Written Answers Nos. 704-723
704. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the latest restriction on groups of 15 outdoors will be clarified with regard to caravan parks in which families are only allowed use their own caravans, campers or tents and in which no clubhouse or other group facilities are open and all other public health and distancing advice is observed: and if such caravan parks can open and remain in compliance with current restrictions. [23547/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra729. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if clarity can be provided with regard to the most recent Covid-19 regulations and the way in which they apply to holiday caravan parks (details supplied); and if a collection of mobile homes in a designated caravan site constitutes a gathering; and if this activity can continue in circumstances in which all other precautions are observed [23713/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 704 and 729 together.
You will be aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, an evolving situation. COVID-19 is still having a major impact both here in Ireland and elsewhere. The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
Progress has been made on suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and it provides advice to Government in line with the current epidemiological position. The latest public health advice on these matters is available at the links below and is updated on a regular basis:
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
https://www.gov.ie/en/
Fáilte Ireland in consultation with the Irish Camping & Caravan Council has developed guidelines for caravan and camping businesses and these are available here: https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Caravan-and-Camping-Parks.pdf The?guidelines are updated regularly in line with Government public health advice.
705. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a method of hospital to general practitioner communication (details supplied) will be reviewed; if the communication model will be introduced nationwide across the healthcare sector in view of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23351/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedications reconciliation at point of hospital admission and discharge, is critical for the safe care of patients. The heath service is working to improve how information on medications is communicated safely as patient transition between care settings. In the case of discharge letters, provision of information as to why a patients medications were altered (meds stopped, started or dosage changed), can be as important as the prescription itself as it enables GPs and those in the community responsible for the care of patients to understand why changes were made since admission.
Several initiatives are being pursued in this area and eHealth initiatives such as electronic prescribing and electronic referrals and discharge, will bring more consistency to how this is done in the future and a national approach will ensure standards are applied. This will all lead to safer, better care for patients in the future.
706. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a matter relating to a speech and language assessment for a child (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23548/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
707. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the medical cannabis access programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23551/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra708. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of the budgetary constraints stated by his Department as the reason for the delay in the roll-out of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23552/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra709. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a date has been established for the commencement of the medicinal access programme; the concerns and obstacles to the roll-out of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 707 to 709, inclusive, together.
Deputy Kenny has asked three questions about the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme, I intend to answer them all collectively.
On 26th June 2019, the Minister for Health signed legislation to allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years.
The Programme will facilitate access to cannabis-based products for medical use in line with legislation and with the clinical guidance for the scheme.
Cannabis products will only be listed in Schedule 1 of the Regulations once they have been considered as suitable for use under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme.
The Medical Cannabis Access Programme will make it possible for a medical consultant to prescribe a cannabis-based treatment for a patient under his or her care for the following medical conditions, where the patient has failed to respond to standard treatments:
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
- Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy
- Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
The following specified controlled drug products (cannabis-based products) have been accepted as being suitable for use under the Medical Cannabis Access Programme:
- Aurora High CBD Oil Drops
- CannEpil Oral Solution
- Tilray Oral Solution THC10:CBD10 25ml
A fourth product, Aurora Sedamen Softgels from Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc. has also been recommended by the HPRA to be considered for inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and control of supply of cannabis for medical use) Regulations 2019, and legislation is currently being drafted to add this product to the regulations.
The HSE is currently engaged in pricing and supply negotiations with manufacturers and suppliers of the products listed above, for this reason the programme is not yet operational. Pending the conclusion of these negotiations I am not in a position to put a specific date on the commencement of the programme.
710. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the outdoor group size permitted under Covid-19 regulations of 14 September 2020 (details supplied). [23555/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraYou will be aware that the situation regarding COVID-19 has been, and continues to be, an evolving situation. COVID-19 is still having a major impact both here in Ireland and elsewhere. The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
Progress has been made on suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading.
The public health advice relating to Covid-19 is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and it provides advice to Government in line with the current epidemiological position. The latest public health advice on these matters is available at the links below and is updated on a regular basis:
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-health/
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
https://www.gov.ie/en/
The Government will shortly announce a new Roadmap which will outline our medium term strategy for COVID-19. The roadmap will set out an alert system which will outline broad measures which will apply depending on the level of the virus at any given time. This will provide greater clarity and certainty for everyone, and the intention is that Departments and sectors will then provide guidance for specific sectors and activities in line with the alert system.
712. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the publication of a pricing review of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which was due to be published in 2017, can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23583/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.
