Written Answers Nos. 364-383
364. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if there will be enhanced opportunities for nursing home residents to meet their family members over December 2020; and the measures in place to deal with the negative impacts on residents' mental health due to visiting restrictions. [40969/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of continued social interaction of residents and their families cannot be overstated and every effort should be made, in line with public health advice, to ensure that these interactions continue.
As you may be aware, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) published updated guidance on visitations to long term residential care facilities on 30th November. The new guidance which comes into effect from the 7th December, aims to further support long-term residential care services (including nursing homes) and residents in planning visits across all levels of the framework for restrictive measures in the government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19. Further advice is provided in the guidance which recognises that major cultural or religious festivals, such as Christmas, are of significance for residents and their families.
This new guidance outlines an updated definition for ‘critical and compassionate circumstances’, which now provides that, subject to risk assessment, residents may be facilitated to receive:
- up to one visit by one person per week under Levels 3 and 4 of the framework;
- up to one visit by one person per two weeks under Level 5.
It also notes that at all framework levels every practical effort should be made to accommodate an additional visit on compassionate grounds during the period of a major cultural or religious festival or celebration of particular significance to the resident, such as the Christmas/New Year period.
I encourage all nursing homes to remain familiar with the latest public health advice and support, and to make every effort to continue to facilitate visitors in line with public health advice and to communicate with family and friends on an ongoing basis in order to support positive mental health and wellbeing. I have communicated with the sector outlining the need for them to be flexible, innovative and to facilitate visiting arrangements, in line with public health advice.
Notwithstanding this, it is also important to be cognisant of the wider epidemiological situation and the risks associated with same. On the 19th November, the European Centre for Disease Control published its latest risk assessment with regard to long-term care facilities across Europe. It highlights that the probability of COVID-19 introduction into a long-term care facility depends on the level of COVID-19 circulation in the community, with a higher risk associated with higher incidence rates in the community.
This highlights the importance of suppressing the level of the virus in the community as one of the primary measures for protecting nursing homes. As citizens, we all have a responsibility in this regard and our actions across all of society can directly impact the outcomes for nursing home residents.
365. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 373 of 1 October 2020, the status of discussions between his officials and the HSE on the possible solutions which could be found to the issue of medical card and GP card holders being charged for blood tests which are clinically necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40970/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons who are eligible for GP care without charge under the Health Act 1970 are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition and the HSE has advised GPs accordingly. Nonetheless, some GPs are charging GMS patients for phlebotomy services in some circumstances.
This matter was raised recently with the HSE, however further progress on this issue has not been possible. A full resolution to this issue will require engagement with the IMO.
The GP chronic disease management programme which is being phased in from this year will involve the ongoing monitoring of patients’ condition and any blood tests required in this context will be covered by the fees payable for this care.
The position remains that where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for routine phlebotomy services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.
366. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to roll out the Sligo scheme in terms of cataract treatment to other areas of the country; the financial benefits which would apply if this scheme was rolled out; if waiting lists would be reduced; the timescale for such a roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40971/20]
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.
367. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he expects the third national paediatric rheumatologist position currently open for applications to be filled; if children with Down's syndrome face a four-year waiting list to be assessed for arthritis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children with Down's syndrome were promised a reduction in this referral time to three months under the previous Government; his plans to increase the number of paediatric rheumatologists further; the status of the planned information campaign for general practitioners and other healthcare professionals on Down's syndrome-related arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40976/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. This Government’s priority is to improve waiting times for all patients accessing hospital treatment across all specialties, including paediatric rheumatology.
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.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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.
In addition the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include, increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy concerning paediatric rheumatology, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
369. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1378 of 3 November 2020, the number of the targeted 700 new contact tracing staff that have been successfully onboarded and are able to engage in contact tracing. [40983/20]
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.
370. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1378 of 3 November 2020, the number of persons engaged in swabbing duties who are redeployed from other areas of the HSE compared to those who have been newly hired to the role in tabular form. [40984/20]
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.
371. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if counselling services can be facilitated once again to the daughter of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41011/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
372. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
373. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the number of NFO1 forms that were submitted late by a nursing home in April 2020; if this amounted to 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41027/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Chief Inspector of Social Services within the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory independent regulator for the nursing home sector. I am advised by HIQA that during April 2020, while many private and statutory nursing homes were managing COVID-19 outbreaks, multiple nursing homes did not return NF01 within the 72 hour timeframe, however, the system does not capture when notifications are submitted outside of the 72 hour timeframe. HIQA has advised that this was expected and understandable, as the providers primary focus was on outbreak management and providing care. When there are delays of NF01s, the Chief Inspector works with services on a case by case basis.
374. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE’s enhanced community care plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41028/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2020 allocated an initial €10million rising to €180million in Budget 2021 in order to roll out the enhanced care community programme. This will allow the health service to reduce reliance on acute hospitals as a point of service access and reorient service delivery towards general practice, primary care and community-based services, as appropriate, in order to deliver the right care, in the right place, at the right time, by the right team. Once fully in place, the measures planned will help people to stay in their homes and community for longer, either preventing hospital admissions or allowing for discharge earlier than would have been possible without these supports.
In 2021, the enhanced community care programme will continue the establishment of 96 Community Healthcare Networks and 32 Community Specialist Teams for older people and people living with chronic disease/lifelong conditions. It will support the redesign of care pathways to make care more accessible in the community including the expansion of, Community Intervention Teams and specialist, integrated care teams such as the Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) and Chronic Disease Management (CDM). These measures will also see 2,000+ staff recruited, with a particular focus on nursing and community therapists such as physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
375. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of the national review of specialist cardiac services; the workplan for the remainder of 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41029/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group was formed from nominations from interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives.
The aim of this Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service.
Substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. However, as you will appreciate, the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted on the progress of the review during 2020, as the Chair of the Cardiac Services Review has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. It is planned that work on the Cardiac Services Review will progress again in the coming months.
376. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will give advice to those who are working in the artistic education field (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41033/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraResilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September, 2020. Ireland is now at level 3 of the Plan. Information on the public health measures in currently in place in relation to the different Levels can be found at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/resilience-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/.
Where a service provider considers that they fall into the education category e.g. as part of the national curriculum or as part of a specific, state-sponsored course of study, they should refer to the Department of Education’s guidance in relation to the operation of education services under Level 3 restrictions at https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/.
Separately, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has published guidance to support the funded youth work sector. Where a service provider meets the definition of youth work, as defined under Section 3 of the Youth Work Act 2001 and is part of the state funded youth work sector, they should refer to that Department’s guidance at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/58393-guidance-for-youth-organisations-on-resuming-full-services-after-covid-19/.
377. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the way in which response times for HSE ambulance services are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41055/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
378. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the mechanism by which the close contacts of a person who has tested positive for Covid-19 are informed of same; the time frame it takes for close contacts to be informed on average after the diagnosis is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41056/20]
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.
379. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if partners or accompanying persons will be permitted to attend with patients attending maternity services in circumstances in which maternity services know that distressing or potentially distressing information is being presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41057/20]
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.
380. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the commitment in the Programme for Government to provide free contraception starting with women aged 17 to 25 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41058/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister remains committed to the aim of expanding access to free contraception for women aged 17-25 as set out in the Programme for Government.
A Working Group report on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, made clear that a sizable body of work would need to be addressed in order to develop and finalise the policy approach in this area and to bring forward the necessary legislative proposals and ensure the implementation of service delivery arrangements. The need to focus on and prioritise the response to the current pandemic has delayed and disrupted progress during 2020.
The Minister is committed to advancing Women’s Health and Wellbeing, and significant funding to promote women’s health was announced as part of Budget 2021, including investment in the maternity strategy, gynaecology services, screening services and the Women’s Health Taskforce.
381. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the research by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41059/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister is aware of and welcomes the recent research undertaken by the Dublin Well Women Centre on contraception.
Among other things, the report points to barriers facing women trying to access their preferred forms of contraception and identifies cost, location and misinformation as particularly important.
This broadly reflects the findings of the Working Group report on Access to Contraception, published in October 2019, which highlighted the need for policy development around contraception to focus on accessibility, education and workforce capacity, as well as cost.
The Minister is committed to the aim of expanding access to free contraception for women aged 17-25 as set out in the Programme for Government. However, a number of regulatory, legal and policy issues need to be addressed before such a scheme can be implemented. The need to focus on and prioritise the response to the current pandemic has, unfortunately, delayed and disrupted progress on this issue during 2020.
382. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant psychiatrist posts that exist in the HSE; the number that are vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41068/20]
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.
383. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting outpatient CAMHS appointments when compared to this time in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41069/20]
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.
