Wednesday, 10 Mar 2021

Primary Medical Certificates

Ceisteanna (882)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

882. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary medical certificate application by a person (details supplied). [13048/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme is underpinned by statute and 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 Community Medical Doctors 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 specific 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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (883)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

883. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if there is data to track the extent to which persons who flew into Ireland during January 2021 were associated with the spread of Covid-19 and the import of new variants of Covid-19 from Brazil or South Africa. [13052/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The HSPC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) monitors the epidemiological situation in Ireland – recording total numbers of cases, tracking outbreaks or clusters, and monitoring the most likely modes of transmission.

The total number of cases recorded by HSPC to date, where the most likely source of transmission was travel, was 2,137 as of midnight on 31st January 2021. Travel related cases include cases who acquire COVID-19 infection outside of Ireland (imported cases) and cases who acquire COVID-19 infection directly from imported cases. The estimated number of cases notified in January where the most likely source of transmission was travel related was 457 cases.

Regulations underpinning a mandatory testing and home quarantine regime have been introduced since 4th February in an effort to mitigate the risk of importing new variants of concern to Ireland. Passengers arriving into Ireland from overseas are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine.

Passengers arriving from the designated ‘high-risk’ Category 2 are subject to stricter home quarantine measures and are also advised to contact a GP to arrange a free PCR test. Positives identified through these tests are sent to the NVRL for genomic sequencing to detect the presence of new variants in Ireland. It is the Government’s intention to commence the operation of mandatory hotel quarantine as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Ceisteanna (884)

John McGuinness

Ceist:

884. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an MRI scan will be arranged for a person (details supplied). [13072/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (885)

Matt Carthy

Ceist:

885. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if there is an obligation on home care providers to inform the families when the carers of patients are found to have contracted Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

General Practitioner Services

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 are 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 HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an Access to Care Fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and €30m to the NTPF for the provision of treatment as required in both private and public hospitals in order to address capacity issues in acute hospitals arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.

My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are continuously reviewing waiting lists with a view to ensuring that services for scheduled care are resumed as soon as it is deemed safe to do so in line with HSE clinical guidelines.

The data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) who have advised that as of the end of January 2021, the average waiting time for an Outpatient Paediatric Ophthalmology consultation in University Hospital Waterford is 141 days.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (899)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

899. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant spinal neurosurgeon at the Mater Hospital Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13120/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

In addition the National Treatment Purchas Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “ see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics, and clinical validation.

Budget 2021 provided an additional €240 million for an Access to Care Fund, €210 of which has been allocated to the HSE and €30 million to the National treatment Purchase Fund for the provision of treatment in both private and public hospitals in order to address capacity issues in acute hospitals arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.

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.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) have advised my Department that they cannot provide the information at the level of detail requested by the Deputy. They can only provide information at speciality level and in this regard, Neurology is the closest to the Deputy’s request. As of the end of January 2021 the average waiting time for a neurology consultation in The Mater Hospital was 534 days.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (900)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

900. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant rheumatologist at Sligo University Hospital; the number of persons on the waiting list for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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.

The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

In addition the National Treatment Purchas Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “ see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics, and clinical validation.

€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.

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.

The information requested the Deputy concerning the number of persons on the Sligo University Hospital rheumatology outpatient waiting list and average waiting time, is outlined in the attached document.

OP Rheumatology Waiters as of 28/1/2021

-	0-3 Months	3-6 Months	6-9 Months	9-12 Months	12-15 Months	15-18 Months	18 Months +	Grand Total
Sligo University Hospital	296	280	128	204	162	93	200	1363
Rheumatology	296	280	128	204	162	93	200	1363
Grand Total	296	280	128	204	162	93	200	1363

Average Num days:	299

Disability Services Data

Ceisteanna (901)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

901. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of clinicians in CHO 7 that have been redeployed from early intervention and school age disability teams into assessment of needs posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (902)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

902. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if technical issues in relation to the Covid-19 vaccine registration portal for health professionals have been raised with his Department; if so, the steps he has taken to correct such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (903)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

903. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing updates to health professionals through the Covid-19 vaccine registration portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (904)

Thomas Gould

Ceist:

904. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of vaccines to front-line healthcare workers; when this is expected to be completed; and if healthcare assistants are included in this phase. [13145/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in direct patient contact roles will be vaccinated in Group 2 of the vaccine allocation groups. This includes HCWs working in public, private, and voluntary settings. Other HCWs, not in direct patient contact, will be vaccinated in Group 6.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

UN Conventions

Ceisteanna (905)

Gino Kenny

Ceist:

905. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he considers the trace amount of THC in products derived from the EU hemp crop to be controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As some of the matters referred to by the Deputy are the subject of legal proceedings I am not in a position to comment on the matter.

UN Conventions

Ceisteanna (906)

Gino Kenny

Ceist:

906. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if EU hemp food products which contain trace amounts of THC are controlled within the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13153/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 , Article 2, the Definition of “food” states that “food shall not includenarcotic or psychotropic substances within the meaning of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971”.