Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1973/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (192)
Freagraí scríofa
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
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.
Departmental Reports
Ceisteanna (193)
David Cullinane
Ceist:193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans and views regarding each of the recommendations of the expert group report to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims relevant to his Department and those bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In June 2018, arising from a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government (PfPG), the Minister for Health, the Minister for Justice and Equality, in association with the Minister for Finance, established an Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current system for the management of clinical negligence claims. The Group, chaired by the High Court Judge, Mr Justice Charles Meenan, comprised representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Public Expenditure and Reform, Justice and Equality, Health, AGO, HSE, State Claims Agency as well as patient advocacy representation and a practising solicitor who has experience representing plaintiffs.
The Expert Group examined tort law as it currently applies to personal injuries arising in the healthcare context and considered options for its reform. Government noted the contents of the Final Report and agreed to its publication on 16 December 2020.
The Report contains seventeen recommendations for change, eleven of which relate to my Department. I welcome the publication of the Report and look forward to considering its proposals in more detail. I intend to revert to Government following further consideration of the recommendations by my Department.
Question No. 194 answered with Question No. 170.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (195, 237)
Steven Matthews
Ceist:195. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding mandatory face mask use in banks and other financial institutions; and if the mandatory wearing of facemasks has been considered in circumstances in which all relevant security measures are taken into account to reflect the concerns of front-line branch workers. [1984/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Ged Nash
Ceist:237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if banks and credit unions will be added to the list of workplaces in which the wearing of face coverings is compulsory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2139/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 237 together.
I would like to assure the Deputies that the public health advice relating to Covid-19, including that relating to face coverings, is kept under continuous review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
It is recommended that face coverings are worn by people in situations where physical distancing may not be possible, such as in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation.
As the Deputies are no doubt aware, a person, without reasonable excuse, must wear a face covering when using public transport, in retail outlets, shops and shopping centres, in other indoor spaces such as libraries, cinemas and cinema complexes, theatres, concert halls, bingo halls, museums, businesses carrying out cosmetic nail care or nail styling, hair care or hair styling, tattoo and piercing services, travel agents and tour operators, laundries and dry cleaners and licensed bookmakers.
The relevant Regulations, which remain in place until 9 June, 2021, are -
Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 571 of 2020).
The Deputies may wish to note that the wearing of face coverings are not mandatory in premises such as bank branches/credit unions/post offices for both public health and security reasons. By their nature, these locations are controlled environments where social distancing for members of the public should be attainable. There are also security requirements in terms of ensuring the identities of people entering a financial institution.
The current advice in relation to face coverings is available at -https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-masks-disposable-gloves.html and http://www.gov.ie/facecoverings/
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (196)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:196. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health his plans to restore gastroenterologist services at Ennis General Hospital following the resignation of the previous gastroenterologist in October 2020 given that patients due to be seen in Ennis are left indefinitely on a waiting list. [1992/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 (197)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when appropriate treatment and attention will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1994/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 181.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (199)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:199. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if residents and staff of a facility (details supplied) can be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine given the recent outbreak of Covid-19 in the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1996/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (200)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:200. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large volume of dental practices are no longer treating persons under the medical card scheme; if funding will be made available to compensate medical card holders who have been put in financial distress as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1998/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by approximately 1,400 independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. I understand that since March 2020, 180 dentists have withdrawn from the Scheme and that 78 new applications are being processed. This is within the normal range of fluctuations of dentists participating in the Scheme in recent years.
Patients may choose to have their treatment undertaken by any dentist who participates in the Scheme. The HSE will assist medical card holders in accessing such treatment if required.
While the interruption to services caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic had led to some delays in the provision of non-emergency care, data to the end of 2020 suggest that activity levels in the DTSS have been increasing and that by December 2020 activity in the DTSS had reached almost 90% of the December 2019 level.
My Department has been engaging with dentists and with the HSE throughout the pandemic and will continue to engage with them to ensure that the oral health of the public is supported during these difficult times.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (201)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:201. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is on the waiting list for a spinal operation; when they will receive a date for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2000/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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.
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.
Question No. 202 answered with Question No. 172.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (203)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:203. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be facilitated with an appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2002/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.
This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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.
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.
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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (204)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:204. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the dental department, St. Conal's Hospital, Letterkenny was fully operational providing both routine and emergency dental treatment in-house in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2003/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (205)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:205. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who received routine and emergency dental treatment in the dental department, St. Conal's Hospital, Letterkenny in 2019 and 2020, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2004/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (206)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:206. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of patients referred from the dental department, St. Conal's Hospital, Letterkenny to dental clinics here and abroad for both routine and emergency treatment in 2019 and 2020, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2005/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 207 answered with Question No. 172.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (208, 217)
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:208. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeframe of the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine by the groups identified in the vaccine implementation plan in tabular form; the steps he is taking to accelerate the delivery of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2026/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:217. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if resources will be provided to increase the roll-out of the Covid vaccination programme from the current five to seven days per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2054/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 217 together.
The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme. Vaccination teams working across the country are administering vaccinations seven days a week.
The National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, which was prepared by the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination, was signed off by Cabinet on 15 December 2020.
The vaccines will be rolled out in three phases - the initial roll out, a mass ramp-up and open access. The highest priority groups, those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers in direct patient contact, will receive the vaccine first.
The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally. This is wholly dependent on supply lines and on candidate vaccines obtaining approval. Therefore, it is not possible at this time to determine a timeframe for the full vaccination programme.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
Further information on the Allocation Strategy can be found at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/
Question No. 209 answered with Question No. 172.