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Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022

Written Answers Nos. 1566-1586

Health Services

Questions (1566)

Colm Burke

Question:

1566. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider increasing the maximum amount of time that a prescription can be valid to 12 months in specific controlled circumstances to alleviate pressure on general practitioners and the medical system as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63621/21]

View answer

Written answers

The length or duration of a prescription is at the clinical discretion of the prescriber, but ordinarily a prescription in Ireland is valid for a maximum period of six months and a prescription cannot be issued for a longer than that. The rationale for such time limits is to ensure that appropriate medical care continues to be afforded to persons in receipt of prescriptions.

However, in April 2020, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the then Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., introduced temporary, emergency provisions to enable pharmacists to ensure the continuity of care of patients without necessarily requiring a new prescription and to reduce pressures on General Practitioners at that time:

- the maximum period of validity of a prescription for non-controlled drugs was temporarily increased from 6 months to 9 months as of the date specified on the prescription.

- Some temporary changes to the way in which prescriptions can be repeated by pharmacists were introduced to enable pharmacists to ensure the continuity of care of patients without necessarily requiring a new prescription to be obtained from their prescriber. This is enabled in circumstances where:

- it is the professional judgement of the pharmacist that it is safe, appropriate, and necessary for the continued treatment of the person for a further supply to be made, AND

- it is unreasonable at the time for the person to obtain a new prescription.

The amendments in April 2020 also introduced the electronic transfer of prescriptions, whereby an electronic version of a new prescription may be transmitted from the prescriber to a pharmacy of a patient’s choice where it may not be possible or appropriate to attend a clinic or surgery at this time. This mechanism also facilitates individuals to obtain an up-to-date prescription and to enable the pharmacist to continue to dispense their prescription(s).

In light of the ongoing pandemic conditions the temporary provisions introduced continue to apply and have not yet been revoked. It is important to note that none of the temporary amendments impose a duty on a prescriber to issue a prescription beyond a period they consider to be clinically appropriate, or on a pharmacist to dispense any prescription where they do not consider it safe, appropriate and necessary for the continued treatment of a person for a further supply to be made without a new prescription issued by the prescriber.

Health Service Executive

Questions (1567)

Colm Burke

Question:

1567. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current procedures in place for all that is to be carried out in respect of the purchase and use of pharmaceuticals within each of the hospitals in the HSE; if comparisons have been made in order to determine areas in which deductions can be achieved by better stock control of these items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63622/21]

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. 

Hospital Charges

Questions (1568)

Colm Burke

Question:

1568. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce hospital car parking charges particularly for those with sick children; the timeline for this reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63626/21]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals, where possible and to introduce flexible passes in all public hospitals for patients and their families. I am very aware of the financial burden this issue can cause some patients and families. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue. 

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (1569)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

1569. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a rapid smell test (details supplied) which detects Covid-19; if his Department has considered using the test for large scale events; if not, if his Departmental officials will engage with the manufacturers in order to assess the efficacy and suitability of the test for use at large scale events in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63629/21]

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Written answers

The HSE continues to monitor the evidence for COVID-19 testing methods for public health purposes. I currently have no plans in relation to the issues raised by the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1570)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1570. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number or estimated number of HSE employees who tested positive for Covid-19 since 1 December 2021; and if a weekly and hospital by hospital breakdown can be provided on that figure. [1001/22]

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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 (1571)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1571. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number or estimated number of HSE employees who were identified as close contacts of persons who had tested positive for Covid-19 since 1 December 2021; and if a weekly and hospital by hospital breakdown can be provided on that figure. [1002/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1572)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1572. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who tested positive for Covid-19 after they were admitted to hospital or while they were in hospital since 1 December 2021; and if a hospital by hospital breakdown can be provided on that figure. [1003/22]

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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 (1573)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1573. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who were tested for Covid-19 at pop-up or walk-in testing centres since the start of the pandemic; the number who tested positive at these centres; if a centre breakdown can be provided on that figure; and if he will list the pop-up testing centres which were operational in the State since the start of the pandemic. [1004/22]

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.

Covid-19 Tests

Questions (1574, 1575)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1574. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues with the HSE request a test website link; the nature of the issues reported by members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1005/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1575. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who requested Covid-19 tests through the HSE request a test website link since it was introduced; the number of persons who were either issued with a PCR appointment slot; and the number who were sent a supply of antigen tests following their request through the link. [1006/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1574 and 1575 together.

