Written Answers Nos. 811-831
811. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of primary students that have missed their public dental screening appointments in each of the years 2019 to 2021 per CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9757/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
812. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of 1st, 4th and 6th class primary school children respectively on waiting lists to access the schools dental screening programme to year end 2021 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9758/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
813. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if he has asked the women's health task force to consider funding options for first line medications for hyperemesis gravidarum; and if so, when the group's review will be complete. [9762/22]
View answerImportant work in this area has commenced in the HSE and officials are engaged with the HSE to progress this work in line with the Ministers request for urgent consideration of this matter.
This is a key first step in considering options which can better support women suffering with hyperemesis in Ireland.
Although there are challenging licensing and reimbursement issues which need to be worked through, the Department and the HSE are fully committed to a programme of work on Women’s Health, in particular Maternal Health. Support for hyperemesis will be prioritised through this programme and officials supporting Women’s Health in both organisations are working with urgency to identify all of the available options to better support this cohort of women.
814. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if pyridoxine and doxylamine is considered a food supplement rather than a medical product in Ireland; if so, the reason that it is considered a food supplement; if this labelling of pyridoxine and doxylamine as a food product is standard international practice in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9763/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to provide a status update on the ongoing work that the HSE is carrying out in relation to Cariban. The Medicines Management Programme (MMP) has submitted a clinical review and the HSE are now considering if there are potential reimbursement options based on the MMPs recommendations. I am hopeful that the HSE can achieve a positive outcome and my Department and the HSE are continuing to work closely together on this issue.
In order to address the question raised by this PQ, I need to provide an updated position on the classification of Cariban. The position previously presented by me and my Department was based on inaccurate information we received.
My officials recently contacted Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which is the competent authority for medicinal products in Ireland, to seek advice in relation to the classification of Cariban. On 18 February 2022 the HPRA advised my Department that while Cariban does contain Pyridoxine hydrochloride which, as per Directive 2002/46/EC, is permitted for use in the manufacture of food supplements, it also contains doxylamine succinate which is an antihistamine. Therefore, the HPRA has said that Cariban is classified as a medicinal product, not a food supplement. Furthermore, Cariban is classified as a medicinal product as it meets the definition of a medicinal product under Article 1 of Directive 2001/83/EC as amended by Directive 2004/27/EC.
The HPRA have also advised that Cariban is currently not licensed for use in Ireland. There are three similar products, Xonvea (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg), Navalem (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg) and Doxylamine/Pyridoxine Exeltis 10 mg/10 mg gastro-resistant tablets (doxylamine 10 mg and pyridoxine 10 mg) that are licensed for use in Ireland. However, the companies holding the authorisations/licences have not marketed the products in Ireland to date, and the HPRA cannot compel a company to market a medicinal product. Similar to Cariban, all three of these products are classified as medicinal products, not food supplements.
I sincerely apologise to the House for presenting information in relation to the classification of Cariban that I now know to be inaccurate. Unfortunately, I only became aware that the information was inaccurate in recent days.
815. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions and dates on which the Sláintecare programme board has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9780/22]
View answerResponsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare projects is now devolved to a senior leadership team within my Department. To ensure that implementation is fully embedded across the Department and that the drive for universal healthcare is embedded across both the Department of Health and the HSE, a new Programme Board has been established. Reporting to me, the Board is co-chaired by the Secretary-General of the Department and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and also comprises senior members of the Department’s Management Board and the HSE’s Executive Management Teams responsible for the delivery of specific Sláintecare projects and programmes. The Secretary General, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is also a member of the Board.
The Board met on two occasions since its establishment, on 15 December 2021 and 14 February 2022. It is anticipated that the Board will meet on a bi-monthly (every other month) basis.
816. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each community healthcare organisation area per primary care centre currently waiting for a podiatry appointment in tabular form. [9782/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
817. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists employed in each CHO by each individual primary care centre; the vacancies, if any, to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9783/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
818. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE chronic disease management community hubs; the status of the recruitment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9784/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
819. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the podiatry waiting list by location and waiting time by month in counties Louth and Meath in January 2021 and January 2022; the number of HSE podiatry clinics by location; the number of staff employed; the number of vacancies for podiatrists by location; when these vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9785/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
820. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full update on the implementation to date of the National Cancer Strategy Implementation Report since its publication on 5 May 2021; the way he plans to reduce the overall cost to persons being treated for cancer in cases in which they do not have private health insurance or medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9789/22]
View answerThe implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is a Programme for Government commitment and is part of the implementation of Sláintecare. We have seen significant progress on the implementation of the Strategy over the past four years, with clear evidence-based policy direction from my Department and strong implementation by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
As noted by the Deputy, the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2020 was published on 5th May 2021. This sets out the progress achieved on the implementation of the 52 recommendations of the Strategy, and the degree to which the key performance indicators are being met, to the end of 2020.
