Written Answers Nos. 210-230
211. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the vaccination programme for residential care settings; the full list of services to be vaccinated specifically a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2034/21]
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.
213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the consideration being given to making a therapy (details supplied) available to those for whom this therapy is the best hope of their retaining vision; the stage the process is at; the estimated number of persons in Ireland that would benefit from the therapy each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2043/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
214. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a project (details supplied) aimed at suicide prevention; the supports that can be provided to it to aid in its work; and if he will visit the area and engage directly with the team to ensure its success. [2044/21]
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.
215. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no self-harm protocol in St. James's Hospital, Dublin, for patients presenting with self-harm injuries at the emergency department; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2046/21]
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.
216. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 583 of 17 December 2020, if he will furnish a reply and outline the resources to be made available for the development of the ambulatory care hubs; the location of the first phase of hubs; the reason level 2 hospital sites were not considered for such hubs in view of the fact that many are already dealing with large numbers of older persons and those with chronic illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2051/21]
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.
218. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the date on which the Farrelly commission will report; his plans to publicise the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2057/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Farrelly Commission commenced work on 15th May 2017 and was due to submit its phase one final report within one year of commencing its work. The Commission's work is ongoing. It has been granted four extensions to allow it to complete its investigations.
The Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, T.D. and I met the Commission on 21st September 2020 to discuss its work and reporting timeframe. Minister Rabbitte and Department officials had a further meeting with the Commission on 2nd October 2020. The Commission submitted an interim report to me on 11th January 2021. Minister Rabbitte and I are considering this report.
221. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if, in the interest of public health fairness and transparency, strict protocols and booking plans are being applied to the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine in order that priority need next-on-list guarantees the dose, as opposed to presence on the day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2074/21]
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.
223. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the main policy initiatives undertaken by his Department since 27 June 2020; and his main priorities for 2021. [2087/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome of the main policy initiatives undertaken by this Department since June 2020 are listed in the table below. This list is not exhaustive on the basis that my Department also publishes completed policy initiatives on the Department’s website: https://www.gov.ie/en/publications/?organisation=department-of-health
|
Date of publication/ announcement |
Initiative |
|
08/07/2020 |
COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) |
|
27/07/2020 |
Procedural Values for Decision-making in a Pandemic |
|
19/08/2020 |
Report of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel |
|
10/09/2020 |
Announcement of €7.8 million Sláintecare initiative to clear Assessment of Need backlog for children |
|
01/10/2020 |
National Healthy Eating Guidelines for One to Four Year Olds |
|
19/10/2020 |
SMILE – Supporting multi-Morbidity through Integration, Learning and eHealth |
|
22/10/2020 |
Guidelines for Operating Drug and Alcohol Support Groups and Treatment Programmes During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
|
29/10/2020 |
Launch of the “Keep Well” campaign |
|
18/11/2020 |
Report of the HSE Clinical Advisory Group on Medical Cards in Cases of Terminal Illness |
|
25/11/2020 |
Extension of National Suicide Reduction Strategy to 2024 |
|
08/12/2020 |
Provisional Vaccine Allocation Groups |
|
14/12/2020 |
Report to the Minister for Health on an Evaluation and Analysis of Returns for 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 including advice on Risk Equalisation Credits |
|
15/12/2020 |
COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Plan |
|
16/12/2020 |
Publication of the Final Report of the Expert Group on Tort Reform and the Management of Clinical Negligence Claims |
|
18/12/2020 |
Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 |
|
18/12/2020 |
Announcement of a strategic multi-year plan to expand adult critical care capacity from 255 beds to 446 beds. |
|
21/12/2020 |
Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Rectal Cancer |
|
21/12/2020 |
Diagnosis, Staging and Treatment of Patients with Colin Cancer |
The HSE was formally notified of the total funding that will be provided by the Exchequer in a ‘Letter of Determination’. The letter also stated the priorities that the National Service Plan should include. With regard to 2021 priorities, these include:
- protecting vulnerable groups, service users, patients, healthcare workers, and the wider public in the face of COVID-19,
- delivering increased levels of health to our citizens in community and primary care settings,
- delivering on the capacity enhancement and reform plan in line with the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 and Sláintecare
- enhancing access to care
- implementing National Strategies, including the Nursing Homes Expert Panel recommendations
- improving access to mental health services, including progressing the implementation of Sharing the Vision
- improving access and enhancing specialist disability services
- ensuring that the wider health and wellbeing agenda is reflected throughout the planning of services in 2021
- protecting vulnerable homeless people and implementing key aspects of the National Drugs Strategy
- introducing new drugs in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013
- rolling out key e-health initiatives
- continuing key projects in line with Sláintecare and the Finance Reform Programme
The Department of Health is in the process of developing the Statement of Strategy for 2021-2023. The new Strategy will comprise the key objectives, outputs, and related strategies of the Department and will serve as a framework for action by the Department during the period, aligning to the priorities set out in the Programme for Government. Some emerging strategic priorities for the Strategy Statement for the Department of Health may include Public Health, enhancing our oversight and governance roles, continuing to strengthen the Department as a high-performing organization, and advancing Sláintecare reforms through policy leadership including in the areas of primary and community care and in ensuring timely and more equitable access to care.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact Covid-19 has had on the planned statutory home care scheme; the revised estimated timeline for roll out of the scheme; the steps he will take to ensure its roll out as early as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2106/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA high-quality, consistent home-support service, focused on keeping people well in their homes and communities for as long as possible, is a key enabler to ensuring that people across a continuum of care get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. In this regard, my Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support.
