Written Answers Nos. 564-586
564. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if alternative arrangements are available to allow persons who cannot take a Covid-19 vaccine for health reasons to access hospitality, cinemas and theatres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58531/21]
View answerThe current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.
The National Public Health Emergency Team gave some consideration to the issues arising for those people that can’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons as part of its discussions on the 18th October 2021 on the continuing response to COVID-19 and the extension of Covid Pass arrangements. The matter is being given further consideration.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that on 15 July, NIAC made a recommendation, which was endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer and accepted by the Minister for Health that while the preference was for homologous vaccination regimens (using the same vaccine as part of a two dose regime) that selective use of heterologous vaccination schedules (two different vaccines used as part of two dose regime) should be permitted where a second vaccine dose of a homologous regimen is contraindicated, irrespective of whether the first dose was an mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccine. NIAC in conjunction with the RCPI and the Irish Association of Allergy and Immunology have prepared a guide to aid vaccinators and other healthcare workers on how to advise allergic individuals in respect of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, this guide is available here:
rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FAQs-about-COVID19-Vaccines-and-Allergies_12August2021.pdf
565. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if he has received a submission from Children’s Health Ireland for increased funding for Temple Street Children’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, Crumlin in order to tackle the waiting list for children requiring surgery for scoliosis; his response to this submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58532/21]
View answerAs part of Children’s Health Ireland’s (CHI) paediatric orthopaedic service, most scoliosis cases are treated at Crumlin and Temple Street, with Crumlin providing specialised multi-disciplinary treatment for the most complex patients. The National Orthopaedic Hospital at Cappagh provides additional capacity for the treatment of less complex orthopaedic patients, including routine scoliosis procedures. By using the capacity provided by Cappagh, CHI can free up space in order that complex orthopaedic procedures, including scoliosis spinal fusions, can be carried out centrally at CHI sites.
More specifically, additional theatre capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh commenced on the 26 April 2021 for daycase surgery. CHI has advised the Department of Health that this should result in a positive impact in reducing long waiting times for general orthopaedics, in addition to consequential capacity gains for scoliosis patients. In 2022 CHI is planning to undertake a range of inpatient, daycase and outpatient orthopaedic appointments in Cappagh.
Funding proposals submitted to the HSE by Children’s Health Ireland to increase capacity and activity for both orthopaedic and scoliosis patients are considered under the HSE National Service Plan 2022 and under the HSE Capital Plan. Improving access to scheduled care capacity remains a priority for me and my Department as we work to finalise next years’ Service Plan.
Improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. 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 addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are 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.
566. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislation to ensure the mandatory registration of payments or transfers of value from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals or healthcare organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58534/21]
View answerThe Department’s legislative programme does not currently include the preparation of legislation establishing a mandatory register for disclosure of payments or transfers of value to healthcare professionals or healthcare organisations from the pharmaceutical companies.
However, a number of measures currently exist which govern the receipt of gifts by health and social care professionals. Codes of conduct established by the Health Regulatory Bodies, for example the Medical Council and CORU, set the standards for the conduct of health professionals regarding gifts or payment by pharmaceutical companies.
Under pharmaceutical legislation (S.I 541 of 2007) it is prohibited to supply, offer or promise gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind to pharmacists, in the course of promoting medicinal products.
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) self-regulatory Code was introduced across Europe in 2015. This Code obliges members to make publicly available information in relation to donations, grants and sponsorships to healthcare organisations and healthcare professionals. Disclosable activities include payments made to health professionals such as sponsorship to attend meetings, speaker fees, consultancy and advisory boards as well as payments made for research and development activities.
IPHA, as a member of EFPIA, changed its Code of Practice to reflect this additional transparency. Under this revised IPHA code, summary details of how IPHA member companies engage with and support HCPs and HCOs through direct or indirect financial support, or ‘Transfers of Value’, have been made public on www.transferofvalue.ie since 1st July 2016.
567. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in Border areas who received a Covid-19 vaccine in Northern Ireland but cannot prove their residency in Northern Ireland will be eligible to apply for the EU digital Covid certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58536/21]
View answerIrish passport holders, who have reliable proof of a vaccination regime completed in Northern Ireland with a vaccine product authorised for use in Ireland, can apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate online at covidcertificateportal.gov.ie.
568. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when the implementation will start of a new assessment that ensures non-EEA doctors are assessed as equals to European Union applicants; the instructions that have issued to the HSE on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58542/21]
View answerIn September I announced an amendment to the policy regarding the application of EU/EEA community preference and instructed the HSE to update the current guidance relating to the allocation of postgraduate training places for the specialist medical training programmes accredited by the Medical Council. The updated guidance is now in place in the Postgraduate Medical Training Bodies and will be applied going forward to recruitment for postgraduate medical training programmes.
All EU and non-EEA doctors, if they meet the eligibility criteria set out by each postgraduate training body, are eligible to apply to postgraduate medical training programmes. Following a competitive shortlisting and interview process, the postgraduate training bodies will allocate available specialist training places in the first instance to those candidates who, at the time of application, are:
- Citizens of Ireland
- Nationals of another Member State of the European Union (including EEA and Swiss nationals)
- UK nationals
- All persons currently holding a Stamp 4 immigration permission (including holders of a Stamp 4 EUFAM permission and holders of a Withdrawal Agreement Beneficiary card)
Nationals of the United Kingdom are included in the category of persons to whom available specialist training places will be allocated in the first instance. Following the UK leaving the EU, UK nationals continue to be treated on a par (or on a reciprocal or equal basis) with Irish nationals in the context of all general rights and privileges to move freely and take up residence and employment within the Common Travel Area as reaffirmed in the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Irish Governments of May 2019.
Ireland is committed under the World Health Organization’s Global Code on the Recruitment of International Health Personnel to strive for self-sufficiency with regard to the training and supply of medical specialists. This policy maintains a measure of self-sufficiency in the training of doctors and the allocation of specialist training positions while at the same time acknowledging the number of Non-EEA doctors working within the Irish health system and providing greater career opportunities for those eligible Non-EEA doctors. The policy regarding the allocation of specialist training places will be kept under review.
569. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm an immediate date for an assessment of a patient (details supplied) at University Hospital Waterford. [58558/21]
View answerUnder 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.
570. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of a nursing home loan application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58566/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I will request the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, subject to the provision of more complete details by the deputy. I have asked relevant officials of the Department to liaise with the deputy’s office in this regard.
571. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of National Paediatric Hospital Development Board members who have left their positions on the board since it was first appointed in 2013; the positions that such persons held prior to their leaving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58596/21]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital (NCH).
In January 2013, officials from the Department of Health and the HSE were appointed to the Board on an interim basis (Chair and 5 members) to ensure continued governance and decision-making for the project while consideration was being given to appointing Board members with the necessary skills and competencies.
Below, you will find the names and positions of those who were members of the interim NPHDB and of those who have resigned from their positions on the NPHDB that was appointed on 2 August 2013.
Interim NPHDB Board with effect from January 2013
|
Name |
|
|
Mr Fergal Lynch |
Interim Chair |
|
Ms Fionnuala Duffy |
Interim Board Member |
|
Mr Charlie Hardy |
Interim Board Member |
|
Ms Bairbre Nic Aongusa |
Interim Board Member |
|
Mr Gerry O’Dwyer |
Interim Board Member |
|
Mr Jim Curran |
Interim Board Member |
NPHDB Board resignations since establishment on 2 August 2013
|
Name |
First Appointed |
Resigned |
Position Type |
|
Regina Moran |
02/08/2013 |
02/04/2014 |
Board Member |
|
Ian Carter |
02/08/2013 |
23/05/2014 |
Board Member |
|
Prof. Ian Hann |
02/08/2013 |
16/06/2014 |
Board Member |
|
Dr. Tony O’Connell |
27/05/2014 |
13/01/2015 |
Board Member |
|
Brian Fitzgerald |
02/08/2013 |
11/10/2018 |
Board Member |
|
Prof. Hilary Hoey |
18/10/2013 |
17/10/2018 |
Board Member |
|
Tom Costello |
02/08/2013 |
02/01/2019 |
Chair |
|
John Martin |
02/08/2013 |
27/05/2019 |
Board Member |
|
Marguerite Sayers |
02/08/2013 |
31/05/2019 |
Board Member |
|
Paul Quinn |
02/08/2013 |
19/07/2019 |
Board Member |
|
Prof. Jonathan Hourihan |
03/10/2018 |
03/09/2019 |
Board Member |
|
Lorcan Birthistle |
02/02/2016 |
30/06/2020 |
Board Member |
|
Fred Barry |
06/02/2019 |
28/02/2021 |
Chair |
572. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses employed in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin as, or working in the position of, head of ward or acting head of ward but without the mandatory five years post-qualification experience. [58597/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
573. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of resignations in Temple Street Children’s Hospital by those employed as, or working in the position of, head of ward or acting head of ward in 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [58598/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
574. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant head of ward or acting head of ward positions at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin. [58599/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of dentists in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area currently operating the HSE medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58669/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
576. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on negotiations between his Department and dentists on a new scheme for medical card patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58670/21]
View answerA new National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, was launched in April 2019. That Policy set out the roadmap for the future provision of oral healthcare to the eligible population. It has two key goals; first, to provide the supports to enable every individual to achieve their best oral health, and second, to reduce oral health inequalities across the population, by enabling vulnerable groups to access oral healthcare and improve their oral health.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which dates from the 1990s is available to medical card holders aged 16 and over. The dental care is provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. There is a need to align the DTSS with best international evidence and practice, and legislation, as outlined in Smile agus Sláinte. Regretfully, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the roll-out of the Policy to be delayed and the proposed review of the DTSS contract to be deferred.
Nevertheless, there has been continued engagement between my officials, the HSE and the dental community throughout the pandemic on infection control measures, guidelines for safe dental practice, and ensuring that dental professionals were included in the high-risk group for early vaccination. This sustained engagement was with a view to ensuring that a safe satisfactory service could be continued for the eligible population.
I have acknowledged that there is a need for a substantive review of the DTSS and have given a commitment that the review would be undertaken. I have also acknowledged the immediate issues of concern with current arrangements under the Scheme.
I instructed my officials to hold talks with the Irish Dental Association (IDA) to address both issues. I am aware that preliminary talks were held in June this year and that it is proposed to hold further talks in the coming weeks.
I would also wish to point out that I secured additional funding of €10 million in Budget 2022 to address immediate issues with the DTSS, which is on top of the annual allocation of €56 million for 2022.
578. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the current rules for staff within the HSE who are unable to work as they are a confirmed close contact; if they are treated as needing to take Covid-19 related leave or if they have to take sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58675/21]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
579. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds operational in Wexford General Hospital in each year from 2017 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58676/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
580. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an appointment at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58682/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
581. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the number of home care hours allocated by the HSE; the number which are currently provided; the steps his Department is taking to make up the shortfall in care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58689/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
582. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the estimated weekly, monthly and annual cost of providing an antigen test daily to each SNA at primary and secondary level in the State. [58690/21]
View answer583. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the estimated weekly, monthly and annual cost of providing an antigen test daily to each teacher at primary and secondary level in the State. [58691/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together.
There are currently no plans to conduct a programme such as that described in these questions and therefore no estimates have been calculated as to potential costs. In any event, if such a programme was to be conducted, it would be a matter for the Minister for Education. In terms of public health support to schools, the Minister for Education is running a scheme, with the assistance of the HSE, in which antigen tests will be made available to the children in a primary school pod, where a child in the pod has had a PCR test that detected COVID-19. Where two or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 occur in a class, within a seven-day period, outside of a single pod, antigen testing will be offered to the full class. Teachers and SNAs working closely with children in a pod or classroom where there is a confirmed case or cases may also avail of antigen testing through this programme.
584. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to date by the HSE social media advertising campaigns in order to promote public health guidelines, advice and vaccine uptake; the payments made to organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58702/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
585. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 240 of 3 May 2017, 1112 of 2 June 2017 and 1743 of 27 July 2021, if the files have been retrieved; if not, when the files will be made available given that it is now over four and a half years since the initial request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58706/21]
View answerI understand that an official from my Department contacted your office in relation to this PQ in September of this year. It was agreed by email to process the matter raised as a Freedom of Information request rather than a Parliamentary Question given that it relates to the release of records. The FOI request is currently being processed.
586. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of the progression of a project in view of the fact that the HSE stated a year ago that Swords, County Dublin was a priority for the development of a new primary care centre and that a preferred provider was to be in place by spring 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58707/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
