Written Answers Nos. 593-605
593. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason the decision was made to remove the public health nurse from Ballymun; the services that are now in place to carry out developmental examinations of babies at various stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10091/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
594. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 per hour for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked that the HSE respond to you directly on the aspect of the question that relates to their public sector employees. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the remit of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
595. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied). [10136/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
596. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists that are on maternity leave and if they are being replaced at Longford health centre. [10139/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
597. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds for general adult mental health services in each catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10145/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
599. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the number of management staff in the HSE and the total cost in salaries over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10150/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra600. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the number of administrative staff in the HSE and the total cost in salaries over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
601. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if his Department is running any campaign to increase the number of HPV vaccines here; his views on the fact that approximately 50% of children are getting the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10152/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 100 die from the disease. All cervical cancers are linked to high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types. In 2009 the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommended HPV vaccination for all 12 year old girls to reduce their risk of cervical cancer and in September 2010 the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of second level schools.
Although there is no scientific basis to recent claims about the vaccine, this has led to a reduction in uptake rate of the vaccine from a high of 87% in the 2014/2015 academic year to 72.3% in the 2015/2016 academic year. Figures released by the HSE indicate that the uptake rate for the current year may be even lower. The first round of the 2016/17 HPV vaccine schedule has been completed with preliminary uptake figures of 40-50% in all Community Health Organisations.
The focus for the HPV programme in 2017 is to counter misinformation in relation to the safety of the HPV vaccine, and to increase the uptake rate in girls as part of the schools immunisation programme.
In the spring of 2016, the HSE began consulting with stakeholders with an interest in HPV/cervical cancer to explore ways of tackling negative publicity and misinformation. The HSE and Irish Cancer Society (ICS) agreed to take a coordinated approach to correcting HPV vaccine misinformation. The HSE and ICS worked closely over the last few months to develop plans and schedule activities. As a result, a two pronged approach was agreed between the ICS and the HSE which has been implemented since before the start of the 2016/17 HSE vaccination programme in September. The HSE took a number of actions which included providing information to all school principals, management bodies and National Parents Councils, and meeting with the Department of Education and Skills and school management bodies.
The 2016/17 HSE vaccination programme started in September 2016 and parents of girls in first year of second level school were given an information leaflet, consent form and cover letter with contact phone numbers for their local immunisation office. Since then, the following actions have been taken:
- Inclusion of new section on HSE websites – 12 key facts about HPV vaccine which address specific issues raised by anti-vaccine groups
- Short information videos developed for HSE website.
- Articles written in publications for health care professionals
- HSE social media campaign underway
- Ongoing interviews for radio, TV, press and online
- Collaboration with ICGP in production of e-learning modules on HPV vaccine – now available on ICGP website
- Liaison with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union to promote HPV vaccine and articles written for their websites and publications
- HPV vaccine meeting held with health representatives of all parliamentary parties and interested public representatives in Dáil Éireann (arranged by the Irish Cancer Society and attended by the HSE)
- Presentation at the National Parents Council AGM on HPV vaccine safety
- Attendance at World Health Organization meeting with Danish Health authorities and international experts to discuss strategy to manage decline in HPV vaccine uptake
- Attendance at WHO HPV Prevention and Control Board meeting and seeking further information from partners in countries who have similar difficulties
- Presentation at the ICGP winter scientific meeting on HPV vaccine safety
- Ongoing training sessions across the country for HSE vaccination teams, GPs and practice nurses
- Ongoing liaison with the Irish Cancer Society, National Cancer Screening Programme, National Cancer Control Programme, the Marie Keating Foundation and the Irish Family Planning Association
- Ongoing liaison with the Department of Education and school management bodies.
Since November 2016, the following additional actions have been taken:
- Teleconferences with Principal Medical Officers ongoing to review programme and plan for 2nd round of immunisation and the 2017/18 campaign
- Meeting with Department of Education
- Ongoing meetings with key stakeholders including Royal College of Physicians Ireland and UK colleagues (no drop in uptake in Great Britain, possible drop in Northern Ireland border counties)
- Presentation at Faculty of Public Health Medicine Winter Scientific meeting on “HPV vaccine - separating fact from fiction”.
