Wednesday, 14 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 249-263

Covid-19 Tests

Ceisteanna (249)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

249. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 test that are offered and cancelled by county in tabular form. [30374/20]

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Health Services Provision

Ceisteanna (250)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

250. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the processing time for approval for eye tests in a health centre (details supplied); the reasons for the delay in the processing of applications; his plans to tackle the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30384/20]

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (251)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

251. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the category under which yoga studios fall; if they have to close under level 3 restrictions; if they can conduct one to one classes; and if they can operate their businesses outside. [30386/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September, 2020. This Plan provides a framework setting out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.

The framework 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 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.

The Plan reflects a careful consideration of the impact of the introduction of restrictions on employment and livelihoods, keeping as many businesses open as possible at different stages, while acknowledging that some businesses and services are critical. It acknowledges that sports, arts and other social activities are central to our well-being and that sports and arts are also the world of work for our many in our communities.

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.

Ireland is moving from a short-term emergency response approach to a medium-term approach to managing risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society. All counties in Ireland are at Level 3 of the Plan for living with Covid-19 until 28th October. Further information on the public health measures in currently in place in relation to the different Levels can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/

Yoga classes are regarded as exercise and sporting events under the Plan and where possible, such classes can be held online. However one-to-one yoga exercise is permissible where one of those present is the trainer.

Under Levels 3, 4 and 5 indoor training is only permitted on an individual basis, therefore exercise and sporting events, including classes, cannot take place.

Under Level 2 restrictions, indoor classes, training and exercise can take place in pods of up to 6 people, once sufficient space is available and strict public health protocols are in place.

Under Level 1 of the Framework, there is no specific capacity limit, with capacity guided by what can be accommodated safely in the venue while ensuring all protective measures are in place, including social distancing.

At level 3, exercise and sporting events can take place outdoors subject to level 3 guidelines. Further information on Level 3 guidance for outdoor exercise and sport can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/#sports.

Further information on exercise and sporting events under the Plan is available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/resilience-and-recovery-plan-for-living-with-covid-19-your-questions-answered/#exercise-and-sporting-events and on Ireland Active at https://irelandactive.ie/news/update-regarding-government-medium-term-plan-re-covid-19-level-2-3/

Hospital Charges

Ceisteanna (252)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

252. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 822 of 22 September 2020, the date on which a reply will issue from the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30401/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been forwarded to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (253)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

253. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30403/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

It 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.

Pharmacy Regulations

Ceisteanna (254)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

254. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify in respect of SI No. 401 of 2020, which gives permission for pharmacists to administer vaccines outside of a pharmacy premises, if the changes make provision for a pharmacist who is neither a pharmacy owner nor affiliated with any pharmacy to procure independently vaccines from the national cold chain service and subsequently independently make a claim for payment from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. [30406/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (SI No. 401 of 2020) amend the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 to allow for influenza vaccination to be administered by registered pharmacists in places other than the premises of the retail pharmacy business in which they carry on their professional practice, in order to help address the public health need to increase access to the influenza vaccine.

These amending Regulations (and in particular Regulation 4B of the Medicinal Products Legislation) only entitle a pharmacist to supply and administer vaccinations from a location other than a pharmacy premises when he or she is acting in his/her capacity as a pharmacist in connection with the carrying on of a registered retail pharmacy business.

The supply of medicines and pharmacy services is underpinned by a robust governance framework which is provided for in the Pharmacy Act 2007 and the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008. The 2008 Regulations govern the sourcing, storage, supply and disposal of medicines. They also govern the staffing and reporting arrangements in a pharmacy, and they prescribe the record keeping requirements which apply around the supply of medicines. The pertinent requirements which apply in the Regulations of 2008 will also apply equally in respect of any service that is delivered offsite from the pharmacy to ensure it is safe and appropriate.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (255)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

255. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health his plans to support general practitioners administering the winter flu vaccine; the way in which general practitioner centres will be expecting to manage Covid-19 health and safety protocols during the administration of the flu vaccine; if capacity in the sector has been evaluated before a decision is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30418/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Given the potential for the winter flu season in 2020/2021 to coincide with a resurgence of COVID, and the importance of minimising hospital attendance, the Government is expanding the provision of vaccination without charge to all of those in the at-risk groups, including healthcare workers, and to all children aged from 2 to 12 years.

It is proposed to administer the vaccines via GPs and pharmacists, as in previous years. Given the importance of significantly increasing the level of uptake of the vaccine for the coming winter, resources will be provided to GPs and pharmacists not only to deliver the vaccination to the expanded groups, but to actively seek relevant patients and deliver vaccinations in a programmatic way, such as through dedicated flu vaccination clinics.

