Written Answers Nos. 730-748
730. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade and other workers providing front-line ambulance services that have been given their first and second scheduled vaccinations against Covid-19 as of 1 February 2020 or the latest date available. [6458/21]
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.
731. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line ambulance workers from all services that have contracted Covid-19; and the number that are believed to have contracted it as part of their work. [6459/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
732. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Covid-19 vaccinations for many front-line paramedics in the Dublin Fire Brigade service were cancelled; the reason the vaccinations were cancelled; the date for the completion of vaccinations for Dublin Fire Brigade and National Ambulance Service staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6460/21]
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.
733. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if Covid-19 vaccinations were rolled-out to a private firm providing financial or other non-healthcare functions to the HSE before the completion of vaccination of front-line paramedics [6461/21]
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.
734. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of addiction workers employed both publicly and as section 39 workers currently. [6464/21]
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.
735. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of needle exchanges by task force. [6465/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has responsibility for the administration of the national needle exchange programme. The Executive is best placed to provide the Deputy with a breakdown of the costs of the programme by Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) area.
In this regard, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
736. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of calls made for an ambulance in the area covered by the Carlow ambulance base in January 2021; the number of calls made to the ambulance service in Carlow from 1 January to 31 December 2020; the number of calls to the ambulance service in Carlow from 1 January to 31 December 2020 for the Carlow and south-east region that were dealt with by ambulances from outside the Carlow area; the average response time for an ambulance from when a call is placed to emergency services to when an ambulance arrives at the scene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6468/21]
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.
738. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of HSE nurse care for a child (details supplied). [6470/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction councillors currently employed by the HSE and as section 39 workers, respectively. [6471/21]
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.
740. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the funding or assistance available for a person who has limited financial needs but needs to go to a treatment centre for alcohol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6478/21]
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.
741. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding given to services to run dual diagnosis programmes by community healthcare organisation, CHO, or task force in tabular form. [6481/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is as service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
742. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average salary of a mental health worker employed by the HSE. [6482/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy on this matter.
743. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list for juvenile arthritis treatment in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; the number of those in counties Laois and Offaly; the waiting times for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6484/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI sincerely regret that children can experience a long waiting time for hospital appointments and procedures, and I am conscious of the burden that this places on them and their families. This Government is committed to improving waiting times for all patients accessing hospital treatment across all specialties, including rheumatology.
Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) has advised the Department that during the initial phases of COVID-19, all face to face hospital outpatient reviews and most of the planned diagnostic tests, including MRI, were deferred in response to the pandemic. From June onwards, CHI at Crumlin had recommenced the majority of outpatient and diagnostic services, albeit at reduced numbers, due to public health guidelines on social distancing. However, due to the recent rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community and the need to reduce the number of people coming into the children’s hospitals, CHI is prioritising emergency, urgent and time sensitive procedures and care. In so far as possible, most out-patient clinics have been moved to virtual or telephone clinics, unless specified by the consultant that a face to face review is needed.
Children’s Health Ireland is engaging with the HSE on a proposal to secure funding for an additional MRI scanner for Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin in order to meet the needs of current and future MRI service. Children’s Health Ireland has further advised my Department that there is an active recruitment campaign for an additional Rheumatology Consultant underway. This additional position will allow for an increased number of patients to be seen, diagnosed and treatment initiated, as part of the comprehensive Rheumatology service.
In relation to the data requested by the Deputy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) collect, collate and publish waiting lists in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. Waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however, it is not possible to identify patients based on their clinical diagnosis, such as juvenile arthritis.
The attached tables provide details of the total number of patients awaiting a first Outpatient appointment with a Consultant Rheumatologist at CHI Crumlin at the end of December 2020, and the number of those patients with an area of residence in counties Laois and Offaly.
The total number of patients awaiting a Rheumatology inpatient or day case procedure (IPDC) at CHI Crumlin is also provided, however the NTPF have advised my Department that they are unable to provide the breakdown of patients on the Rheumatology IPDC waiting list with an area of residence in counties Laois and Offaly due to the low numbers involved, as this would breach Statistical Disclosure Control.
744. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of a gambling prevalence survey. [6487/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health where the location a full copy of questions asked as part of the current drug and alcohol survey can be found. [6488/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 745 together.
The national survey on drug and alcohol use is a general population survey of households in Ireland conducted by the Health Research Board (HRB) to estimate the number of people in Ireland who use drugs and alcohol. It is expected that the report on the survey will be published in the 2nd quarter of 2021.
The technical report for the 2014/2015 general prevalence survey can be found at the link below. This report sets out the research methodology for the survey including the questionnaire.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/30311/1/NACDA_2014-15_Technical_Report.pdf
The estimated cost of a gambling prevalence survey does not fall within the remit of the Department of Health. This query should be directed towards the Department of Justice and Equality as it leads on gambling regulation, including research on gambling.
746. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied). [6491/21]
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.
747. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an assessment will be arranged for an electric wheelchair with a specialised frame for a person (details supplied); if the process will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/21]
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.
748. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the items in the general practitioner vaccination contract over and above that which nurses do for less than a quarter of the hourly rate of doctors. [6498/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra868. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional remuneration for nursing staff in general practice settings in line with the €120 payment being provided to the general practitioner; and the reason for the position of his Department in this regard. [7044/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 748 and 868 together.
Among the healthcare workers that will administer vaccinations under National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Strategy and Implementation plans, only GPs and pharmacists are private practitioners, and as such require the setting of fees payable for the administration of vaccines against Covid-19. Where fees are paid to GPs, these are intended to include the full costs of scheduling and administering the vaccine and must cover not only GP pay, but also the additional payments to practice nurses and practice administrators who will be involved in providing vaccinations outside of normal clinic hours, as well as the additional costs of cleaning surgeries.
GPs and pharmacists are being asked to provide a proactive vaccination service which will require dedicated vaccination clinics while also maintaining regular services. They are also being asked to undertake administrative functions with regard to patient identification and consent. As with other types of vaccinations, the fees reflect the amount of time required, administrative complexity, and the level of post-vaccination care likely required. Furthermore, the fees have been agreed in consideration that GPs will be providing this service to both private and public patients without charge.