The Report of the NHSS Review published in 2015 identified a number of issues for more detailed consideration, including a review of the pricing mechanism used by the NTPF, with a view to:
- Ensuring value for money and economy, with the lowest possible administrative costs for clients and the State and administrative burden for providers;
- Increasing the transparency of the pricing mechanism so that existing and potential investors can make as informed decisions as possible; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate residential capacity for those residents with more complex needs.
A Steering Group was established to oversee and manage the pricing review. The Steering Group is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As part of its work on the review the NTPF sought various inputs including external expertise and stakeholder engagement to inform the review. These inputs were considered in detail. It is recognised that any change to any part of the Scheme must be considered in terms of the short- and long-term impact on the viability of the Scheme and accessibility of long-term residential care in general. It is therefore important that the relevant issues are considered thoroughly.
The NTPF has now completed its report and the Steering Group has completed its consideration of it, the report has been submitted by the NTPF to the Department. An examination of this review by my Department has also taken place. Any recommendations included in the report will be appraised before publication.
However, further progress on this work has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with focus entirely on responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be a national and public health priority.
713. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the PCR Covid-19 test; if he has received reports on the test since he became Minister; and if so, the details of same. [23590/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would ask the Deputy to forward further details in relation to his query, both in terms of the specifics of the concerns he refers to and the details of the report he refers to.
More generally, I can confirm that the HSE has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, which has been deployed as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice.
Testing for Covid-19 only provides a point-in-time result. It confers no guarantee that the individual with a 'not detected' result is not incubating the infection or the level of virus is below detectable levels at the time of the test. It is for this reason, for example, that testing of close contacts of a confirmed case is carried out on two separate occasions, when they are first identified and again 7 days after their last contact with the person.
Success in detecting Covid-19 is affected by the timing of sampling, the type and quality of the sample and the test used to analyse the sample. it is well recognised that no single test is 100% sensitive or 100% specific. Extensive validations have been carried out in our laboratories, with national collation of data, to ensure that the tests used show high sensitivity.
714. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he has made appointments to NPHET since he became Minister; if so, the persons appointed; the dates they were appointed; and the way in which he signed off on these appointments. [23593/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have not made any appointments to the NPHET since taking up office.
715. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status for those working in contact tracing in University College Dublin regarding the offering of pay and contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23595/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
716. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that died by suicide in 2019 by age, gender and CHO area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23606/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
717. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the number of adult speech and language therapists operating in County Wicklow; and the services available to adults in need of such care in cases in which access to a therapist is not available. [23608/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has stopped providing the median age of those whot died with or of Covid-19 since 12 June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23621/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
719. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the ICU capacity in hospitals; the extent to which this has been increased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23622/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn early 2020, baseline permanent adult critical care capacity in Ireland was reported by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) to be 255 beds. Funding for a further 40 adult critical care beds, and two paediatric critical care beds, was provided as part of the response to Covid-19 in March 2020.
Surge ICU capacity supports the provision of critical care as required, with the number open on any given day subject to fluctuation in respect of available staff.
My Department and the HSE continue to engage in regard to critical care capacity requirements in the public hospital system.
720. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of women availing of cervical screening since 1 March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23623/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
721. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health when the statutory tribunal established for the purpose of assessing claims against the State arising from its negligence in the provision of cervical screening shall be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23624/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CervicalCheck Tribunal is being set up under the provisions of the CervicalCheck Act 2019 (the Act) in line with the recommendations set out by Mr. Justice Charles Meenan in his ‘Report on an Alternative System for Dealing With Claims Arising From CervicalCheck.’
In his report, Judge Meenan considered a number of options for an alternative to the courts and explained that because the issue of liability remained to be determined in CervicalCheck cases ‘Any alternative system to hear and decide claims arising from CervicalCheck must recognise: -
- The issues of liability.
- The Constitutional right of access to the courts.
- The Constitutional right to fair procedures.’
Accordingly, the CervicalCheck Tribunal is being established under the Act with to determine liability in cases arising from CervicalCheck, by hearing and determining claims for personal injuries arising from alleged negligence, breach of duty, breach of statutory duty or breach of contract, in the same manner as the High Court.
It is intended that the Tribunal will be established as soon as possible once final arrangements are in place.
722. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting a long time for an appointment; when the person will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23627/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
723. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a series of matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding medical scientists will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23630/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials recently met with the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) and the HSE in relation to a range of issues including those raised by the Deputy. Discussions in this regard are ongoing.
