Written Answers Nos. 654-673
654. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the support that his Department has made available for research into treatments for long Covid, including research into the application of treatments currently available for patients with acute Covid such as paxlovid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27336/22]
View answerCOVID-19 is a new disease so information on its features, incidence and course are still emerging. My Department, and the HSE, continue to review new evidence, research and data on all aspects of COVID-19, including long-COVID, as it emerges to ensure care is in place for all who need it.
My Department plays a leading role in public health and medical research in Ireland. The Department supports research in these areas through the Health Research Board (HRB), a statutory body which operates under the aegis of the Department and a lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research. The HRB supports the conduct of clinical research and clinical trials (in addition to health services research, population health research, and managing several national health information systems) on behalf of the Department. The Health Research Board is also actively involved in the European Commission’s health research response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the EU Framework Programmes.
As the global COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, evidence has emerged that some patients who survive the virus are experiencing prolonged symptoms and complications beyond the initial period of acute infection and illness. Termed long-COVID, it can present with clusters of symptoms that are often overlapping and fluctuating. Symptoms include breathlessness, headaches, cough, fatigue and cognitive impairment or ‘brain fog’, while there is also emerging evidence that some people experience organ damage. As yet, there are no clear indicators in research to suggest why one person may develop prolonged issues and another would not. Therefore, greater focus is now being placed on assessing this and the possible causes, in order that treatments and supports can be developed and to better understand any long-term consequences.
Recent long-Covid studies include the following:
Alimentary Pharmabotic Centre (APC) Microbiome Ireland in UCC conducted a study which has shown that the levels of multiple biomarkers are altered in serum from patients with long-Covid, even nine months after the initial infection with SARS-CoV-2. Over 1,000 molecules were measured in patient serum, and a subset of these molecules were shown to be at different levels in patients compared to healthy volunteers. These differences indicate an ongoing activation of the immune system, which were coupled with differences in molecules generated during metabolism, giving some hints at what might be underpinning long-term symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog. Overall, the study findings identify novel mechanistic and potential diagnostic markers as well as potential therapeutic targets in long-Covid patients.
Another study, led by researchers from the Centre for Vascular Biology in the RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences published evidence showing that patients with long-Covid continue to have higher measures of blood clotting, which may help explain their persistent symptoms, such as reduced physical fitness and fatigue. Clotting markers were significantly elevated in the blood of patients with long-Covid syndrome compared with healthy controls and these clotting markers were higher in patients who required hospitalisation with their initial COVID-19 infection. Even those patients that were able to manage their illness at home still had persistently high clotting markers. The researchers observed that higher clotting was directly related to other symptoms of long-Covid syndrome, such as reduced physical fitness and fatigue. Even though markers of inflammation had all returned to normal levels, this increased clotting potential was still present in long-Covid patients. This work was funded through the Wellcome Trust-Health Research Board Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme as well through an HRB-funded Irish COVID-19 Vasculopathy Study.
Please also note the following information regarding other initiatives/trials:
The international peer-review process is at an advanced stage for the HRB’s largest project scheme, the 2022 Investigator Led Projects Scheme and this includes a number of grant applications focusing on long-Covid. The outcomes of this call will be available in June 2022.
Ireland, with the support of the DoH and HRB, continues to participate in the WHO Solidarity PLUS trial. This is a platform trial that represents the largest global collaboration among WHO member states. It involves thousands of researchers in over 600 hospitals in 52 countries, including sites across Ireland. This allows the trial to assess multiple treatments at the same time using a single protocol, recruiting thousands of patients to generate robust estimates on the effect a drug may have on mortality-even moderate effects. It also allows new treatments to be added and ineffective treatments to be dropped throughout the course of the trial. Previously, four drugs were evaluated by the trial. The results showed that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon had little or no effect on hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Three further therapies were introduced in late 2021- artesunate, imatinib and infliximab – with the aim of reducing the risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Ireland is also participating in EU SolidAct, a randomised, multifactorial, adaptive platform trial for COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases and pandemics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a range of interventions to improve outcome of (i) hospitalized patients with moderate disease, and (ii) hospitalized patients with severe and critical disease.
Once the underlying mechanisms and causes of long-Covid become clearer, Ireland will be well placed, through the above platform trials, to engage in international trials assessing the effectiveness of treatments for long-Covid.
The HSE has developed and is implementing an interim Model of Care to provide long-COVID services nationally. This builds on existing service provision to further develop the necessary services across a number of health care settings including GP, community services and acute hospitals.