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

State Claims Agency

Questions (1576)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1576. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims notified to the State Claims Agency which relate to the alleged misreading of smear tests by CervicalCheck since 2018; and if a year by year or month by month breakdown can be provided in tabular form. [1007/22]

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Written answers

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained below was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and is accurate as of 31/12/2021.

Since 2018, 336 claims have been received regarding the alleged misreading of smear tests. Note, that a further 4 claims were received prior to 2018. 

Claim Create Year

Number of claims

2018

86

2019

52

2020

95

2021

103

Total

336

Table 1: Number of claims notified to the State Claims Agency which relate to the alleged misreading of smear tests by CervicalCheck since 2018 by claim create year

Tribunals of Inquiry

Questions (1577)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1577. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims notified to the CervicalCheck Tribunal since its establishment; the closing date by which claims can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1008/22]

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Written answers

The CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020.

The Tribunal has notified my Department that it has received ten claims to date. This figure includes two claims that were consolidated. The claims received are a combination of new claims i.e. claims that were not the subject of proceedings before the High Court, and claims transferred from the High Court.

The CervicalCheck Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2021, extended the closing date for receipt of claims by the Tribunal to 26 January 2022, and provides that I as Minister for Health may further extend the deadline up to a date not later than 26 July 2022.

The Tribunal is the most appropriate venue to hear and determine CervicalCheck claims. It has been specifically designed for that purpose. It is, of course, entirely up to eligible women as to whether or not they use it.

State Claims Agency

Questions (1578)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1578. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims notified to the State Claims Agency which relate to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in each month since the enactment of the legislation; the nature of the claims notified; the stages each claim is at in the legal process; the amount the State has spent to date in fighting such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1009/22]

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Written answers

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that they have received one claim in respect of the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 in late 2021 and that this claim is currently under investigation.

State Claims Agency

Questions (1579, 1580)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1579. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims notified to the State Claims Agency which relate to persons who died of Covid-19 after contracting the illness in a hospital setting. [1010/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1580. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of claims notified to the State Claims Agency which relate to persons who died of Covid-19 after contracting the illness in a nursing home or other residential care facility. [1011/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1579 and 1580 together.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information contained below was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria:

- The explicit reference to ”hospitals” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring in an acute hospital setting.

- The explicit reference to “residential care” or “nursing homes” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home or a community health organisation location/unit.

The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in hospital setting is 1.

The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a Nursing Home or healthcare facility setting is 31.

Ambulance Service

Questions (1581)

John McGuinness

Question:

1581. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the recent inspection carried out by the Health and Safety Authority of the National Ambulance Service base in County Carlow; the remedial works required arising from the inspection and the associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1025/22]

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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.  

Ambulance Service

Questions (1582)

John McGuinness

Question:

1582. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if, arising from recent complaints aired through the media and in Dáil Éireann, he plans to carry out a review and audit of the National Ambulance Service relative to the protocols observed in the dispatching of ambulances, the general efficiency or otherwise of the service, the operational costs, human resources management, the promotions process and the general training of staff throughout the organisation; the level of funding allocated in each of the past five years to operate the service; if the service is operating with the full complement of staff and management required; the positions that are currently vacant in the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1026/22]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware of the second NAS strategic plan "Vision 2020" which was published in 2016, and the separate reviews into pre-hospital emergency care services that informed it - the HIQA Review of Ambulance Services in 2014 and the NAS Baseline and Capacity Review of 2016, both of which made a number of recommendations on efficiency reforms to improve performance. In line with Sláintecare and Vision 2020, a significant programme of work is underway to transform the NAS from an emergency medical service into a mobile medical service. This is a model which aims to treat patients at the lowest appropriate level of acuity, resulting in a better experience for the patient and more efficient use of resources.

I can advise that a new five-year NAS strategic plan is currently being finalised by the HSE. This plan, elements of which have been funded in Budget 2022, will facilitate a strategic organisational redesign and continued focus on key priorities including alternative care pathways and progress towards meeting capacity requirements and performance targets. It will be supported by an independently conducted National Demand and Capacity Analysis which has been commissioned by NAS with a view to informing future capacity requirements and workforce planning up to 2027.

