Written Answers Nos. 535-547
535. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of the memorandums CEO ref 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for CHO5; the number of headcount ; and the WTE to which these relate, in tabular form (details supplied). [50772/23]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible
536. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the process to consider implementation of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery, specifically in relation to the recommendations which pertain to pay. [50774/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report on the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery (ERB) in March 2022. I have accepted all 47 recommendations and their implementation will support nurses and midwives to continue to learn and develop in professional roles, enabling significant reform and ensuring that critical Sláintecare priorities are realised.
The Expert Review Body Implementation Oversight Team, chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer, has been established with key stakeholder representation. I recently received a progress report and Implementation of 14 recommendations is progressing through Action Groups on agreed priority recommendations including the pay related recommendations.
A number of the pay related recommendations relating to Public Health Nurse and Clinical Nurse Manager grades were referred to the Labour Court and the others are progressing through the action group.
537. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health how many staff members in his Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if he will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50800/23]
View answer538. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within his Department in the past three years; if his Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount his Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided [50818/23]
View answer539. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50836/23]
View answer540. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore his Department's IT systems. [50854/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 537, 538, 539 and 540 together.
My Department implements a multi-layered approach to cyber security and to protecting our ICT systems, data and infrastructure.
Comprehensive arrangements are in place to support ICT security through specialised software to mitigate against malicious threats, and to provide early warning notifications of same. Incident response plans are in place and systems are fully monitored, providing for a rapid response to any notified incidents. We also receive regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the National Cyber Security Centre and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
Contracts are in place with external parties to provide preventative controls and expertise. The expertise and qualifications of the staff in our ICT Unit covers a broad range of capabilities including Computer Science, Application Development and Cyber Security. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice, for sound operational and security reasons, to disclose the detail of these arrangements.
All staff working in my Department are provided with a structured Cyber Security Awareness Training programme. Regular cyber security awareness communications are also issued to all staff.
541. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if funding allocated for the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 in Budget 2024 is for the continuation of current services only; if further progression of the strategy is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50863/23]
View answerThe National Stroke Strategy 2022 -2027 (NSS) was developed by a multi-disciplinary Clinical Advisory Group, under the clinical governance and leadership of the National Clinical Programme for Stroke. The Strategy has a focus of concentrating on the four identified pillars of Stroke Prevention, Acute Care and Cure, Rehabilitation and Restoration to Living, and Education and Research. The aim of the NSS is particularly focused on achieving integration across primary, acute, and social care services in line with Sláintecare.
Following on from 2023, I have allocated further funding for 2024 for the NSS which will continue to improve the strategy, along with including additional Consultants, Psychologists, Speech Language Therapists, and Interventional Radiologists Nurses.
This funding will support the continued implementation of the NSS and address the burden of stroke at a patient, organisational, and system level with a clear direction for Stroke Care in Ireland in line with international standards (Stroke Action Plan Europe SAP-E).
542. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a health care worker (details supplied) has not received their pandemic special recognition payment; if he will take into account that they worked from September 2019 to July 2020 in various health care settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50887/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
543. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health what step-down facilities are provided for patients who cannot remain in general hospitals and need to go to a community or district-type hospital for further recuperation and treatment for patients who are under 66 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50889/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
544. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 579 of 31 January 2023, if he is satisfied that only 49 patients to date proves the success of the MCAP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50914/23]
View answerThe HPRA, in its report “Cannabis for Medical Use- A Scientific Review” stated that if cannabis products that are not capable of being authorised as medicines, are made available through an access programme, patients and healthcare professionals must recognise the limitations of the programme in assuring the safety, quality and effectiveness, as compared with what would be expected for an authorised medicine.
The HPRA also advised that cannabis should only be made available for the treatment of patients with specified medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective. This means that any patient availing of MCAP treatment are those who have failed to respond to all other previous treatments.
The recommendation was the MCAP should be for the treatment of three stated conditions:
1. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;
2. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;
3. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.
Since the initial report a cannabis-based medicine, Epidyolex has been granted a market authorisation for the treatment of certain epilepsies, antiemetics including cannabis based medicines containing dronabinol nabilone have become more prevalent. Unlike the products offered on the MCAP these are all authorised medicines, which have become available after the recommendation of the MCAP.
I am satisfied that Irish patients have authorised medicines that can be accessed for the treatment of their conditions and there is an option for these patients should those conventional treatments fail to access unauthorised products should their clinician deem it appropriate.
An evidence based synthesis and clinical review of the MCAP has been being carried out by the Health Research Board for the Department of Health. A clinical review group will complete an assessment to see if there is evidence to support the recommendation of the addition of any other clinical indications to the MCAP programme.
545. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the reason a health care worker (details supplied) has not received their pandemic special recognition payment; if he will take into account that this person worked from February 2020 to July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50923/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
546. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has spoken with the new UK Health Secretary since her appointment. [50924/23]
View answerI have not spoken with Victoria Atkins, since her appointment as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 13 November 2023. I look forward to engaging with Secretary of State Atkins, when the opportunity arises. In the meantime, officials from my Department will continue close and productive cooperation with their counterparts in the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK.
547. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a shingles vaccine is provided for a person (details supplied). [50955/23]
View answerThe 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 practice in relation to immunisation.NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme. The vaccine is not available through the medical card or drug payment schemes. Further information is available here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/
It is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.
It may be of interest to note that the Health Information and Quality Authority are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.The outcome of the HTA, once it is complete, will inform future decision making on this matter in relation to whether or not any amendments are required to the National Immunisation Programme.
