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Tuesday, 8 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 597-618

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (597)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

597. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the spend on sepsis awareness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5820/22]

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Written answers

This matter relates to the work of the HSE National Sepsis Programme which was established in 2014. The HSE has advised that several senior nurses and a National Clinical Lead for Sepsis have been appointed to coordinate and drive the work of the programme. Placing a focus on sepsis awareness, and promotion of early recognition of sepsis are key elements of the programme. While the initial priority was on raising awareness among healthcare staff, the focus has since moved to raising awareness in the community. To support this, several patient focused resources (including patient information leaflets, booklets, and posters) have been developed, along with educational and clinical management resources for healthcare staff. These are available on the HSE website under the webpages of the National Sepsis Programme. The work of the programme also supports the implementation of the National Clinical Guideline No. 26: Sepsis Management for Adults (including maternity) and the International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock & Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children (SSCGC).

The HSE has also advised that several key achievements have been realised by the Sepsis Team in 2021. These include publication of several reports and guidelines, an adult sepsis eLearning programme, and development and update of a suite of sepsis forms. Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, many sepsis awareness events took place in hospitals to mark World Sepsis Day on 13 September 2021, and throughout the month of September, which is recognised internationally as ‘Sepsis Month’. Sepsis and sepsis awareness were also highlighted through various media platforms and many HSE staff supported the ‘Wear Pink’ for sepsis awareness initiative on the day.

Additionally, plans are underway to continue to promote sepsis awareness in 2022, including the implementation of the Paediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guideline recommendations. The HSE have also advised that educational initiatives currently planned for 2022 will include development of a Paediatric Sepsis eLearning programme, in follow-on from the adult sepsis eLearning programme in 2021. A national sepsis education event is planned for September, to coincide with ‘Sepsis Month’, and high-lighting sepsis awareness will continue among hospital staff and the public through multiple media channels. The Sepsis Team also plan to attend large national events to increase public awareness of sepsis, as national guidance on management of Covid-19 allows.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (598)

Martin Browne

Question:

598. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners currently participating in the out-of-hours service by area; the number of hours that they provide to the service on a weekly, monthly and annual basis; the current status of the general practitioner contract; and the progress that has been made in relation to the obligation to provide general practitioner out-of-hours care in tabular form. [5824/22]

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Written answers

GPs contracted under the General Medical Services Scheme are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting the contractual requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours and help to spread the burden of this provision. A small number of areas are not covered by GP out of hours co-operatives, instead out of hours services are provided by local GPs.

GP out of hours cooperatives are private organisations. The HSE provides funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements. Out of hours medical cover is usually between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday to Friday and 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The 2019 GP Agreement on Service Development and Contractual Reform includes a commitment to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the lifetime of the Agreement, to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services, including out of hours services, in Ireland for the future. The outcome of this review will inform future contractual changes, with preparatory work for the review having begun this year.

In relation to the number of GPs participating in out of hours service and the hours provided, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (599)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

599. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the national cervical screening laboratory which was due to commence construction in January 2021; if delays in construction have been encountered; the costs of construction to date; the projected costs of the project; when the laboratory will open; if he plans to cease the outsourcing of CervicalCheck smears and slides to foreign laboratories when the new laboratory is opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5826/22]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Questions (600)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

600. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons screened by CervicalCheck in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [5827/22]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Questions (601)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

601. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of smear test samples and slides which were outsourced to foreign laboratories in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [5828/22]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services

Questions (602)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

602. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons screened by BreastCheck in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [5829/22]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (603)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

603. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when construction of the new national children's hospital is expected to be completed; the costs associated with construction to date; the projected costs of the completed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5831/22]

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Written answers

The new children’s hospital (NCH) project comprises the main new hospital on a shared campus at St James’s, and two paediatric Outpatient and Urgent Care Centres at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght University Hospital.

In September 2021, the main contractor on the NCH project, BAM Ireland, substantially completed and handed over the paediatric outpatient and urgent care centre in Tallaght in line with the contractor's schedule, and the facility opened on 15 November 2021, following a period of operational commissioning. The new facility will accommodate up to 17,000 additional outpatient appointments (General Paediatrics, Specialist and Orthopaedic clinics) and we expect to see more than 25,000 Emergency Care attendances annually based on 2021 activity.

Together with the first satellite centre, “CHI@ Connolly”, which opened in July 2019, these new facilities will improve access to urgent and outpatient care for a significant number of children. More than 95% of those presenting for urgent care at Connolly are able to go home after treatment and waiting lists for general paediatrics significantly reduced within a year of opening.