The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 Implementation Report 2021 is currently under development and it is hoped that this Report will be published in the coming weeks.
The annual Implementation Report will detail progress made to end 2021, including:
- Implementation of new GP e-referral system for symptomatic breast disease clinics introduced;
- 26 acute oncology nurses in place in the 26 SACT hospitals to assist with ED avoidance for cancer patients;
- Adult CAR-T services repatriated to St. James’s Hospital;
- New radiation oncology facility in CUH fully operational, and construction continuing for the new Galway facility;
- Development and dissemination of best practice guidelines for community cancer support centres; and
- Continuation of the Together 4 Cancer Concern psychological service.
This Government is acutely aware of the costs associated with a diagnosis of cancer, or indeed any long-term illness. The Government’s commitment to Sláintecare reform is clear and unwavering – Sláintecare is putting people at the centre of the health system and working towards universal healthcare for all, where people can access the right services based on need and not ability to pay. We will continue to have an ongoing focus on the quality and affordability of healthcare focusing on the continued implementation of clinical strategies, including the National Cancer Strategy , and on delivering on the eligibility commitments in Budget 2022.
821. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the three-year grace period for a holder of an over 70s medical card following the death of their spouse remains in place; if he can ensure that this information is explicitly stated on the HSE website and information leaflets and not just in the guidance documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9790/22]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is determined by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Surviving persons of medical card holders who satisfied the eligibility criteria in the Health Act 1970 (as amended) for persons aged 70 and over, may retain their medical card for three years following the death of that other person, subject to certain criteria, as set out in the Health Act 1970 (as amended). In relation to the availability and method of communicating medical card information by the HSE, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
822. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitalisations in 2021 linked specifically to long-Covid, broken down by hospital, age and gender in tabular form. [9793/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
823. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his and his Departments discussions with an association (details supplied) in respect of the provision of appropriate dental services for medical card holders; the date he will next meet with the association; the way he will address the urgent crisis in counties Louth and Meath in which over two thirds of registered dentists have left the general medical service scheme since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9808/22]
View answerMy immediate priority is to seek to address the current situation of medical card patients experiencing problems in accessing treatment.
In that respect, officials from my Department and from the HSE have held two rounds of discussions with the IDA, the most recent on 17 December last when my Department and the HSE presented proposals to invest additional resources in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme, including €10m provided in the Budget, on top of the 2022 Estimate allocation of €56 million.
The Department / HSE has offered increased fees across a number of items and proposed the reintroduction of the Scale and Polish item.
These proposals were expedited to address not only the problem of access for patients, but also concerns expressed by dentists about the viability of the DTSS, and to some extent, to bring about alignment with the Dental Treatment Benefits Scheme, which is widely operated by dentists for PRSI patients.
The Department wishes to move the process on, in the interests of patients, and is hoping to meet the IDA again in the next couple of weeks to progress matters.
In the meantime, I have been assured that the HSE Public Dental Service is seeking to provide emergency cover for any medical card patients who are experiencing problems in accessing a service from their local dentist.
824. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to regulation of resident and family forums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9813/22]
View answerThe HSE supports the provision of Family Forums with The Social Care Division Intellectual Disability Residential Service, Allocated Service Framework for the Development of a Residents Forum. This frame work which was developed by the National Disability Services, Quality Improvement Team in 2017, outlines the principals and steps that need to be considered when developing a Residents Forum in residential services within an Allocated Service area. This document was widely circulated for use in residential centres. The document can also be adapted when setting up forums in other types of services, for example, day services.
HIQA’s Guidance on the assessment of fitness for designated centres (Jan 2018) states that the provider must demonstrate the governance arrangements they have in place to include a responsive quality assurance framework. Arrangements should also confirm resident and family forums,.
