Written Answers Nos. 844-863
844. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the procedure with regard to check-ups on newborn babies when they return home; if this is a matter for the general practitioner or the public health nurse; the timescale for such check-ups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18129/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
845. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome in counties Longford and Westmeath that are currently waiting on speech and language therapy; and the length of waiting time by provision centre in tabular form. [18130/22]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
846. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome in counties Longford and Westmeath that are currently attending speech and language therapies. [18131/22]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
847. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children with Down syndrome in counties Longford and Westmeath who's in-person speech and language therapy session was delivered via online or telephone in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022. [18132/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
848. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be seen in person for speech and language therapy. [18133/22]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
849. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to develop care pathway for persons diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; his plans to recruit specialists or specialist multidisciplinary teams to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18134/22]
View answerAs this PQ relates to service and staffing matters it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply.
850. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the action that has been taken to ensure that the shortage of neurology nurse specialists in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital is addressed given that this hospital is the main neurology centre for persons in counties Longford and Westmeath; and the engagement he has had with an association (details supplied) in relation to its campaign for 100 extra neurology nurse specialists across Ireland which includes eight extra nurses for the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. [18135/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
851. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the format of the nationwide compliance and proscribing audit of CAMHS teams; the timeframe for completion of the audit; if this audit will include the inspection of case files; if staff and parents will be consulted as part of the audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18151/22]
View answerAt my request and as an additional action beyond the recommendations of the Maskey Report, there will be an independently led prescribing audit for each of the CAMHS teams. This will include a review of prescribing for all diagnoses and medications and will be based on an audit of case files. This has been agreed following discussions with the HSE. I have asked the HSE to complete the audit as soon as possible and I have asked them for an implementation plan.
Alongside this, the HSE will expedite the development of clinical standards for prescribing practice in children with and without psychosis. Once these standards have been developed and implemented, an annual audit will be carried out to measure compliance against these standards (in line with recommendations in the Maskey Report).
One of Dr Maskey’s recommendations is that children and their families should be invited to be part of the governance structure of the CAMHS service. HSE are working to implement that recommendation and would also welcome the opportunity to meet with a representative group in the near future. HSE have reached out to the new representative group with a view to meeting them at an early date. Separately, the HSE is commissioning qualitative research to identify the experiences of children, young people and their families using CAMHS nationwide.
This is on top of the audit of compliance with CAMHS operating guidelines and the separate and independent review being conducted by the Mental Health Commission.
I met with representatives of the Kerry CAMHS Family Support Group at the beginning of March. The HSE will continue to meet as appropriate families or representatives at local level to keep them informed of developments. I will continue to liaise closely with the HSE to ensure that the above initiatives are progressed as quickly as possible.
852. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if HSE homecare staff and staff working for companies providing homecare that are contracted by the HSE are fully equipped with personal protective equipment which will enable them to continue providing a service in cases in which a person with complex care needs or their family carer have tested positive for Covid-19; his views on whether such a service should continue to be provided when the staff are fully equipped with personal protective equipment; if the same work criteria are applied to HSE homecare staff and staff working for companies providing homecare that are contracted by the HSE as is applied to HSE hospital staff with regard to the provision of services to persons who have contracted Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18152/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
853. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the criteria for which atropine 0.01% eye drops prescribed for myopia to limit the risk of damage to eyes and potentially detached retinas is not on licence and therefore not covered by the drug payment scheme (details supplied). [18179/22]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
854. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the current policy with respect to remote working options for staff in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18168/22]
View answerThe Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Ossian Smyth, published the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework on the 31st of March 2022.
In line with the Framework, the Department has commenced the development of its Blended Working Policy for completion before the end of Q2 2022. In the interim, there is a requirement for staff to be in attendance on site for a minimum of two days per week.
In line with the Government campaign - #MakingRemoteWork – I am supportive of facilitating all reasonable and practical applications for blended working, while ensuring the continued effective and efficient delivery of the Department’s business.
855. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health when the three-year review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18191/22]
View answerThe Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.
As I stated previously, the review will comprise a three-part approach to appraise the operation of the Act, with strands focusing on service users, service providers and a public consultation. Independent research commissioned to inform the service user and service provider strands will form key elements of the review.
A final report will be submitted to me for consideration in late 2022, before being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
856. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has considered restricting the over-the-counter sale of codeine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18195/22]
View answerCodeine is a mild to moderate opioid (narcotic) analgesic which, due to its potential for misuse, is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs legislation.
As an analgesic, codeine is most often used in combination with other analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen and is currently authorised in Ireland in such non-prescription products for pain relief. It is also available in single ingredient, non-prescription products, as a cough suppressant. These authorised products are available without a prescription through retail pharmacy businesses (pharmacies) only.
The Pharmacy Act 2007 and the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 require that all medicines supplied through a pharmacy must be supplied by or under the personal supervision of a pharmacist and that all non-prescription medicines supplied must be the subject of appropriate counselling.
The Pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) issued guidance to pharmacists on the safe supply of non-prescription products containing codeine in 2010. This Guidance was updated in 2015, in 2017 and again in October 2019. The Guidance covers the requirements set out above and in addition contains further restrictions which apply to the supply of codeine containing medicinal products.
These restrictions include a requirement that codeine containing medicinal products are not available to the public for self-selection and should only be supplied when a pharmacist deems such a supply to be necessary and only when a non-opioid analgesic, e.g. paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen, has not proven sufficient to relive the patient’s symptoms. The Guidance also states that medicines containing codeine should be used for the shortest time possible and for no longer than three days without medical supervision. Pharmacists must also ensure that patients are advised of the importance of adhering to the recommended dosage and duration of use as well as the risks associated with overdose and or/prolonged use. Patients should also be counselled in respect of potential adverse reactions or side effects.
The full Guidance document, along with information on current legislative requirements, is available on the PSI website: thepsi.ie/Libraries/Folder_Pharmacy_Practice_Guidance/01_3_Safe_supply_of_Codeine_to_patients.sflb.ashx.
My Department is committed to working with relevant stakeholders in fully considering any policy changes that may be required regarding the regulation of codeine containing medicinal products.
Any potential change to the prescription requirements for codeine containing medicinal products must be supported by sufficient evidence. Based on available evidence, we will consider taking any necessary further steps to support the safe and effective use of these medicines.
857. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number on waiting lists to access CAMHS in counties Sligo and Leitrim, respectively in each of the years 2015 to 2021, in tabular form; the waiting times involved to access these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18197/22]
View answer858. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the number on waiting lists to access CAMHS nationally by county in each of the years 2015 to 2021, in tabular form; the waiting times involved to access these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18198/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 857 and 858 together.
As these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
859. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the positions allocated and filled in counties Sligo and Leitrim in respect of speech and language therapy, social work, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18199/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
860. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the positions allocated and filled on a national basis in respect of speech and language therapy, social work, physiotherapy and occupational therapy by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18200/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
861. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an orthodontic appointment will be expedited for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18209/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
862. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will next advertise a tender for the transport of patients for appointments and dialysis in the north County Tipperary area of the HSE Mid-West region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18214/22]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
863. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if in relation to planning for a cancer centre and radiology oncology units in County Galway for the west and north-west, the services currently provided and planned to be provided at Altnagelvin have been factored in; if the HSE intends to develop services in County Galway for the entire west and north-west including County Donegal; if it is envisaged that patients in County Donegal will continue to avail of appropriate services which are already available at Altnagelvin; the manner in which all-island planning is applied to this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18215/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
