Written Answers Nos. 600-620
600. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans for the national roll-out of the Sligo pilot scheme for ophthalmology cases committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41305/20]
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.
601. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in his Department and the HSE who have been deployed and seconded at the start of each month since 1 March to 1 December 2020, by occupation and county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41306/20]
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.
602. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff who have been out of work due to Covid-19 illness to date; the number currently out of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41307/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
603. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff who have contracted Covid-19 at any point since 1 March to 1 December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41308/20]
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.
604. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff who continue to suffer from persistent symptoms or syndromes associated with Covid-19, also known as long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41309/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
605. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health his views on the lack of general practitioners taking on new patients in Santry, Dublin 9;and his plans for a primary healthcare centre in the area. [41319/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhere a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area can apply to the HSE which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
These measures include an increase in investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023 under the terms of the 2019 GMS GP Agreement GP. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 214 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021. The ICGP recently noted a record number of applications for the 2021 GP training programme.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
In regard to the building of a Primary Care Centre in Santry, the HSE is responsible for the delivery and management of healthcare infrastructure projects and has advised that an advertisement was placed in national media, in May 2019, seeking expressions of interest for the development of a new purpose-built Primary Care Centre for Santry.
HSE Estates have received several Expressions of Interest applications from interested parties and are now assessing these submissions to determine their suitability. The HSE expects this process to be completed in Q1 2021, when it will then invite suitable parties to submit further information, including confirmation that there is GP interest in operating from the proposed Centre.
606. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the amount availed of from the NTPF by nursing homes for PPE spending in each month from February to June 2020; the amount spent each month by the HSE from July to date on PPE for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41320/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
607. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health if guidance will be provided to the HSE to safely facilitate both expectant parents to attend scans and ultrasounds in maternity hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41334/20]
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.
609. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no psychiatrist in the counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41346/20]
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.
610. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to shorten the waiting time for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41351/20]
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.
611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a petition (details supplied); and if he will provide a timeline in respect of the national roll-out of a Sligo scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41358/20]
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.
612. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children removed in each of the past five years from scoliosis surgery lists on the basis of the deterioration of their condition making surgery unsafe in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41359/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for treatment for scoliosis, 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 scoliosis.
All patients with a diagnosis of scoliosis require a pre-operative work-up prior to spinal surgery, including multiple diagnostic investigations and review by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). The plan of care which is implemented for each patient is tailored to best meet the patient's clinical requirements.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy concerning the removal of patients from scoliosis surgical lists on the basis of the deterioration of their condition, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
613. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if student nurses involved in the treatment of Covid-19-infected patients in hospitals are given separate guidance; if all hospital staff are regularly made aware of these procedures and regulations; if so, if training has been provided; if there is a confidential reporting procedure in place for staff including student nurses care assistants midwives and visiting medical employees to report concerns regarding the implementation of Covid-19 related procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41360/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from the Department.
614. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the status of the new post of paediatric rheumatologist additional to the two posts currently in Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin initially to have been in place by end of 2019; if the application process for this new post is still open; if applications have been closed; the date or deadline by which this post will be filled; the hospital the new paediatric rheumatologist will work from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41361/20]
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.
615. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for an MRI in Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin; the expected time spent on the waiting list; the projected time it will take to clear the backlog for MRIs in Crumlin for children; if his Department and the HSE are examining the use of the MRI and paediatric unit in a hospital (details supplied) as a viable option with respect of diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of sick children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41362/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the provision of MRI services, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment.
Uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist. This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. Each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise each case, based on clinical urgency, in terms of access to the scanner.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy regarding the MRI waiting list in CHI Crumlin and the examination of the possible use of the hospital referred to for the provision of MRI services, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
616. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting on an MRI for both diagnosis of and-or monitoring of disease in all CHOs and hospitals nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41363/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
617. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his Department indemnified any private companies in respect of the proposed roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine; if so, the name of each company any level of indemnity has been provided to; the type of indemnity provided in each case in terms of side effects, illness, potential death, lack of immunity provided, ineffective vaccine, damage to unborn children and so on; if any of the supply, delivery or administering the vaccine elements has been indemnified; if so, the value for each company; and the lowest and highest estimated potential cost to the State if the indemnification is called upon due to legal action in respect of the vaccine. [41365/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra696. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if a contingency has been put aside to deal with potential cases that may be brought against the State if something goes wrong with the Covid-19 vaccine; and if so, the amount set aside. [41860/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 696 together.
Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University); Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); BioNTech / Pfizer; CureVac and Moderna.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is the body which can authorise vaccines for EU Member States. It is likely that it will consider ‘conditional’ marketing authorisation for certain vaccines, and its opinion could be issued within weeks, depending on whether the data submitted are sufficiently robust and complete to show the quality, safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
The content of the Advance Purchase Agreements, including with regard to liability / indemnity, are negotiated with vaccine suppliers by the European Commission and its negotiation team acting on behalf of Member States. Member States may decide to opt in / opt out, but do not have scope to recast the provisions of any APA. Responsibility for claims management will be assigned to the State Claims Agency.
618. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if there will be a revision of the number of guests from 25 to 50 for weddings taking place shortly after Christmas if cases of Covid-19 continue to decrease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41391/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra619. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of guests who can attend a christening in view of the fact there is no mention of christenings in the level 3 Covid-19 guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41394/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra621. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the reason 50 persons are allowed at a religious service but only 25 are allowed at funerals; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41396/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 618, 619 and 621 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 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.
The number of people allowed to gather in different scenarios in the Government Framework are based on a review of international practice and the judgment of public health experts. It seeks to balance the risks of different types of gatherings against the desire to allow normal activities to proceed in so far as possible.
It is advised to socialise safely and within the capacity limits. These various limits in the Levels are all designed to reduce the number of households mixing with each other and cut down the virus’s chances of spreading into more homes.
The Deputy should note that the numbers should not be considered a target - they are the maximum recommended number. It’s always safer to meet less people, less often, for less time. If we do this, we have a better chance of keeping to the lower Levels in the Framework, and continuing to keep businesses, schools, and healthcare services open, while also protecting the most vulnerable.
Ireland is now on level 3 of the framework Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19. Details of the public health measures in place for weddings and places of worship from 1 December can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/#measures-in-place-from-1-december.
Details of the public health measures in place for the Christmas period can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/#measures-in-place-from-18-december.
Guidance for religious services can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7ba40-guidance-for-religious-services/.
I and my Cabinet colleagues recognise the immense sacrifices that are being made by people across the country at this difficult time. I know that that includes many people who are affected by their inability to attend church in the way they have been used to. However, there has been significant engagement and solidarity from the Catholic Church and other Faiths at all stages throughout this pandemic to ensure the protection of individuals and communities from COVID-19. Indeed, as the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach recently met with the leaders of the Catholic Church recently to consider the range of issues relating this matter.
620. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the delivery of medical cannabis for circa 41 patients during the Covid-19 travel restrictions will continue when travel restrictions begin to be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41395/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 6th April, the previous Minister for Health announced an initiative to assist patients access to their medical cannabis products during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The Department of Health has so far organised a number of collections from the Netherlands for patients of clinicians in possession of a ministerial licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act owing to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and quarantine requirements and the initiative will continue while these are in place.