In line with the overall strategic direction, the NAS does not operate a station-based deployment system, but instead uses “dynamic deployment” on a national basis. Dynamic deployment allows staff in the HSE’s National Emergency Operations Centre to see all available resources and match them with service demand requirements in real time. This deployment model is aligned to best international practice and was put in place following HIQA recommendations regarding safety concerns with former health board level control centres. The current deployment model has eliminated previous practices where the nearest ambulance was not always dispatched due to former legacy boundaries, e.g. Carlow ambulance not being dispatched to Graiguecullen, or Athy ambulance not being dispatched to Carlow.

The NAS has emphasised that there is no intention to move away from the HIQA recommended model and return to a geographically limited model which would re-introduce inherent patient safety risk that was eliminated when local control centres were closed.

The table below provides the level of Exchequer funding for the five years to 2022.  Between 2018 and 2022 funding allocated to the NAS has risen by approximately €35m, and Government remains committed to funding evidence based service developments aligned to the NAS strategic direction.

Year

NAS Exchequer Funding (€m)

Year

NAS Exchequer Funding (€m)

2018

€164.6

2019

€170.4

2020

€173.9

2021

€187.5

2022

€200

As the remainder of the question relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.  

Hospital Staff

Questions (1583)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

1583. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the North-West Regional Centre for Neurology at Sligo University Hospital will have a full complement of seven neurology nurse specialists in line with international best practice to service patients across the region. [1028/22]

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1584, 1592, 1604, 1643, 1662, 1669, 1775, 1887, 1919)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

1584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the way in which a person who has a positive antigen test and fails to get a PCR test within a reasonable timeframe can apply for and receive a recovery certificate; if proof of a positive antigen test will be accepted to issue a recovery certificate similar to the manner in which positive antigen tests are being accepted for social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/22]

View answer

Emer Higgins

Question:

1592. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if his Department is considering issuing Digital COVID Certificates on the basis of a negative antigen test or recovery following a positive antigen test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1056/22]

View answer

Niall Collins

Question:

1604. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding Covid-19 recovery certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1088/22]

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Joe Flaherty

Question:

1643. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Health the provision that will be made for the thousands of persons who contracted Covid-19 over the past three weeks and before they had managed to get their booster, were unable to access a PCR test to confirm this (details supplied). [1175/22]

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John Brady

Question:

1662. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health his plans to make changes to the requirements to obtain a Covid recovery certificate to include positive antigen tests given the lack of appointments for PCR testing at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1264/22]

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Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

1669. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the issuing of Covid recovery certificates to persons if they are unable to obtain a PCR test and have recovered from Covid-19 due to the delay in PCR testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1294/22]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1775. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the way that persons who have caught Covid-19, who have taken an antigen test, who were not able to get a PCR test and who self-isolated for ten days, will be able to get a certificate to confirm that they have had the illness. [1783/22]

View answer

Michael Ring

Question:

1887. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the process for persons to obtain Covid-19 recovery certificates in cases in which they tested positive with antigen tests and then tested negative with PCR testing nine to ten days later when PCR test slots became available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2292/22]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

1919. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the issue of persons under 40 years of age who have not yet been boosted and test positive for Covid-19 on an antigen test being unable to obtain an updated EU Digital COVID Certificate to reflect their recovery from Covid-19, due to changes in the PCR testing regime; the steps his Department is taking to address this matter ahead of the European Union introducing new travel rules on 1 February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2462/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1584, 1604, 1643, 1662, 1669, 1775, 1887 and 1919 together.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardized across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.

The EU Regulation specifies that a certificate of recovery confirms that, following a positive result of a NAAT test carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel, the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antigen tests are not currently regulated for in relation to the issuing certificates of recovery. 

Certificates of Recovery can be issued upon request through the online portal following a positive COVID-19 test (RT-PCR or ‘NAAT’) taken more than 11 days ago in Ireland. The certificate will remain valid for 180 days after the day of the positive test result.

Negative RT-PCR tests and antigen tests featured in the common list established on the basis of Council Recommendation 2021/C 24/01 carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel are eligible for the issuing of a Test Certificate under the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. For more information on how to access a test certificate individuals can visit www.gov.ie/en/publication/3a698-eu-digital-covid-certificate/ 

Ambulance Service

Questions (1585)

Verona Murphy

Question:

1585. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the service issues with the National Ambulance Service in County Wexford in terms of emergency response times and resources; the immediate supports that will be provided to the service in County Wexford to address the current difficulties within the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1035/22]

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.  

Departmental Communications

Questions (1586)

Pa Daly

Question:

1586. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the communications he has received from a person (details supplied) in relation to a specific product or group of products. [1037/22]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not received any communications in relation to the matter concerned.

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