The expanded programme will ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of influenza will have access to vaccination without charges. By providing vaccination to those most at-risk, and those most likely to require hospitalisation if they contract influenza, it is anticipated that the programme will see a reduction in the number of influenza-related hospital admissions, as well as a reduction in the overall spread of influenza in the community.

I have recently signed Regulations which enable pharmacists to provide vaccination services offsite from the pharmacy premises. Providing an influenza vaccination service at non-pharmacy locations has the potential to greatly increase uptake of the influenza vaccine in all the groups, who can avail of the vaccine free of charge in particular those in the at-risk categories, as well as patients wishing to access this service privately. It also enables pharmacists who may be unable to provide a vaccination service on their pharmacy premises during the 2020/21 flu season, to continue to provide this service for their patients and local community, albeit at a different, but safe location. No change was required to permit GPs to administer vaccines away from their surgeries.

Administration of the vaccines has commenced with both regular, opportunistic vaccinations and through dedicated, out-of-hours, vaccination clinics which aim to maximise the number of patients vaccinated in the safest way possible without interfering with the day-to-day running of practices. Special arrangements for the administration of vaccines, such as the dedicated out-of-hours vaccination clinics, will continue to be arranged at the discretion of the GP or pharmacist in accordance the vaccine delivery schedule and their patient’s needs.

In relation to the capacity in the sector, officials from my Department engaged in consultations with the IMO and the IPU in advance of commencing the programme in order to ensure that it could be delivered effectively.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (256)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

256. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which tourists who arrive here are allowed to travel outside their county of arrival in view of level 3 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30425/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September, 2020. This Plan provides a framework setting out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.

The framework 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 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.

Ireland has moved from a short-term emergency response to a medium-term approach to managing risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society. All counties in Ireland are currently at Level 3 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 until midnight Tuesday 27th October.

At Level 3 of the plan, you must not leave your county of residence unless for work, education, medical and other essential purposes.

I would like to draw the Deputy's attention to the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (NO. 6) Regulations, 2020 (S.I. No. 413 of 2020). These Regulations provide that "county of residence" means the county in which the person's place of residence is situated. For a person who is not ordinarily resident in the State, "place of residence" means the premises in the State, if any, at which he or she is currently residing, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.

Further information on the public health measures currently in place at Level 3 can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/.

Covid-19 Tests

Ceisteanna (257)

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

257. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of asymptomatic cases of Covid-19 following the positive tests for the disease in counties Meath and Westmeath in September 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30437/20]

Freagraí scríofa

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.

Cancer Services

Ceisteanna (258, 259, 260)

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

258. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of monthly referrals to rapid access prostate clinics from January 2015 to date in 2020, in tabular form. [30438/20]

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

259. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of monthly referrals to rapid access lung clinics from January 2015 to date in 2020, in tabular form. [30439/20]

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

260. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of monthly referrals to symptomatic breast disease clinics from January 2015 to date in 2020, in tabular form. [30440/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, together.

The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) advise that monthly referrals are tracked using electronic GP referral data to Rapid Access Clinics. Approximately 80% of all referrals are received electronically. The data is only available from 2019.

E-Referrals to Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinics:

Breast	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2019	3,317	3,096	3,145	2,846	3,091	2,485	2,736	2,583	2,702	3,471	3,289	2,254
2020	3,518	3,069	1,932	2,206	3,079	3,350	3,554	3,147	3,803	-	-	-

E-Referrals to Rapid Access Lung Clinics:

Lung	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2019	138	143	150	168	170	129	126	153	120	139	149	138
2020	207	184	107	85	106	137	104	109	141	-	-	-

E-Referrals to Rapid Access Prostate Clinics:

Prostate	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2019	282	265	280	276	320	284	310	263	277	311	327	280
2020	306	280	251	155	215	220	282	271	336	-	-	-

The 2020 data are subject to a final verification process.

Cancer Services

Ceisteanna (261)

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

261. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons receiving chemotherapy in each month from January 2015 to date in 2020, in tabular form. [30441/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme advises that the following table sets out the number of new patients starting Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) in the years 2015 to July 2020.

The 2020 data is subject to a final verification process.

Systemic Therapy New Patients Starting Treatment

Years	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
2020	773	629	588	548	619	598	646						4,401
2019	711	685	653	697	800	635	800	657	660	653	725	568	8,244
2018	620	599	534	578	642	565	631	639	630	676	678	449	7,241
2017	549	527	596	489	514	587	543	565	503	536	636	457	6,502
2016	513	586	451	514	510	476	492	504	495	517	514	384	5,956
2015	494	459	527	499	487	477	540	471	557	529	576	388	6,004

Community Care

Ceisteanna (262)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

262. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals for treatment to each community team in the first three quarters of 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30450/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (263)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

263. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if funding will be allocated for the recruitment of an additional full-time consultant neurologist for Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30451/20]

Freagraí scríofa

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.