On the St James’s site, work is ongoing with major milestones reached in 2021, including completion of the concrete frame with over 150,000 cubic metres of concrete poured (weighing over 360,000 tonnes), the topping out of the building (where the highest point on the building was completed- a significant milestone in any construction project), the infill concrete slabs over the steelwork frame, closing in the concourse and, by the end of 2021, the building was almost weather-tight with approximately 17,000 square metres of glazing and 5,800 square metres of external façade installed. In addition, to date, 86,000 square metres of internal partitions have been installed, with the fit out of most internal areas now underway, including the south fingers comprising Outpatients, Cardiology Wards, and Therapies spaces, and the ‘Hot Block’ comprising Emergency Department, Critical Care and Theatres.

The exterior of the building demonstrates the significant progress made on the project to date, however, the fit out and installation of services in over 6,000 spaces within the building means that there remains a substantially body of work to be completed on the project before commissioning works can begin.

In 2018, Government approved a capital budget of €1.433bn for the NCH project. This included the capital costs for the main hospital at St James's Hospital campus, the two satellite centres, equipment for the three sites, and the construction of the carpark and retail spaces.

There are a number of items not included in this investment figure as there was no price certainly for them and nor can there be, for some, for the duration of the project. These include construction inflation, the impact of Covid-19, statutory changes, any change in scope resulting in healthcare policy changes, and the Employment Order.

To date, €923 million of the €1.433 billion budget has been drawn down for works on the project across the three sites.

Additional costs in relation to the integration and transfer of the services of the three children’s hospitals to the new sites brings the total programme cost to €1.73 billion. This includes investment in ICT, including a new Electronic Health Record system, the Children's Hospital Integration Programme (the merging of three paediatric hospitals) including commissioning, and pre-2013 project expenditure relating to the former Mater project.

The NPHDB has advised that the main contractor’s current programme schedule outlines completion can be achieved by December 2023 which would mean the NCH at St James’s could open in the second half of 2024, after the necessary commissioning period. The NPHDB is working to ensure that contractor will meet its own schedule.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (604)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

604. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of new ICU beds opened in the State in each of the past five years and to date in 2022. [5832/22]

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Written answers

The Government is committed to addressing the long-standing deficit in critical care capacity. Very significant funding of €77 million has been provided by Government across 2021 and 2022, to increase national capacity to 340 critical care beds by 2023. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing permanent adult critical care capacity to 297 beds, from a baseline of 255 beds in early 2020.

The Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Government in December 2020, will when implemented fully address the recommendation of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review for 430 critical care beds by 2031. In fact, it surpasses that recommendation, delivering an increase in capacity to 446 over time.

With regard to the specific data requested, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (605)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

605. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken an assessment of the financial costs of cyber-attack in 2021 on the Health Service Executive or on his Department; and if the health service and his Department have recovered completely from the attack. [5833/22]

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Written answers

The cost of services in 2021 provided to my Department in respect of addressing the cyber-attack was approximately €586,000 excl. VAT. My Department's systems were fully available shortly after the cyber-attack.

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

Healthcare Policy

Questions (606)

David Cullinane

Question:

606. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will consider issuing guidance advising medical practitioners that graded exercise therapy is no longer recommended for myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome patients given the recent findings by a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5840/22]

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.

Mental Health Services

Questions (607, 639)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

607. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the alternative treatment options that are available to a person (details supplied) who due to a change in diagnosis can no longer access services; the options that are available for those at risk to themselves and to others that are available to those with a borderline personality disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5842/22]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

639. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when appropriate and urgent help will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6029/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 639 together.

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 (608)

Joe Carey

Question:

608. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health if he will give consideration to the provision of a dedicated, standalone elective hospital in County Limerick to serve the mid-west region in conjunction with the new elective hospitals planned under the Sláintecare National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy for Cork, Galway and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5844/22]

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Written answers

The Cross Party Sláintecare Report in 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare in Ireland, including the provision of elective only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. The “Elective Hospitals Oversight Group”, under the joint governance of the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Sláintecare, has been guiding the development of the elective hospital proposals, following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code, setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of large public investment projects.

In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin. No other locations are under active consideration. It is important to note that the locations chosen will allow for new facilities of a size and scale to implement an elective care programme that will tackle waiting lists on a national basis. This means that the new facilities will be designed to maximise their capacity and in doing so will operate to cover as a wide catchment area as possible, extending beyond existing and future health areas including Limerick and neighbouring mid-west counties.

The elective care scope of service will be developed in two phases commencing with day cases, diagnostics, and outpatients and then by in-patient treatment. On this basis, the Elective Care Centres (ECCs) will be designed to provide sufficient capacity to facilitate future phases, including some elective in patient capacity, thereby providing a sustainable and strategic response to cater for the highly dynamic landscape of healthcare policy and practice.

