaccines administered; to whom it was decided to administer booster shots; the person or body that decided same; the reason it was not decided and commenced to give booster shots earlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57276/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.

On 15 November the NIAC recommended that a booster of an mRNA vaccine be offered to persons aged 16-59 years with underlying conditions, all residents in Long Term Healthcare Facilities and persons aged 50-59 years. The Chief Medical Officer has endorsed the latest NIAC recommendations and written to the HSE to request that the recommendations be operationalised as soon as possible.

The NIAC has previously recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 60 years and older and healthcare workers. The booster dose should be given after an interval of six months (or at least five months) following the last dose of any authorised Covid-19 vaccine. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.

The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (632)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

632. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the cohort that has received a Covid-19 vaccination booster to date; the number of persons who have received same to date; the percentage of each of the demographic cohorts; the plans to accelerate the roll-out of booster shots to all persons who received a Covid-19 vaccine after a six-month period has elapsed when it appears that the efficacy wanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57277/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Admissions

Questions (633)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

633. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all ICU admissions in relation to Covid-19 from 1 September to 12 November 2021, inclusive; the age profile and the existence of underlying conditions of persons admitted to hospital; the underlying conditions of such persons; if they came from a nursing home, residential or hospital setting in the first instance; the setting in which they originally contracted the Covid-19 virus in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57278/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 (634)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

634. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all Covid-19 deaths that occurred between 1 September and 12 November 2021, inclusive; the age profile and the existence or non-existence of an underlying condition of the persons admitted to hospital; the underlying condition; the location in which it is believed the deceased person contracted the virus in the first instance in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57279/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 635 answered with Question No. 606.

Question No. 636 answered with Question No. 606.

Nursing Homes

Questions (637)

Pauline Tully

Question:

637. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of new residential places that will be provided in 2022 excluding those who have a residential service already and are transferring to a better living situation; his plans to deal with the urgent needs of the 800 persons who are currently waiting for new residential places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57361/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Anne Rabbitte)

The government is committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families through enhancing the quality of services and supports they receive.

The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for the provision of disability services. Budget 2022 will provide funding of €13m for increased residential placements on a planned basis as well as for more urgent care situations.

The 2022 HSE National Service Plan is being developed. The Plan will set out the type and volume of health and personal social services to be provided by the HSE in 2022, in line with priorities set out by the Minister for Health, and the longer-term transformation agenda for health and social care services in Ireland. The quantum of services to be provided by the HSE is being considered as part of the National Service Planning process. The Service Plan will be finalised in the coming weeks.