Current regulations do not specifically require a registered provider to have a family forum in place, nonetheless, inspectors do look to see that providers engage directly with residents and families in line with residents’ expressed wishes and consent. In doing so inspectors review:
- residents care records to ensure that residents and, where appropriate, families, are included in the required reviews of resident care plans- records of complaints received to ensure that issues raised by residents and families are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion- how residents and families are consulted with in the preparation of the annual review of the quality and safety of resident care.
Inspectors liaise with residents to hear how they are supported to maintain family and community links based on their wishes.
Inspectors also engage with residents to discuss their experiences of living in the Centre and how the provider and staff engage with them regarding decisions on how the designated Centre operates.
825. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if an antigen test confirming that a person had Covid-19 can be used to obtain a recovery certificate recognised for EU travel purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/22]
View answer868. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the way that persons aged 4 to 39 years that followed public health guidance and used antigen tests to detect Covid-19 positivity following onset of symptoms, can now obtain a Covid Recovery Certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9994/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 825 and 868 together.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation (EU) 2021/953 creates a framework for the issuing, authentication, and validity of certificates. Under the scope and parameters laid out in the EU DCC Regulation, DCCs for recovery cannot currently be issued on the basis of an antigen test.
There was very significant demand for PCR testing during December and into January due to unprecedented levels of infection in the community, largely driven by the Omicron variant and reflecting both the high prevalence of the disease and also other respiratory illnesses at the time. The HSE made every effort necessary to address this very significant demand arising for PCR testing. This included making arrangements with private providers to add capacity, extending the opening hours of swabbing centres and ongoing recruitment and redeployment to swabbing teams, and increasing the number of National Ambulance Service mobile teams.
Due to demands on PCR capacity reaching the levels they did, changes were necessary to public health guidance, making antigen tests more widely available and allowing the HSE to prioritise access to PCR testing for those most vulnerable to the disease.
Information on travel requirements within Europe is available at the Re-Open EU webpage: reopen.europa.eu/en
826. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if drugs (details supplied) are certified for prescription at pharmacies in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9816/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
827. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 678 of 8 February 2022, if HIQA has taken action in relation to the residential nursing homes or designated residential disability centres that did not report the six situations of alleged sexual abuse allegations to An Garda Síochána which subsequently HIQA did report to An Garda Síochána; the nature and outcome of such actions by HIQA with each individual home or centre; if mandatory reporting will be introduced for such incidents in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9822/22]
View answerI am advised by the Health Information and Quality Authority that in six situations since 2015, inspectors found that the provider of a designated centre had not made an appropriate referral to An Garda Síochána. HIQA subsequently referred these allegations to An Garda Síochána.
It is important to note that these referrals were in addition to the measures taken by HIQA requiring the provider to implement actions to ensure the safety of residents. All safeguarding issues are reviewed as a matter of priority to determine the most appropriate regulatory action. In situations where substantiated safeguarding issues are identified, providers are required to take action to ensure the safety of residents. If immediate risks to the safety of residents are identified, providers must take immediate action to address these issues and to prevent a recurrence.
In all situations, including the six referred to above, the Chief Inspector continues to monitor the actions of the provider to ensure they are effective in addressing the safeguarding concerns. The Chief Inspector can, and has, taken further action, up to and including the cancellation of registration, where providers fail to sustain improvements to residents’ safety.
Significant work is ongoing to develop a national policy on adult safeguarding in the health sector. It is expected that the policy will address, inter alia, appropriate reporting arrangements. Legislation as required to underpin the policy will be prepared subject to its approval by Government.
I would like to acknowledge my appreciation for HIQA’s participation in and important ongoing contribution to the high-level Steering Group which was established to assist and advise my Department in its development of a national adult safeguarding policy for the health sector and I welcome the Authority’s strong support in this regard.
829. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if his Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9835/22]
View answerThe Department of Health has not won any award from Public Sector Magazine.
830. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the energy rating of the new national maternity hospital; if it will comply with the EU energy performance of buildings directive and meet its own target of an A3 rating as set out in its plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9844/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
831. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken or in hand to deal with any backlog of concerns pertaining to the protection of adults at risk of abuse in CHO7, Kildare, Wicklow and Dublin with particular reference to the need to protect those most vulnerable in our society; if CHO7 is adequately resourced with the number of social workers to ensure the proper safeguarding of adults at risk of abuse; the plans to increase the number of staff in the CHO7 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9847/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
