Sean Fleming
Question:633. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a smear test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58791/21]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (633)
Written answers
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.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (634)
David Cullinane
Question:634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals from general practitioners to HSE services, by service, in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [58794/21]
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.
Community Care
Questions (635)
David Cullinane
Question:635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the enhanced community care programme; the measures implemented to date; the measures yet to be implemented and planned for the remainder of 2021, for 2022 and beyond 2022; the networks and teams in place, and to be put in place, and staff hired and further required; the funding allocated and spend incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58795/21]
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 Service Executive
Questions (636)
David Cullinane
Question:636. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the share of the €200 million to tackle waiting lists allocated to the HSE that will be spent on procuring private services and the types of services, for example, diagnostics and so on it will be spent on, in tabular form. [58803/21]
View answerWritten answers
Budget 2022 gave an additional allocation of €200 million to the HSE in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists.
Work is underway in my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund to develop a comprehensive plan for this fund, with a view to ensuring the maximum impact possible on waiting lists during 2022.
In addition to the €200 million provided to the HSE, €50 million additional funding was provided to the NTPF bringing its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million. As a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available in 2022 to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
Ambulance Service
Questions (637, 638, 639, 640)
Seán Sherlock
Question:637. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance call outs outside of County Cork that resulted in admission to Cork University Hospital, the county of call out origin, the distances travelled, the paramedic staff required in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [58804/21]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:638. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances that have been involved in road traffic collisions in 2022 and to date in 2021, by ambulance base, the location of the accident and the reasons for same, in tabular form. [58805/21]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:639. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the guidelines under which the operators in ambulance call centres operate when deploying ambulances in terms of care for the length of hours an ambulance crew is on the road and the distance from their home base. [58806/21]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:640. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to reconfiguring the National Ambulance Service along a regional basis with a constraint being put on ambulances travelling outside their region unless in the case of a declared emergency such as a road pile-up, major fire and so on. [58807/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 640, inclusive, together.
As the issues raised by the Deputy in his questions all relate to operational matters for the National Ambulance Service in the first instance I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 637.
Question No. 639 answered with Question No. 637.
Question No. 640 answered with Question No. 637.
Ambulance Service
Questions (641)
Seán Sherlock
Question:641. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to a public information campaign on when it is appropriate to call for an ambulance as opposed to attend a general practitioner or out-of-hours doctor's service. [58808/21]
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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (642)
Bernard Durkan
Question:642. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the options available to a doctor (details supplied) who had a severe reaction to their first Covid-19 vaccination resulting in required brain surgery; the plans to address current deficiencies in legislation to accommodate a person in such circumstances; if there are plans to allow hybrid vaccination in Ireland with specific reference to the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58809/21]
View answerWritten answers
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The Committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.
The HSE has been advised to operationalise updated NIAC guidance in relation to the mixing of vaccines, specifically relating to certain people who are yet to complete a two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen.
The NIAC advice on heterologous vaccination relates to:
Individuals who have already had a first dose of Vaxzevria® (AstraZeneca) and who did not complete the vaccination schedule as recommended and have requested an mRNA second dose. If an mRNA vaccine is used as a second dose, it should be given after an interval of at least 28 days and the person should be considered fully vaccinated.
Those with a contraindication to one mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should not receive another authorised mRNA vaccine. Consideration may be given to non-mRNA vaccination for anyone 18 and older including pregnant women. This should be given after an interval of at least 28 days and the person should be considered fully vaccinated.
The definition of a vaccinated person is set out in S.I. No. 385 of 2021, which outlines the circumstances to be complied with in relation to indoor dining, and includes those who have had heterologous vaccination of specified vaccines. The National Public Health Emergency Team gave consideration to the issues arising for those persons who can't receive a Covid-19 vaccine for medical reasons as part of its discussion of 18 October on the continuing response to Covid-19 and the extension of the Covid Pass arrangements. The matter is being given further consideration.
