Tuesday, 29 Nov 2022

Ambulance Service

Questions (655, 656, 657)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

655. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times that ambulances were dispatched in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [58982/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

656. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times that ambulances were dispatched in each county in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [58983/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

657. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the current average wait time for an ambulance in each county. [58984/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 655, 656 and 657 together.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 656 answered with Question No. 655.

Question No. 657 answered with Question No. 655.

Ambulance Service

Questions (658, 663)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

658. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number persons who have retired from the National Ambulance Service in each of the past five years and to date in 2022; and the number of new persons employed by the National Ambulance Service in each of the past five years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [58985/22]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

663. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times that ambulance drivers have reported being assaulted while on active duty in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [58990/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 658 and 663 together.

As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes

Questions (659)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

659. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of times that he has met with the CEO of an organisation (details supplied) since he took office; and the dates on which these meetings took place. [58986/22]

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Awaiting reply from Department.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (660)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

660. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons who died from suspected or confirmed Covid-19 in nursing homes in the State since the start of the pandemic. [58987/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Home Help Service

Questions (661)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

661. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons in the country currently in receipt of home help excluding family carers. [58988/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Home Care Packages

Questions (662)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

662. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the average amount that is paid by the State to homecare agencies for one hour of care to one individual care recipient. [58989/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.

Question No. 663 answered with Question No. 658.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (664)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

664. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons or families who have taken cases and issued letters of claim against the State in relation to the death of their loved one from Covid-19 in hospitals or nursing homes in the State. [58991/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive.

I have been informed by the Agency that the number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a HSE Hospital or Nursing Home setting is 42.

The information contained within this report was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria:

- The explicit reference to “hospitals” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring in an acute hospital setting.

- The explicit reference to “nursing homes” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home.

- Claims which relate to incidents occurring within a community health organisation location/unit have not been included in this report.

Definitions:

National Incident Management System (NIMS):

Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”. This is hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA) for the HSE, other Healthcare enterprises and State Authorities. An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint.

Questions (670)

Mark Ward

Question:

670. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update when the report on the audit into CAMHS by the Mental Health Commission will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59033/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy will be aware, the independent report of the review of care provided by South Kerry CAMHS (The Maskey Report) made findings regarding significant failings across multiple levels of the system and made 35 recommendations to improve service delivery. The Government and the HSE are committed to implementing the recommendations as quickly as possible. 17 (National and Local) actions have already been implemented with others having commenced implementation.

Arising from the Maskey Report, the HSE is progressing the three national audits currently underway in relation to CAMHS. These audits cover the areas of prescribing practice, CAMHS Operational Guidelines, and Qualitative Research into Service User experience.

In addition, the Mental Health Commission, which is an independent agency, is carrying out its own review of HSE CAMHS. I understand that the Commission has completed its review in five CHOs , with the review in a further CHO now underway. Reviews have yet to commence in three CHOs. I understand also from the HSE that where concerns have been escalated by the Commission to HSE Community Operations – Mental Health, the National Office has taken immediate action to engage with the Commission and relevant CHOs to clarify and resolve any concerns.

It is matter for the Mental Health Commission, which is an independent agency, to decide on the specific issue raised by the Deputy. The Deputy can rest assured, however, that I will continue to closely monitor progress on all audits in relation to the CAMHS service.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Questions (671)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

671. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a proposal for a Section 38 hospital on a council-owned site in Limerick; the engagements that he has had with a private healthcare provider (details supplied) regarding this proposal; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59035/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy may be aware, Limerick City Council and members of the Limerick 2030 plan have engaged with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) on developing lands in a Limerick regeneration area. Limerick City Council sought UL Hospitals to meet with UPMC to outline the specific health needs of the Mid-Western region. However, in the context of any proposal, including a proposed model of a Section 38, there are a number of important strategic, practical, legal, public procurement and financial considerations which would need to be considered.

While I have not directly met with UPMC, Department officials have met with the private hospitals, including UPMC in the context of additional capacity as part of the State’s response to Covid -19 and in the context of the waiting list reduction plans. Furthermore, to the extent that there is a determination that the State requires additional capacity in a specific location, consideration would have to be given to expanding existing local facilities directly, or developing plans for procurement. This is the case where the State has recently invested in a number of capital projects in UL and also has plans underway to invest to build further hospital capacity.

