Written Answers Nos. 242-261
242. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the location of the 631 additional rehabilitation beds to be provided under the HSE winter plan; the number that will come on stream each month from 25 September 2020 until April 2021; and the number of rehabilitation beds that will be available nationally when the provision comes on stream in tabular form. [27582/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis winter is expected to be particularly challenging due to the presence of Covid-19 and the uncertainty around the level of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 healthcare demands. The Government’s determination to meet this challenge is demonstrated by its decision to invest an additional €600m in health services this winter - €200m in 2020 and €400m in 2021 - to support the roll-out of the winter-specific measures.
The HSE published its Winter Plan on 24th September. The HSE Winter Plan aims to reduce the number of patients waiting on trolleys for hospital admission by 30% and to improve Patient Experience Times, particularly in terms of keeping everyone safe while we respond to Covid-19. It aims to enable patients to be seen in the community wherever possible by providing a better service in community health care settings; to receive timely care in hospital when this is necessary; and to return home or to appropriate care settings when fit to leave hospital by providing more homecare and stepdown options. It aims to deliver 4.76 million more home support hours to facilitate this.
There are additional supports in the HSE Winter Plan for people at greater risk including the elderly, homeless, and those with chronic illnesses to allow them to stay at home. It also provides additional Community Healthcare Networks, 36 more Community Specialist Teams and 11 additional acute hospital ‘Front of House’ Frailty Intervention Teams. This will create the foundation and organisational structure through which integrated care will be provided locally within the community at the appropriate level of complexity.
The HSE Winter Plan aims to deliver 79,000 more diagnostics in the community, again allowing patients to be seen closer to home and avoid going to hospital. The Plan puts in place supports for GPs, particularly those in rural practices, to support service continuity. A key action will be a comprehensive flu vaccination programme. The HSE has placed orders for approximately 1.35 million doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine, as well as 600,000 doses of the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, which will be made available to children aged from 2 to 12 years old inclusive.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
243. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the location of 530 repurposed community beds pledged in the HSE winter plan to support the home first pathway; the services from which they are being repurposed; and the alternative provision being made in the services from which these beds are being repurposed in tabular form. [27583/20]
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.
244. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the number of the 4.76 million additional home support hours that will be provided in each LHO area over the course of the HSE winter plan; and the number of home support hours that will be provided in each as a result of the provision by each LHO in tabular form. [27584/20]
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.
245. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the available inpatient beds for each public and voluntary hospital; and the number of beds that are categorised as sub-acute by each hospital in tabular form. [27585/20]
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.
246. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the available day bed places for each public and voluntary hospital; and the number of these beds that are categorised as sub-acute by each hospital in tabular form. [27586/20]
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.
247. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if testing for Covid-19 at designated centres such as meat factories and direct provision centres is compulsory for all personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27587/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTesting for Covid-19 is not compulsory for anyone, regardless of location. Like all other COVID-19 measures, as a country we are completely reliant on the good will and solidarity of everyone to continue individually and collectively, to comply with all public health measures, including testing. I would again stress how important it is for everyone to follow the public health advice and get tested if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
The serial testing in meat and food processing facilities commenced on 21 August, starting in Kildare, Laois and Offaly, and was since expanded to food production facilities on a national scale. Up to 21st September, 18,420 tests have been carried out with 56 detected cases, this represents a positivity rate of 0.30%.
The HSE advised in relation to serial testing in food plants that in general, it is satisfied there is a high compliance rate when full account is taken of available staff due to shift patterns, exclusion of previous positives, staff on holiday or long-term leave and would like to acknowledge the support of the industry in for testing.
The schedule for the rollout of Direct Provision Centre testing on a nationwide basis commenced 12th September, with expected 500 tests per day 7 days per week. Up to 21st September, 2,518 tests were carried out with 7 detected cases, this represents a positivity rate of 0.28%.
The HSE has advised that management of serial testing of direct provision centres remains challenging as the complexities differ from the serial testing programmes which have been carried out to date. The concept of Direct Provision, as a service, is a highly sensitive and divisive concept, therefore any planning involving the testing of staff and residents of these direct provision sites must take into account the nature of this service and the associated nuances. With this in mind the working group set up to plan and oversee this programme have worked hard to ensure that all our communications for testing in congregated settings, whilst ensuring all the right information is contained, also strike the right tone. To date, the working group has overcome any challenges which have arisen.
248. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [27592/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
The resumption of services from June onwards has allowed for increased activity, with the HSE utilising innovative methods including telemedicine to facilitate patient appointments. Patient safety remains at the forefront of service resumption. To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols which has resulted in reduced capacity and activity
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund has also recommenced arranging treatment in both private and public hospitals for clinically suitable patients who have been waiting for long periods on public hospital waiting lists.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when the nursing home support scheme will be progressed further; when the measures will take effect in legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27612/20]
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 proposed policy change to the NHSS, to cap contributions based on farm and business assets at 3 years where a family successor commits to working the productive asset, has been approved by Government. The Department developed draft Heads of Bill while considering a number of complex ancillary policy and operational matters which may need to be addressed in the proposed legislation.
The stated policy objective of the general scheme of the Bill is to introduce further safeguards in the NHSS to further protect the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses that will be passed down to the next generation of the family to continue to work them as productive assets to provide for them their livelihood.
The amendment of the scheme will bring certainty to the duration for which a contribution to the cost of care under NHSS will be levied against family farms and businesses. This in turn will support the viability of farms and businesses by increasing the likelihood of access to financing & promoting investment, which will encourage orderly succession planning with family members, encourage young farmers to remain farming and potentially encourage family members that had changed occupation or emigrated to return to the family farm.
The General Scheme of Bill for the Amendment to the NHSS was approved by Government on 11 June 2019 and subsequently published. The changes to the Scheme will come into effect as soon as the legislative process is successfully complete. The General Scheme was sent to the relevant Joint Committee and the Department participated in pre-legislative scrutiny on 13 November 2019. Engagement with the Office of the Attorney General began in early 2020 to progress the legislative development process.
Further progress on the development of the Bill 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.
250. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27621/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
The resumption of services from June onwards has allowed for increased activity, with the HSE utilising innovative methods including telemedicine to facilitate patient appointments. Patient safety remains at the forefront of service resumption. To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols which has resulted in reduced capacity and activity
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund has also recommenced arranging treatment in both private and public hospitals for clinically suitable patients who have been waiting for long periods on public hospital waiting lists.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of the scheduled review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the persons, Departments or organisations that will be involved in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27624/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, section 7 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 states:
“The Minister shall, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section, carry out a review of the operation of this Act.”
The review clause was included in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in order to facilitate monitoring of the operation of the legislation in practice, as well as of the delivery of services in the area.
The Programme for Government Our Shared Future notes that the review will take place in 2021.
252. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the status of commitments to introduce exclusion zones; if he has had further consultation with the Garda Commissioner on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27625/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government Our Shared Futurecontains a commitment to “Establish exclusion zones around medical facilities”.
It was originally intended to provide for safe access to termination of pregnancy services in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. However, a number of legal issues were identified which necessitated further consideration and advice.
Women and healthcare staff should be assured that there is existing legislation in place to protect them and to protect patients. My Department has communicated with the HSE to advise on this legislation, and I understand that a communication issued to hospitals and GPs in this regard.
Ensuring access to services remains an ongoing priority for the Department of Health.
253. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the funding provided by his Department for the provision of adult and paediatric palliative care in each CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27626/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the adoption of the 2020 National Service Plan and the revised estimates volume, the total net budget for palliative care is €100.6 million, an increase of €14.1 million or 16.3% from the 2019 National Service Plan. The Programme for Government commits to supporting community specialist palliative home care teams in all HSE areas, funding designated home care packages, resourcing specialist palliative care provided in hospices, and increasing resources for the Children's Palliative Care Programme. The level of funding available for palliative care services in 2021 will be considered in the context of the estimates and budgetary process, and national service planning.
As the provision of funding by CHO is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
254. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider directing the National Advisory Committee on Bioethics to investigate the ethical implications of assisted suicide, assisted dying and physician-assisted suicide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27627/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Advisory Committee on Bioethics (NACB) was established by the then Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, in March 2012 to advise the Minister for Health on the ethical and social implications of scientific developments in human medicine and healthcare. Its membership is multi-disciplinary and consists of members who were invited to join the Committee by virtue of their personal expertise, distinction and authority.
The NACB has met on a number of occasions since its establishment and considered various complex and sensitive issues that society in general, and the healthcare system in particular, confront. The most recent work published by the NACB, entitled “Nudging in Public Health – An Ethical Framework”, was published in April 2016. No decision has been made regarding the next topic on the work programme for the NACB.
255. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of his engagements with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board from 1 January to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27628/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraShortly after taking up office as Minister on 28 June 2020, I met with the Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) and its Chief Officer on 10 July 2020 and I met with the Chair of the NPHDB again on 7 August 2020, to discuss the new children’s hospital project. During the meetings I emphasised the importance of the hospital and the need to complete it.
There are Governance structures in place which were approved by Government in April 2017 to oversee and monitor progress on the Children’s Hospital Project and Programme. These include the Children's Hospital Project and Programme Board, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health, and the Children’s Hospital Project and Programme Steering Group, chaired by the Deputy Director General of the Health Service Executive. The Steering Group directs the overall programme of work within agreed parameters, and reports to the Children’s Hospital Project and Programme Board.
Following a review by PWC, enhanced governance structures have been proposed, which I intend to bring to Government shortly.
256. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been denied access to primary care psychology services, which they have been referred to purely on the basis of their address. [27631/20]
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.
257. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position of personal trainers working in gyms in Dublin during the current level 3 Covid-19 restrictions; the actions personal trainers can and cannot take in the gym setting in view of the fact that individual training is allowed in gyms with protective measures; if further clarity will be provided on the obligations of gym owners in order to allow personal training to continue if possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27632/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September. This Framework sets out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.
The Plan sets out five levels of response, each with a number of measures designed to help us all lower COVID-19 transmission and setting out what is permitted at that moment in time. It aims to allow society and businesses to be able to operate as normally as possible, while continuing to suppress the virus. The Plan is framed to account for periods during which there is a low incidence of the disease, with isolated clusters and low community transmission, through to situations where there is a high or rapidly increasing incidence, widespread community transmission and the pandemic is escalating rapidly in Ireland and globally. It recognises the need for society and business to be allowed to continue as normally as possible and is designed so that either national or county level restrictions can be applied. Each level outlines what is permitted for social or family gatherings, work and public transport, bars, hotels and restaurants, exercise activities and religious services.
As I am sure the Deputy can appreciate, COVID-19 spreads when individuals and groups come into close contact with one another, enabling the virus to move from one person to another. COVID-19 is infectious in a person with no symptoms, or for the period of time before they develop symptoms. For this reason, we are all asked to be extra careful when socialising and working with others. For now, we must act like we have the virus to protect those around us from infection.
As the Deputy is aware, Dublin is currently at level 3. At level 3, the priority is to keep schools and early learning and childcare services open and minimise disruption in the work force. This means that a number of services will be moved online and some businesses will be closed (e.g. museums and other indoor cultural venues). Additional restrictions will apply to restaurants and pubs. People will also be required to reduce the number of people that they meet to a minimum and stay in their own region. These measures will remain in place until 9th October.
Under Level 3, gyms may remain open with protective measures, for individual training only. Further information on level 3 restrictions in relation to gyms and personal trainers be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/ and on the Active Ireland website at https://irelandactive.ie/covid-19/.
258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the amount expended on access to online and hard-copy media publications since May 2020 to date; and the breakdown of online and hard-copy subscriptions, including the publications to which his Department subscribes. [27644/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has subscribed to eight media publications in total since May 2020. Seven of of these publications are hard copy media publications and one is a subscription to an online publication service. The total amount expended on publications by my Department during this time frame is €13,174.44.
259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged a third-party company in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020 to conduct media monitoring and-or provide reports on media coverage of his Department; and if so, the costs of same and the companies engaged. [27662/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged two media monitoring companies consecutively, in the years in question, to monitor and provide media reports with regards to the health service. See below breakdown of these costs for the years in question.
|
2020 ytd |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
|
€17,280.27 |
€24,279.2 |
€16,330.69 |
€18,088.47 |
The total cost of these services in that timeframe was €75,978.63.
260. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no exit interview when a person leaves his or her employment in University Hospital Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27671/20]
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.
261. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is proper for a general practitioner to charge a medical card holder a fee of €60 to carry out a medical exam for a new driver licence; and the services that should be provided without charge by general practitioners to those with a valid medical card. [27679/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraGP services are provided free of charge to people who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess.".
In addition, medical card and GP visit card holders may also be eligible for registration to programs for the management of long-term conditions, such as the Diabetes Cycle of Care, the Asthma Cycle of Care for children under 6 and the Chronic Disease Management program.
The GMS contract stipulates that fees for medical and GP visit card holders are not paid to GPs in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences". Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patients. There are no plans at present to include the completion of forms required for driving licence applications as a service to be provided to GMS patients under the GMS or GP Visit Card scheme.