- Results of focus groups on HPV vaccine parents attitudes and experience led to changes to information materials and parental letters for 2nd round 2016/17 (to be sent to all parents to allow parents who wish to change their mind and consent to vaccination)
- Launch of HPV vaccine safety and effectiveness lesson for Transition Year Students as part of Science and Technology in Action.
- European Cervical Cancer Awareness week 23-27 January 2017
- Twitter hour on HPV vaccine 25 January 2017.
The following actions are planned or underway:
- Focus groups with parents
- Enhanced programme for administration for Dose 2 HPV vaccine
- Planning for 2017/18 HPV vaccination campaign
- Offer 1st dose of vaccine to those who refused it in March /April 2017 (as part of 2nd round)
- Implement comprehensive communications plan targeting those more likely to refuse vaccine and using results of social media analysis
- Meet with management bodies, parents’ councils and unions of primary and post primary schools
- Send revised information leaflet and consent form to parents of first year students
- Develop and send information to 6th class primary school parents
- Continue engagement with national and international stakeholders- Review information materials and plan for 2017/18.
I am aware of claims of an association between Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. An illness that occurs around the time a vaccine is given and is already known to be common in adolescence does not imply the vaccine caused the problem. It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine, and understandably some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughter’s condition. The HSE are currently working to put in place a clinical care pathway appropriate to the medical needs of this group. The parents of all eligible girls are strongly encouraged to ensure that their daughters receive this important cancer-preventing vaccine.
602. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds for close observation for older persons' mental health services in each catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10176/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
603. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when an assessment will be carried out on a person (details supplied). [10177/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
604. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the services that are operating in the new Corduff primary care centre in Dublin 15; the number of staff located there; the number of staff yet to be transferred there; the progress of the transfer of the child and adult mental health services from Cherry Orchard Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10180/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
605. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health when work will commence on the new paediatric outpatient and urgent care satellite centre in Blanchardstown Hospital; the number of persons to be provided for; when it is scheduled to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10181/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe satellite centres on the campuses of Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals will be an integral part of, and come under the governance of, the new children’s hospital. This will include staffing, quality assurance, education and training, and branding. In addition, staff of the main hospital will rotate through the centres.
Each centre will provide urgent care as well as secondary outpatient services including rapid access general paediatric clinics. The aim is to improve geographic access to urgent care for children in the Greater Dublin Area and support primary and community care paediatrics, as well as reducing Emergency Department and outpatient attendance at the main site. The satellite centres at Connolly will be easily accessible to local populations for the management of minor illness and injuries and attendance at outpatient and chronic disease clinics.
Each centre will provide consultant-led urgent care from staff of the new children’s hospital with observation beds (4-6 hour) and appropriate diagnostics. Each centre is projected to deal with 25,000 urgent care attendances per annum.
The provision of general paediatric rapid access clinics will meet the need of primary care for access to specialist opinion (secondary paediatric opinion)-currently many children are referred to tertiary specialists when they don’t need that level of expertise, resulting in longer waiting lists. The satellite centres will also provide general community and paediatric clinics including developmental paediatrics, multidisciplinary care for children with chronic stable conditions and other outpatient services. Each centre is expected to cater for a minimum of 15,000 outpatient attendances per annum.
Child sexual abuse unit examination, observation and therapy rooms will be provided in the satellite centres. The satellite centre at Connolly will also include two HSE paediatric care primary care dental services operating theatres.
I intend to bring a Memorandum to Government on the new children’s hospital in the coming weeks. It is intended that the contract for construction of the main hospital and satellite contracts will be awarded end Q1 2017, subject to all necessary approvals. The transition of services to the new children’s hospital is scheduled to commence in Q3 2021 with transition of services to the satellite centres commencing in Q3 2018 for Connolly.
