Written Answers Nos. 908-932
908. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the cumulative number of vaccine doses that have arrived in Ireland on a daily basis since 25 December 2020. [8748/21]
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.
909. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the actual accuracy of daily vaccination figures in the context of the lag in adding numbers to the tracker (details supplied). [8749/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDaily vaccination numbers are available on the Covid Tracker App since 10th February 2021. The data on the Covid Tracker includes the numbers of first and second dose vaccinations and these numbers are updated on a daily basis. The data is sourced from the HSE’s Covid-19 vaccination system and there is currently a two day lag in the publication of this data, which the HSE is actively working to address.
913. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a long-term care plan will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [8757/21]
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.
914. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if a person can travel to Ireland from the United States of America to reunite with their partner during level 5 restrictions once the person obeys the requirement for OCR test and guaranteeing; if the advice is that such a journey is non-essential; if so, if it carries a potential fine or legal enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8761/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current travel measures, passengers arriving from overseas, including via Northern Ireland, are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and to have evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel upon arrival. Passengers who arrive to the State at a port of airport, must show their test result prior to boarding plane or ferry and once again to border official upon arrival. Those that do not present a test result are committing an offence and may be subject to prosecution. Any travellers arriving without a pre-travel PCR test result must complete one within 36 hours of arrival or will be committing an additional offence.
Arriving passengers, with a limited list of exemptions, are required to quarantine for 14 days at the address given on their Passenger Locator Form. A second ‘non-detected’ PCR test result taken no less than 5 days after arrival can end the quarantine period.
The current list of ‘Category 2 countries’ now includes 20 states and those who arrive from these countries are subject to stricter quarantine requirements. Arrivals from these countries do not have the option to end quarantine early.
Persons who do not adhere to the mandatory quarantine requirements are committing an offence and can be fined up to €2,500 or get a prison sentence of up to 6 months
During the period of stay in the State all persons are expected to adhere to the Level 5 public health restrictions that are in place.
915. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he has considered extending medical card services to include counsellors and physiotherapists. [8763/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure. The issue of granting medical cards based on having a particular disease or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines.
Individuals who possess a medical card can access HSE provided physiotherapy services where available either in a hospital setting or in the community, while the Counselling in Primary Care service is available to adults over 18 years who are medical card holders and experiencing mild to moderate psychological and emotional difficulties.
916. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8768/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
917. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will add the daily breakdown of Covid-19 vaccine figures to the Covid-19 tracker application as opposed to the cumulative figure to give the public specific daily figures akin to the diagnosed case numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8771/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraVaccination data is available on the Covid Tracker App since 10th February 2021 and includes the numbers of first and second dose vaccinations. The data is updated on a daily basis and sourced from the HSE’s Covid-19 vaccination system. Work is underway in the HSE to include daily figures for numbers vaccinated in the next release of the Covid-Tracker app.
918. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when an operation will be scheduled for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8772/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
919. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the services in place or planned for those persons suffering with long Covid. [8774/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra979. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the facilities and services in place for patients suffering with long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8960/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 919 and 979 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
920. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding payment of patient fees incurred when a patient with a medical card is sent to a private hospital on an inpatient or outpatient basis as part of the private hospital arrangement with the HSE as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8775/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE agreed a new safety net arrangement in January with all 18 private hospitals to provide additional hospital capacity to the HSE, to deal with the current surge in Covid-19 cases and any further surges in the pandemic, if they arise within the next 12 months.
The private capacity obtained by the HSE is being used to free up capacity in the public hospitals, mainly for urgent, time-dependant and complex care. The HSE and individual private hospitals are working on a collaborative basis to manage the effective flow of patients, having regard to the capabilities of the private hospital concerned.
Patients who are identified as suitable are referred by their public hospital to a private hospital for treatment. The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services. All persons, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions, including medical card holders.
Accordingly, patients who have a medical card and are treated in a private hospital under the current arrangement are exempt from the Statutory Public Charges, and the cost of their treatment in the private hospital is covered by the HSE.
922. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when outstanding vacancies will be filled at a service (details supplied) to enable it to continue to provide a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8793/21]
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.
925. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding expanding the medicinal cannabis access programme; his plans for operationalising the programme and regarding delivery of medicinal products; the way in which he envisages the programme functioning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8798/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) report “Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review”, the HPRA advised that if access to cannabis is to be permitted for medical purposes that it should only be made available for the treatment of patients with specified medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective.
The specified medical conditions (medical indications) are:
1. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;
2. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;
3. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.