A phased implementation is underway with a focus on establishing, Post-Acute and long-COVID clinics nationally within each Hospital Group as initial priority. This involves expanding resources at existing clinics where required and development of new clinics in line with the Model of Care.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
655. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if her Department will urgently examine the case of a child (details supplied) and liaise with an organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27346/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
656. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a paediatric diabetes team in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27352/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
657. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of an investigation into the death of a person (details supplied); if the protected disclosure made by a health professional relative to this case has been fully investigated; if An Garda Síochána was informed by the HSE of the allegations made by the whistleblower; if the health professionals at St. Patrick's Hospital, Waterford and the whistleblower were ever interviewed; the status of the protected disclosure; the timeline of meetings and correspondence between the whistleblower, the HSE and the legal representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27354/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
658. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff, their qualifications and the number of staff in each category who are required to provide services at the department of psychiatry, St. Luke's Hospital Campus, Kilkenny; if there are vacancies in any category; if so, the length of time that each vacancy has existed; the efforts that have been made by the HSE to fill each vacancy; if he will set out the level of funding provided in each of the past five years to improve the services and the physical infrastructure of the department of psychiatry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27365/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
659. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff, their qualifications and the number of staff in each category who are required to provide services at Kilkenny and Carlow child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS; if there are vacancies in any category; if so, the length of time that each vacancy has existed; the efforts that have been made by the HSE to fill each vacancy; if he will set out the level of funding provided in each of the past five years to improve the services and the physical infrastructure of CAMHS (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27366/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
660. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if it is now HSE policy to re-employ staff who have retired; if so, what are the implications for existing staff as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27369/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as possible. My Department's understanding is that retired staff are re-employed in circumstances where it is necessary to do so to support service provision, typically in circumstances where it would not be possible otherwise to fill a post.
661. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if the issues raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) concerning the health clinic on Curlew Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, will be investigated; if an urgent meeting will take place with the HSE, the residents' committee and Deputies from the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27372/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
662. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the progress that is being made with the construction of a new emergency department at University Hospital Galway; when the additional bed capacity will be made available; the additional staff that will be recruited to cope with the increased workload; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27386/22]
View answerThe Galway University Hospital interim emergency department, including additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation, and improved infection prevention and control measures, is currently under construction using a rapid build solution. The critical services are expected to be completed by end of June 2022.
The proposal for a new Emergency Department (ED) and Women & Children’s project is a large and complex project and is in the early stages of design progression. Nevertheless, the works on the interim ED were also carried out in such a way so as to be enabling works for the larger proposal.
Originally the proposal was for a new multistorey ED block, but now, driven by local requirements and the need to build more efficiently on a constricted site, the Department of Health will shortly be receiving proposals costed in the hundreds of millions. Since scale, complexity and investment proposed now is much greater the proposal must be subject to the necessary scrutiny under the Public Spending code.
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale, and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.
These are defined processes in which all Departments and agencies are subject to and must follow to ensure that Government, as the approving authority for all major projects, can be satisfied that the project is the best means to achieve a policy goal and that we achieve maximum value for money for the taxpayer.
HSE is nearing completion of drafting a Strategic Assessment Report, to ensure full compliance with PSC requirements for the more substantial proposals. It is now expected to be submitted to my Department by early Q3 2022.
If granted approval-in principle, the preliminary business case can then be updated by the HSE and be brought forward for review to progress those proposals.
I have referred the questions relating to the additional bed capacity and additional staff to be recruited to the HSE for direct reply.
663. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a diagnostic assessment will be arranged as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [27387/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
664. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future development of the Kilcreene Hospital Campus, Kilkenny; if services provided by the hospital will be expanded; if new services will be introduced; if there is a capital plan in place for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27411/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
665. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in completing an action plan for the development of the former St. Canice's Hospital site, Dublin Road, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27413/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
666. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the contract for the construction project at St. Columba's Hospital, Thomastown, County Kilkenny; if he will outline the plan and services to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27415/22]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
667. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if staff who worked in the homeless sector as homeless front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic will be included in the Covid-19 recognition payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27417/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at:
www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html.
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE in Covid-19 exposed frontline settings; and
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St. Brigid's Day.
668. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health what precisely distinguishes a national hospital from another or any other form of hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27426/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
669. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds for stroke patients in Ireland; the deficit that exists for the population on the basis of recommendations contained in the UK's National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke on the care to be provided for persons who have suffered a stroke; the estimated cost of meeting the staffing requirements for a single bed in a stroke unit; the estimated cost that is required to meet the increase in the incidence of strokes; the additional staffing that is needed for the development of acute stroke unit bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/22]
View answer670. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of stroke units that operate below the recommended nurse and-or-staffing level; the estimated cost of putting the recommended staff levels in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27463/22]
View answer671. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals with access to clinical psychology as part of stroke unit care; the estimated cost and staffing that is associated with ensuring that this service is available to all stroke units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27464/22]
View answer672. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs associated with the further development of the early supported discharge of people who have suffered a stroke; the current staffing deficits in existing teams that are below the level recommended by the national stroke programme; the estimated costs to ensure that staffing deficits are addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27465/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 to 672, inclusive, together. As these questions relate to service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
673. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a dedicated chronic disease clinic in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he will outline the details of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27468/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