Individual Preliminary Business Cases for each location are at an advanced stage of development. and will be subject to technical review by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Pending favourable review(s) under the Public Spending Code, that further memoranda for Government would then be brought forward to progress this proposal for Cork, Galway and Dublin.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (609, 610, 611)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

609. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish the Safety Net 4 agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5852/22]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

610. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish the Safety Net 2 agreement; the total cost to date of the Safety Net 2 agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5853/22]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

611. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish the Safety Net 3 agreement; the cost to date of the Safety Net 3 agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5854/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 609, 610 and 611 together.

In January 2021 all 18 private hospitals signed a Safety Net 2 agreement to provide additional hospital capacity to the HSE to deal with the surge in Covid-19. The agreement is a standard agreement, signed individually between the HSE and the relevant private hospital/private hospital group. Details of the agreements cannot be released as they are commercial sensitive.

Under the agreement the HSE can obtain up to 15% or 30% of the private hospitals’ capacity, depending on certain metrics regarding the level of community transmission of the disease, or numbers hospitalised or in ICUs occurring. The agreement remained in place until between the middle or end of January 2022, depending on the hospital concerned. The arrangement provides that where the HSE invokes the agreement but does not use the full capacity sought it makes a payment for the unused capacity.

The HSE also made use of private hospital capacity, through a Safety Net 3 arrangement it made with the private hospitals, to help it deal with the cyber-attack which occurred in May 2021.

The HSE has further advised that the cyber attack in May 2020 made it impossible to assign unique identifiers which would allow it to track the SN 2 and 3 patients. The latest figures received from the HSE show total payments under SN2 and 3 of €116.57m.

The HSE and the private hospitals have agreed an amended and extended Safety Net agreement, Safety Net 4, building on the lessons learnt from the operation of Safety Net agreements 2 and 3. The agreement will be submitted to Government shortly for its approval and if Government agrees to it, the details will be made available then.

Question No. 610 answered with Question No. 609.
Question No. 611 answered with Question No. 609.

Health Services

Questions (612)

Mark Ward

Question:

612. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace the Coombe antenatal clinic that was previously held in Neilstown, Clondalkin back into the north Clondalkin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5868/22]

View answer

Written answers

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

Departmental Data

Questions (613)

Carol Nolan

Question:

613. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 26 January 2022, if he notified the external stakeholder that the information that was made public stating records had been lost was inaccurate; if not, if he plans to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5876/22]

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Written answers

The external stakeholder has been notified and advised that the ICT team in my Department was asked to assist in the further investigation into the existence of any records relating to this matter, as a matter of urgency. While the ransomware cyber-attack had a temporary impact on the availability of some of the Department’s ICT platforms, the information received stating that records were “lost” was inaccurate and was sent due to an administrative error. This investigation has now resulted in additional records becoming available. These records have been released to the external stakeholder.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (614)

Carol Nolan

Question:

614. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of contracts his Department is currently a party to involving a company (details supplied); the combined costs of such contracts; if not available, the estimated combined costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5877/22]

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Written answers

The Department of Health is currently not a party to any contracts involving BAM Construction.

However, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, which is a body under the aegis of the Department of Health, has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital (NCH) and is a party to a contract with BAM for its construction. I have therefore referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (615)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

615. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider issuing guidance to doctors that graded exercise therapy should not be advised for myalgic encephalomyelitis also known as chronic fatigue syndrome patients as per the recent recommendations of a body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5881/22]

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.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (616)

Violet-Anne Wynne

Question:

616. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reinserting a page for myalgic encephalomyelitis also known as chronic fatigue syndrome onto the HSE website to reflect the updated full guidelines from a body (details supplied) for the 13,000 persons in Ireland that experience this ailment. [5882/22]

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.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (617, 618, 619)

Paul Murphy

Question:

617. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1525 of 19 January 2022, if an informed consent model of care has been considered by the clinical governance committee; and if not, the reason. [5904/22]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

618. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1525 of 19 January 2022, if an informed consent model of care has been considered; and if it was considered and not chosen, the reason it has not been implemented with the specific a rationale for the decision made. [5905/22]

View answer

Paul Murphy

Question:

619. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1525 of 19 January 2022, if an informed consent model of care will be considered in the future of transgender health care by the HSE; and if not, the specific reason. [5906/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 618 and 619 together.

I assume the Deputy is referring to my reply to PQ No. 1547 of 19 January 2022. I outlined in this reply that the Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are also 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 the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.

As the specific issues raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have referred them to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Question No. 618 answered with Question No. 617.
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