Work is on-going within the Department to determine the optimal approach to the development of the new scheme within the broader context of the on-going reform of Ireland’s health and social care system, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report. This work encompasses the development of the regulatory framework for the new scheme; the examination of the options for the financing model for the scheme; and the development of a reformed model of service-delivery.
The Sláintecare Implementation Plan commits to the establishment of the statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home support services by the end of 2021. Work planned in 2020, including the planned testing of a reformed model of service delivery, was adversely affected due to the impact of COVID-19 on delivery mechanisms for home support and the requirement for the diversion of resources to deal with COVID-19. This has had an impact on the final timeline.
The successful development of this scheme is an ambitious programme of reform and is a key priority for the Minister for Health. In order to accelerate this work, the Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure that the required resourcing including personnel, governance structures and other requisite resources are scaled up to ensure that significant progress is achieved by the end of 2021.
Within this context funding was secured in 2021 for the HSE to progress the roll out of InterRAI as the standard assessment for care needs in the community, the testing of a reformed model of service delivery for home support services and the establishment of a National Office for Home Support Services.
All work throughout 2021 will progress the development of a reformed model of service delivery to underpin the statutory scheme.
In parallel, the increased investment in home support services in 2021 will contribute to meeting the Programme for Government commitment to providing equitable access to home care.
225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for home care; the number of patients in delayed discharge from hospital due to the fact they are awaiting a home care placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2107/21]
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.
226. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the expected completion date for the transfer of shares from a group (details supplied) to a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2108/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the approval of the HSE is required to facilitate the transfer by the Religious Sisters of Charity of their shareholding in St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG) to St Vincent’s Holdings CLG, and neither I nor my Department has any role in relation to this matter. I understand that the SVHG has sought the approval of the HSE in relation to the share transfer and, as such the HSE would be best placed to provide the most up-to-date position on this matter. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
227. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of Brexit on the cross-border healthcare directive for patients seeking treatment in Northern Ireland or the UK; the changes to the scheme if applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2109/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. In order to mitigate the impact of the loss of access to care in the UK under the EU CBD scheme for persons resident in Ireland, the Government has agreed to provide for the implementation of a replacement scheme to be available in Northern Ireland only from 1 January 2021. The new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme will operate for 12 months and will operate on the same parameters as the EU Cross Border Directive scheme.
Furthermore, the HSE has also put in place transitional arrangements for certain patients who have a legitimate expectation of continuing to access care in the UK under the current provisions of the EU Cross-Border Directive Scheme including provision for reimbursement of healthcare costs by the HSE to persons who fall into certain categories, such as patients who can evidence that they have treatment booked prior to December 2020 for treatment in 2021. Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD office directly with queries on individual applications and whether they are covered by the transitional arrangements or the new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.
Finally, it is also important to note that, patients continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU countries.
228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department has responsibility for the payment of rent for its building at Miesian Plaza, Dublin 2; the steps he is taking to recoup the rent overpayment of €10 million; if his officials have met with the landlord regarding the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2110/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn respect of the rental costs for my Department’s premises, I can confirm that the rent payments come from the Office of Public Works' budget. I have no role in relation to the lease or rent arrangements for Miesian Plaza. The OPW, as the tenant, manage these functions on behalf of all Departments in the building.
The terms of the lease were agreed between OPW and the landlord. As my Department was not involved in the process, I cannot comment on rental costs, how they were arrived at, or subsequently agreed.
229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the feasibility studies for the proposed site for a new primary care centre in Finglas, Dublin 11; if the HSE has tendered for the services of a design team to progress the project; the projected timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2111/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the level of compliance in filling out the passenger locator forms on a weekly basis from 7 December 2020; the number of forms which were correctly and incorrectly completed on a weekly basis, respectively; and the number of persons that refused to fill out the form on a weekly basis in tabular form. [2113/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below outlines the number of passenger locator forms completed between 7th December and 3rd January 2021.
|
Week commencing |
Number of completed Passenger Locator Form’s |
Number of valid Passenger Locator Forms |
Number of invalid/illegible Passenger Locator Forms |
|
7th December |
32,826 |
28,349 |
3,312 |
|
14th December |
58,901 |
51,093 |
6,352 |
|
21st December |
29,257 |
26,867 |
2,138 |
|
28th December |
32,348 |
29,538 |
2,508 |
Invalid paper forms may have illegible information including phone numbers or other essential information that is unclear and is required for follow-up. The paper form has been updated to an OCR form to improve legibility. Efforts continue to promote the use of the online form.
There has been one incidence of non-compliance which was notified to the Garda National Immigration Board between 7th December 2020 and 3rd of January 2021.