The HPRA did not consider that the available evidence supported the use of cannabis in other medical conditions.
The MCAP has been included in the HSE Service Plan 2021 and is a five year pilot programme for the treatment of the three specified conditions.
The HSE will establish and maintain a Register for the Medical Cannabis Access Programme to facilitate the enrolment and recording of certain data including patient identifiers (in anonymised format), prescribers enrolled in the programme, as well as prescribed / supplied medical cannabis products.
Pharmacists will be able to dispense cannabis-based products for medical use to patients as set out in the legislation, on foot of a valid prescription, once suppliers make the specified controlled drugs available on the Irish market.
926. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of exemptions for cannabis products given under the ministerial licence; the products which have been made available by licence; his plans to harmonise this with the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8799/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ministerial licence pursuant to Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts permits the licenced clinician to, inter alia, prescribe cannabis-based products for their patients. To date 141 licences have been issued for the treatment of 55 different patients
The medical decision to prescribe or not prescribe any treatment, including cannabis treatment, for an individual patient is strictly a decision for the treating clinician, in consultation with their patient. The Minister for Health has no role in this clinical decision-making process. The decision on which products to prescribe and the sourcing of those products rests solely with the licenced clinician.
The two separate pathways for accessing cannabis for medical use in Ireland are:
- The Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP)
- Ministerial Licence under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016
Both the MCAP and Ministerial Licence are separate routes to access Medical Cannabis, and should not be confused with each other.
Further details on both routes are available on the Department's website.
927. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the work underway to review and revise difficulties with the medicinal cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8800/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) report “Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review”, the HPRA advised that if access to cannabis is to be permitted for medical purposes that it should only be made available for the treatment of patients with specified medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments, and where there is at least modest evidence that cannabis may be effective.
The specified medical conditions (medical indications) are:
1. Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis resistant to all standard therapies and interventions whilst under expert medical supervision;
2. Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, despite the use of standard anti-emetic regimes whilst under expert medical supervision;
3. Severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard anticonvulsant medications whilst under expert medical supervision.
The HPRA did not consider that the available evidence supported the use of cannabis in other medical conditions.
The MCAP has been included in the HSE National Service Plan 2021.
The HSE will be responsible for the operation of the programme. The HSE will establish and maintain a Register to facilitate the enrolment and recording of certain data including patient identifiers (in anonymised format), prescribers enrolled in the Programme, as well as prescribed / supplied medical cannabis products.
928. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed for a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8801/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme comes under the remit of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The extent of the involvement of Health Service Executive (HSE) personnel in the Scheme relates to making a professional clinical determination as to whether an individual applicant meets the specified medical criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate, which is a requirement for the Scheme. This determination is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers for the relevant HSE Community Health Organisation on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
The Deputy may be aware that following a Supreme Court decision of June 2020, the assessment process for Primary Medical Certificates was suspended at the request of the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D.. Following the approval of the Finance Act 2020 which provides for the medical criteria in primary legislation, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., issued an instruction to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE to the effect that Primary Medical Certificate assessments can recommence with effect from 1st January, 2021.
In the context of the national effort to suppress and manage the impact of COVID, the ability to hold assessments is impacted by, among other things, the public health restrictions in place and the role of the HSE Medical Officers in the roll out of the COVID vaccination programme. The HSE has confirmed that the community medical doctors and their teams are predominately deployed to the COVID vaccination rollout in residential care facilities and other health care settings.
I have been informed that the HSE is considering the matter of Primary Medical Certificate assessments in the context of their revision of the HSE Recovery and Restoration Plan, taking into account the pressures and challenges to the health services presented by COVID.
As the issue concerning the individual case raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged to have the question referred to the HSE for consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
929. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the non-Covid-19 related hospital activity currently taking place in hospitals nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8802/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
In relation to the particular query raised concerning, the non-Covid-19 related hospital activity currently taking place in hospitals nationally, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
930. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of specialties of urgent care which is taking place according to medical speciality in hospitals nationally in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8803/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
931. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the diagnostic scans and examinations which are currently taking place for cancers, cardiovascular conditions and diabetes in hospitals and medical centres nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
932. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting nationally for their first outpatient hospital appointment by periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8805/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt 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.
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 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. The attached table provides details of the total number of patients awaiting a first hospital Outpatient appointment by time band at the end of January 2021. This table was also published, along with data on the Inpatient and Day case waiting lists, by the NTPF on their website on Friday 12 February 2021.
