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Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1432-1449

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1432)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1432. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long on surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63234/21]

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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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (1433)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1433. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting on paediatric dental surgical procedures at Our Lady’s Hospital, Drogheda; the current waiting times; the number of cancellations for urgent surgery in the past six months; the reasons for the cancellations; when surgical procedures will resume; and when urgent dental surgery will be expedited for a child (details supplied). [63238/21]

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Written 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 Waiting Lists

Questions (1434)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1434. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is on the routine or urgent waiting list in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63239/21]

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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.

Health Service Executive

Questions (1435)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

1435. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of the properties owned by the HSE that are not currently in use; the length of time that the properties have been in the ownership of the HSE; the length of time they have not been in use in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63255/21]

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Written answers

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Question No. 1436 answered with Question No. 1406.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1437)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1437. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent vaccination posts required to meet the targets set out in the Covid-19 booster campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63257/21]

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Written 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 Pandemic

Questions (1438)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1438. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent vaccination posts there have been for each month in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63258/21]

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Written answers

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (1439)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1439. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a Covid-19 testing centre in Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63259/21]

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Written 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 (1440)

Duncan Smith

Question:

1440. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent PCR swabbers that will be required to sustain a level of approximately 200,000 PCR tests per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63260/21]

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Written 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 Overcrowding

Questions (1441)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

1441. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the actions that will be put in place to reduce the number of patients on trolleys in emergency departments; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that University Hospital Limerick has the highest number of patients on trolleys it is causing stress and concern to both patients and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63266/21]

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Written answers

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

Insurance Coverage

Questions (1442)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department’s attention has been drawn to a dispute between VHI and (details supplied) which means that VHI members are reportedly having to pay a lot extra when attending the hospital; if the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) has provided his Department with financial advice regarding VHI’s position on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63268/21]

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Written answers

I am not aware of the issue raised by the Deputy, and have not been provided with any report on this issue by NewERA, who act as financial advisors to my Department in respect of Vhi. My officials have made enquiries on this issue but have not found any details. If the Deputy wishes to provide further information on this matter I will ask my officials to look into it further. The Deputy may wish to know that my officials have been informed that a new agreement has been made between Vhi and the hospital in question to provide coverage for ambulatory care services to take effect from the end of January 2021.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (1443)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1443. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of HSE equipment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63279/21]

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Written 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 Pandemic

Questions (1444)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the management and staffing arrangements for the Covid -19 HSE mass vaccination centres during 2020; if there was a different process for hiring temporary civil servants to staff the centres as opposed to agency staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63280/21]

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Written answers

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

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (1445)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

1445. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department is monitoring the reliability of Covid-19 PCR tests; the false positive rates for PCR tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63281/21]

View answer

Written answers

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. 1446 answered with Question No. 1406.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (1447)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

1447. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the current waitlist for parents and guardians waiting on an AON assessment; the steps that are being taken to improve these wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63288/21]

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Written 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 Facilities

Questions (1448, 1449, 1483)

Martin Browne

Question:

1448. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the details concerning his decision to permit a nursing unit (details supplied) to continue accepting patients and residents for 2022; if this extended opening period will last until a decision on funding under the National Development Plan is formalised; the length of time patients and residents both new and existing admissions can expect to stay in the unit for upon the commencement of the extended opening period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63289/21]

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Martin Browne

Question:

1449. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has discussed the need for a National Development Plan funding for a facility (details supplied) with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; if not, if he will consider doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63290/21]

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Mattie McGrath

Question:

1483. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if clarity will be provided on the future of the long stay beds at a facility (details supplied); if a commitment will be provided with regard to the future of these beds for 2022 and beyond; the funding being provided to ensure the future of the long stay beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63376/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1448, 1449 and 1483 together.

Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, is registered for 27 beds, of which 20 are long-term residential care beds funded under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. It also provides 7 palliative, respite, or short-term care beds.

HIQA registration for beds in Dean Maxwell was renewed in 2020 and will be due for renewal again in 2023. All of the current beds meet the standards set out in the new regulations (SI 293/2016), which came into force on 1st January 2022. Therefore, HIQA has confirmed that existing residents will not be required to leave the unit on 1st January 2022. The Dean Maxwell Centre will also continue to accept new admissions beyond 31st December 2021, unless otherwise directed by HIQA.

In relation to a capital allocation for Dean Maxwell under the National Development Plan, the NDP sets out capital ceilings over the next 5-year period for the health sector. Allocations to specific projects or programmes are not included in the NDP but are determined at departmental level in the capital planning process. The HSE has an on-going minor capital programme of investment in its buildings to deal with fire and infrastructural risk. In 2021 there has been ongoing investment in properties including Dean Maxwell where funding allocated under minor capital in 2021 will be almost €60,000 for the upgrade of the Fire Detection and Alarm System and other minor improvement works. It is anticipated that similar funding will be provided from this funding source in 2022 to address any priorities identified.

While Dean Maxwell has not been selected for significant investment under the Community Nursing Unit (CNU) programme due to structural problems with the site, a significant investment has been allocated to the new CNU in Nenagh which will also serve the community in Roscrea. The HSE has also committed to securing funding for 2022 for Dean Maxwell to continue to provide day care services, short term care, and respite care. The HSE is committed to working with the local community in Roscrea on the future sustainability of the Dean Maxwell Centre and investment will be sought in line with finalised proposals/business cases. As Minister with responsibility for Older People, I am also fully committed to examining all available options in relation to securing the future sustainability of Dean Maxwell and to meeting with all stakeholders early in 2022 to progress this goal.

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