Written Answers Nos. 1198-1216
1198. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will send any information obtained from clinicians treating children with special educational needs as part of the compilation of dossiers for the purpose of defending litigation in respect of the said children’s special needs to those children’s parents, identifying the clinicians who provided the information. [17522/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra1199. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will identify all clinicians who provided information to his Department on children with special educational needs under their care as part of the compilation of dossiers for the purpose of defending litigation. [17523/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1198 and 1199 together.
I take the allegations made in recent media reports extremely seriously. A team has been set up to establish the facts in respect of specific allegations made in the RTÉ Prime Time programme on 25th March 2021. The Department has engaged with the Data Protection Commissioner.
The allegations which were the subject of the RTÉ Prime Time programme on March 25th were brought to the Department's attention last year. The Department took the matters raised very seriously and commissioned an independent, expert review by an external Senior Counsel. This review was completed in November 2020. Subject to clarification of legal matters, I intend to publish this review at the earliest possible opportunity.
1200. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the front-line staff at a charity (details supplied) will be offered the Covid-19 vaccine in view of the fact the staff in the Wexford town and Gorey units have received the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17526/21]
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.
1201. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to pregnant women and their partners will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17527/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the distress that the current restrictions in maternity services have caused, as are all those involved in the provision of maternity services across the country. All service providers look forward to the restoration of normal visiting and the accommodation of partners, when it is safe to do so.
However, the reality is that we are still experiencing high levels of infection across the country, the health service remains under pressure and there remains a considerable risk that Ireland will experience a further wave of infection. In that context, it is important to note that the restrictions in maternity services are designed to protect mothers, babies and staff.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has issued guidance regarding attendance at acute hospitals during the pandemic, including attendance at maternity hospitals. The guidance advises that restrictions on partner visiting; accompanying persons in labour; or parents visiting neonatal intensive care units, should be based on a documented risk assessment that is regularly reviewed. Given the current level of community transmission, and the risk that the virus will be imported into maternity hospitals, all maternity hospitals are reviewing their visiting restrictions on a weekly basis, with some undertaking reviews daily. In that regard, I am advised that the National Women & Infants Health Programme has, and will, continue to engage with the Clinical Leads for Maternity Services/Women’s Health in each Hospital Group and the Directors of Midwifery in each maternity unit.
1202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided in relation to a matter regarding maternity services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17532/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the difficulty and distress that the current restrictions in maternity services have caused, as are all those involved in the provision of maternity services.
However, the reality is that we are still experiencing high levels of infection across the country, the health service remains under pressure and there remains a considerable risk that Ireland will experience a further wave of infection. In that context, it is important to note that the restrictions in maternity services are designed to protect mothers, babies and staff.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has issued guidance regarding attendance at acute hospitals during the pandemic, including attendance at maternity hospitals. The guidance advises that restrictions on partner visiting; accompanying persons in labour; or parents visiting neonatal intensive care units, should be based on a documented risk assessment that is regularly reviewed. Given the current level of community transmission, and the risk that the virus will be imported into maternity hospitals, all maternity hospitals are reviewing their visiting restrictions on a weekly basis, with some undertaking reviews daily. In that regard, I am advised that the National Women & Infants Health Programme has, and will, continue to engage with the Clinical Leads for Maternity Services/Women’s Health in each Hospital Group and the Directors of Midwifery in each maternity unit.
1203. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the total and average number of agency staff employed in each hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020, in tabular form. [17535/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
1204. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including the parents of children with underlying health conditions who are at a high risk of disease or death due to Covid-19 in cohort 4 of the vaccine roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17545/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
On the 23rd of February, I announced an update to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy. In comprising the initial Vaccine Allocation Strategy, the NIAC listed several conditions associated with increased risk of severe disease and death. In the intervening period, national and international evidence has become available which has enabled a more detailed analysis of underlying conditions that may increase the risk of developing severe disease or death. The NIAC has now been able to more comprehensively identify those medical conditions and to distinguish between those which place a person at very high or high risk of severe disease if they contract the virus. Medical conditions and the magnitude of the risk they pose will continue to be monitored and periodically reviewed.
On the 30th of March, the Government approved a further update to the COVID-19 Vaccination Allocation Strategy. Based on clinical, scientific and ethical frameworks produced by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the Department of Health, following the vaccination of those most at risk, future groups will be vaccinated by age, in cohorts of 10 years (i.e., 64-55; 54-45, etc.).
The move to an age-based model better supports the programme objectives by:
- protecting those at highest risk of severe disease first, which benefits everyone most;
- facilitating planning and execution of the programme across the entire country;
- improving transparency and fairness.
Further details are available here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
1205. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will report on measures his Department and the HSE have taken to investigate the factors behind the number of deaths due to Covid-19 in HSE run nursing homes and residential care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17549/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Nursing Homes Expert Panel was established, on foot of a NPHET recommendation, to examine the complex issues surrounding the management of COVID-19 among this particularly vulnerable cohort. The Expert Panel report has added further to our knowledge and learning. This report clearly outlines the key protective measures that we must ensure are in place across our nursing homes. These actions are based on learning from our own and the international experience of COVID-19 to date. The report also recommends additional analysis and examination of the relevant public health and other data sets in order that further causal and protective factors for COVID-19 clusters are identified.
Work to progress the recommendations of the Expert Panel report, particularly those recommendations requiring a priority focus in the response to COVID-19, is ongoing across all of the health agencies and stakeholders. Continued learning and understanding of progression of the disease in Ireland is an integral part of those recommendations.