Departmental Data

Questions (672)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

672. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list of all publicly-funded hospitals, by model and hospital group. [59036/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

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

Ukraine War

Questions (673)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

673. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagements that he has had with the Dental Council of Ireland in relation to Ukrainian dentists now living in Ireland; the steps being taken to accelerate the registration of Ukrainian dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59037/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

I welcome the news that some Ukrainian dentists who are currently living in Ireland wish to practise here. Officials in my Department are in regular contact with the Dental Council on this matter and the Dental Council have advised that it is doing everything it can to expedite the registration of these dentists.

The Dental Council have advised that a new registration process has opened specifically for those who have obtained refugee and temporary protection status in Ireland. This includes individuals granted temporary protection due to the conflict in Ukraine.

This process includes a new mentorship program that allows oral healthcare professionals practise under a period of adaptation where deemed necessary by the Dental Council to gain all the requirements to obtain full registration, such as English language proficiency.

The Dental Council began to issue versioned guidance to mentors and those undertaking a period of adaptation. This allowed applications to be processed more efficiently. The first version was issued on 11 September and the second on the 16 November 2022.

The Dental Council is available to advise any Ukrainian dentist who is seeking to be registered to practice in Ireland.

Assisted Suicide

Questions (674)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

674. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to establish a special Oireachtas committee to examine voluntary assisted dying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59039/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Deputy will be aware, the “Dying with Dignity Bill 2020” was a Private Members’ Bill which dealt with end-of-life care and sought to amend the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 to allow for a person suffering from a terminal illness to request medically assisted suicide.

The Bill passed Second Stage in the Oireachtas in October 2020 and was then referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice in order for the Committee scrutiny process to be undertaken.

Following completion of this process, the Committee published its “Report on Scrutiny of the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020 [PMB]” on July 21st 2021, and laid copies of the report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the same date.

The report includes a recommendation from the Select Committee that “the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020 should not proceed to Committee stage but that a Special Oireachtas Committee should be established, at the earliest convenience, to undertake an examination on the topics raised within and which should report within a specified timeframe”.

The setting up of such a Special Oireachtas Committee is a matter for the Oireachtas itself. In this regard, it is noted that, during Dáil proceedings on November 22nd 2022, An Ceann Comhairle stated the following in response to a query on the issue: “The establishment of the committee is not really a matter for the Taoiseach. The Dáil reform committee will hear a report at its next meeting, which I think is due next week. If it agrees on that, the committee, which has been agreed in principle to be established, can proceed as soon as is humanly possible”.

Health Services

Questions (675)

Robert Troy

Question:

675. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the supports in place for a person (details supplied) who needs a medical procedure, given that services are currently not provided in Ireland. [59045/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

The Deputy has asked what schemes can be availed of when a person wishes to travel abroad to another EU Member State for treatment.

The Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland for treatment, in their public healthcare system, that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland. The treatment must be among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation. Also, the treatment must be a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or trial treatment. The HSE provides information for patients on the TAS on its website.

An alternative where the treatment is available in Ireland is the Cross Border Directive (CBD), which the HSE operates in Ireland. Under the terms of the CBD, patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient may access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in. The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser. The HSE through the National Contact Point (NCP) provides information for patients on the operation of the CBD. Patients are advised to contact the HSE TAS/CBD office directly, for advice on making an application for treatment abroad under the most appropriate scheme, in advance of traveling abroad. Further information including contact details are available on the HSE TAS and CBD websites.

Regarding Endometriosis Care in Ireland, as part of its role in overseeing the development of gynaecology services, the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) is progressing the development of a National Framework for Endometriosis Care in Ireland in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). Investment in this area has already commenced over the course of 2021 and 2022 with two supra-regional complex endometriosis services in the process of being established in Tallaght and Cork. In addition, as part of initial investment in endometriosis, services for the management of endometriosis at the Coombe hospital were also expanded.

As a specific procedure has been mentioned and this is a service matter, I have also asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (676)

Paul Murphy

Question:

676. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 vaccine for babies and children under five years will be made available in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59050/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Ireland welcomes the European Medicines Agency (EMA) age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and Spikevax to include use in children aged 6 months to 4 years.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). Its recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland, international best practices in relation to immunisation as well as evidence-based analysis and expert medical advice.The NIAC makes recommendations on immunisation matters to my department and these are then evaluated by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) following which the CMO will make a formal policy recommendation which I will then give consideration to.

Hospital Staff