Health Services
Questions (643)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:643. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the Northern Ireland healthcare scheme will be extended into 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58812/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. The Government intends to place the administrative NI PHS on a statutory basis and an extensive examination of options to inform the drafting of a General Scheme is currently underway. I can confirm that the administrative scheme will remain until such time that a statutory scheme is in place.
Hospital Staff
Questions (644)
Sean Fleming
Question:644. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when ten additional neurology nurses will be provided to St. James's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58814/21]
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.
Disability Services
Questions (645)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:645. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the early intervention appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58816/21]
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 Staff
Questions (646)
Sean Fleming
Question:646. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a dietician for adults can be provided at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58817/21]
View answerWritten answers
Diabetes services at Portlaoise Hospital provide care for patients with paediatric, adult and gestational diabetes. The services provide treatment for patients as part of a multidisciplinary team comprised of Consultant Endocrinologists, Dieticians, Clinical Nurse Specialists in Diabetes for adults and children, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and a Podiatrist.
Currently, 86 children with Type 1 Diabetes are attending the hospital, with 49 patients receiving insulin pump therapy. It is estimated that approximately 11 patients will transfer to the adult service in 2022 and a further 14 will transfer in 2023.
The HSE is committed to working with Portlaoise Hospital to maintain and improve Diabetes services, including through further development of the adult insulin pump service.
The 2021 National Service Plan recognised the need for an unprecedented expansion of the permanent health workforce through permanent appointments. Funding has been provided for an increase to approximately 135,655 WTE across the health service by December 2021, which is an increase of 15,838 WTE over funded 2020 levels. There is significant workforce recruitment underway. The HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy identifies the specific roles and grades to be hired.
Funding for additional staffing or other service developments must be considered in the context of competing priorities and available resources.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (647)
James Lawless
Question:647. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the efforts his Department is making to assist families in their need to register with a general practitioner upon moving to a new area (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58867/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Certain groups, including those under 6 years of age and those over 70 years of age, are automatically entitled to a GP visit card.
Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign a GMS patient to a GP's GMS patient list. Likewise, a parent on behalf of a child GMS patient can, under the same circumstances, apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit also.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over previous years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with plans for further increases in future years.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
Home Care Packages
Questions (648)
Chris Andrews
Question:648. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if allocated home care hours for a person (details supplied) will be provided by the home care package providers despite staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58868/21]
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 Tests
Questions (649)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:649. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to provide additional PCR testing centres to rural areas such as Connemara given the increased demand for tests and rising case numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58829/21]
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 Tests
Questions (650)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:650. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the advice for those who need a PCR test who do not have access to a car and live a significant distance from their nearest testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58830/21]
View answerWritten answers
Those who do not have access to a car or who live a significant distance from their nearest testing centre can ask a family member or friend to transport them to the testing centre. Both parties should wear a face covering, which should be disposed of or washed after use, and should wash their hands before and after the journey.
If you have a medical condition that means you cannot go to a test centre, a GP can refer you for a home test. Further information for those travelling to a Covid-19 testing centre is available on the HSE's website as follows: www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/testing/test-what-happens/
Health Services
Questions (651)
Bríd Smith
Question:651. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the current practice of chiropodists charging up to €37 for treatment of patients who have a chiropodist card that entitles them to a treatment for €10; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58834/21]
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 Staff
Questions (652)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:652. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the south-west regional centre for neurology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58835/21]
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 Staff
Questions (653)
Michael McNamara
Question:653. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if there is a permanent infectious disease consultant currently in place at University Hospital Limerick; if there will be a permanent infectious disease consultant in place at the beginning of January 2022 at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58836/21]
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.
Disability Services
Questions (654)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:654. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the amount of additional space the Carlow Children's Disability Network Team is gaining by keeping the Bluebell Disability Outreach project in St. Dympna's Hospital, Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58842/21]
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.
Home Care Packages
Questions (655)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:655. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the assistance being given to a person (details supplied) whose care service provider withdrew their services. [58847/21]
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.