Niamh Smyth
Question:395. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time midwives working in the maternity department of Cavan General Hospital in each of the past five years in tabular form. [17207/22]
View answerHospital Staff
Questions (395)
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.
Health Services
Questions (396)
Niamh Smyth
Question:396. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an update will be provided on the service provided at a centre (details supplied); the number of persons that this service can cater for at any one time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17208/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (397)
Réada Cronin
Question:397. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if patients with Covid-19 are being placed in wards with non-Covid-19 patients; if so, the person or body that authorised the decision; the basis of infection control upon which this decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17213/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to an operational issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to her.
Mental Health Services
Questions (398)
Neale Richmond
Question:398. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of access to St. John of Gods respite services in Dún Laoghaire due to emergency situations requiring a takeover of the respite services; if he will take steps to ensure that emergencies can be addressed while also allowing for the continuation of the respite services for St. John of Gods service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17223/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this question relates to a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Medicinal Products
Questions (399)
Niall Collins
Question:399. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health when novavax will be available to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17224/22]
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 the Department of Health. The NIAC review all data relating to COVID-19 vaccines on a rolling basis. Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland. You can view the updated guidelines here: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf Following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granting of conditional marketing authorisation for Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid (also known as NVX-CoV2373), NIAC has recommended that this vaccine can be used in those aged 18 years of age and older. NIAC guidance received on 27th January recommended that Nuvaxovid (Novavax) may be offered to those who have a contraindication to an mRNA vaccine, or who have chosen not to receive another COVID-19 vaccine course. Specific clinical guidance on the use of this vaccine is being developed by National Immunisation Office (NIO) and the HSE will now work to operationalise these updates.
Care Services
Questions (400)
Alan Dillon
Question:400. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when day care services for the elderly will resume at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar; and the interim measures that are being considered by the HSE to provide off-site services for many users who desperately need this service. [17230/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (401)
Joan Collins
Question:401. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 162 of 3 December 2021, if 91 children's disability network teams have been established by the end of 2021; if all 91 children's disability network teams have been established, operational and fully staffed; the staffing levels in the children's disability network team in Armagh Road, Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17242/22]
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 Pandemic Supports
Questions (402)
Denis Naughten
Question:402. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic bonus will be paid to healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17244/22]
View answerWritten answers
Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period. The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings, noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners etc. that work in clinical settings. The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE. The measure also encompasses those eligible working on site in long term residential care facilities for people with disabilities (inclusive of those facilities whether HSE or section 39). The measure further extends to those equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health. The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. Additionally, the Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. Noting that the details will be finalised once this consultation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
Health Services
Questions (403)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17246/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Health SE Community audiology service offers hearing aids and associated maintenance for free to all children under the age of 18 and to all adults with a full medical card.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme, run by the Department of Social Protection, provides dental, optical and aural services to qualified people. The Scheme is available to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people, and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
Under this Scheme, hearing aids may be provided by suppliers who have a contract with the Department of Social Protection. This scheme provides maximum funding of €500 for each hearing aid (and €100 towards the cost of repairs), every four years.
People can also claim tax relief on the purchase of hearing aids prescribed by an appropriate healthcare practitioner.
Finally, if an individual has private health insurance, it may cover hearing aid costs depending upon the policy type.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (404)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:404. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17253/22]
View answerWritten 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.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Questions (405)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:405. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a procedure in a hospital might be eligible to avail of the procedure under the National Treatment Purchase Fund. [17254/22]
View answerWritten answers
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
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.