Residents of nursing homes are vulnerable because of their age, underlying medical conditions, the extent of their requirement for direct care involving close physical contact and the nature of living in congregated settings. The very infectious nature of COVID-19 makes it difficult to prevent and control in residential care settings. The transmission of the virus into and within nursing homes is multifactorial. As identified by the Nursing Homes Expert Panel, where there is ongoing community transmission, settings like nursing homes are more vulnerable to exposure.
The State’s responsibility to respond to the public health emergency created the need to set up a structured support system in line with NPHET recommendations. This has been a critical intervention in supporting the resilience of the sector in meeting the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19.
These supports remain in place and include:
- Enhanced HSE engagement;
- Multidisciplinary clinical supports at CHO level through 23 COVID-19 Response Teams;
- Supply of precautionary and enhanced PPE, free of charge;
- Serial testing programme for all staff of nursing homes;
- Where possible, access to staff from community and acute hospitals;
- Suite of focused public health guidance and training resources.
- Temporary financial support scheme established, with over €80.1m in additional funding support provided thus far at 26 March. The Scheme is open until 30 June 2021;
- Temporary accommodation to nursing home staff to support measures to block the chain of transmission;
- HIQA implemented a Regulatory Assessment Framework of the preparedness of designated centres for older people for a COVID-19 outbreak and published an Infection Prevention and Control Assurance Framework for Nursing Homes
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1206. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths in nursing homes and other residential care settings run by the HSE in the past year; the main causes of deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17550/21]
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.
1207. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the specific measures or set of measures that the HSE brought in in advance of the third wave of Covid-19 that demonstrably reduced in the third wave mortality rate compared to the mortality rates seen in each of the first two waves in nursing homes and other residential care units runs by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17551/21]
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.
1208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be seen by the early intervention team; the reason for the long delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17554/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1209. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the reason persons in cohort 4 of the vaccine strategy are receiving a vaccine (details supplied) in view of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland NIAC’s advice that the mRNA vaccines might induce protective immunity more reliably than the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17556/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is that any currently authorised Covid vaccine can be given to adults of all ages, including those aged 70 and older.
Where practicable and timely, those aged 16 years and older with conditions that may limit Covid-19 vaccine immune response should be given an mRNA vaccine.
1210. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the reason contact tracers that are working from home have received the vaccine while gardaí, postal staff, teachers and other front-line workers have not yet been prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17557/21]
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.
1211. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current waiting time for a child referred to the early intervention team in Fingal is 45 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17559/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
1212. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be assigned to oncology screening services within the HSE to clear the backlog of referrals Covid-19 has created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17558/21]
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.
1215. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken and is taking to prevent the spread of Covid-19 variants of concern in Ireland; if measures such as localised rapid testing and mass testing, akin to those measures implemented in the UK to detect variants, will be introduced here as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17565/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has introduced a range of measures to mitigate the risk of importing variants of concern including mandatory testing and quarantine requirements for passengers arriving from overseas.
Under the current measures, travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas (including from Great Britain) 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.
Certain countries have been specified as designated states on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Health (Amendment) Act provides for a system of mandatory quarantine at designated facilities, including for travellers who have been in a designated state within 14 days of arrival to Ireland. Arrivals from all other overseas countries continue to be required to observe mandatory home quarantine.
In Ireland, the national testing strategy for COVID-19 involves testing people who meet the case definition which is currently: those with COVID-19 symptoms; as part of established serial testing programmes including residential care facilities, schools and food production facilities, and following the completion of a Public Health Risk Assessment. In addition, a walk-in service for asymptomatic persons in five areas of high incidence was introduced on 25 March 2021 as part of the HSE’s enhanced COVID-19 testing for local communities. The initial locations have been selected based on local disease prevalence and public health director’s advice, and these locations are subject to change week-on-week. In addition, mass testing is offered in response to outbreaks settings following the completion of a Public Health Risk Assessment.
At the request of the National Public Health Emergency Team, a SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance & Whole Genome Sequencing Working Group has developed recommendations relating to the establishment of a National SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance & Whole Genome Sequencing Programme. The purpose of the recommendations is to ensure early detection and characterisation of emerging variant viruses to define if they are of particular concern and assessing the impact of genetic and antigenic variant viruses for the pandemic and monitoring them over time to guide public health action.
The aim of the Programme is to use whole genome sequencing to inform and enhance the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be achieved through a number of specific objectives including national surveillance of variants, early detection of variants of concern, complex outbreak investigation etc.
Sequencing of random samples from travellers arriving into the country who have presented for testing has been undertaken in Ireland, and all detected samples from those arriving from, or having transited through designated States are sequenced. More broadly, approximately 10% (and at times, up to 15%) of all positive samples in Ireland are currently being sequenced. Work is underway to ensure ongoing standing capacity is available for sequencing of at least 10% of all positive samples.
Considerable work has been undertaken to date to evaluate the use of antigen detection tests in an Irish context and this will continue on an ongoing basis due to the role they can have in the national testing strategy. In particular, further setting-specific ADT validation work continues to be undertaken by the HSE. Antigen testing will not, however, replace the requirement for large scale PCR testing which remains the gold standard for community testing. The HSE has deployed ADTs for use in specific indications in the acute hospital setting, and as part of the response to outbreaks in the community setting in symptomatic vulnerable populations and their close contacts, supported by appropriate clinical governance and operational arrangements. This includes updating the case definition for SARS-CoV-2 to accept notification of positive results from ADTs undertaken in the public health system and reporting of such cases to the COVID Care tracker and to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) information system developed to manage the surveillance and control of infectious diseases in Ireland.
I have also set up a group, chaired by the government’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Mark Ferguson, to examine the use of rapid tests in the community, and I will be considering the recommendations of this group.
Ireland is pursuing a robust testing strategy under the guidance of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to hunt the virus in populations where it’s most likely and where it will do most harm.
1216. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment to attend for physiotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17568/21]
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.
