Thomas Gould
Ceist:1895. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if an expected timeline of completion has been given for the children’s hospital, Cork. [19258/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (1895)
Freagraí scríofa
As 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.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1896)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1896. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if SouthDoc has outlined criteria by which it will judge the deterioration of the Covid-19 situation and withdraw the planned reopening of SouthDoc in Blackpool, Cork. [19259/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1897)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1897. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has queried the timeline given by SouthDoc for the reopening of its Blackpool facility given it met on 30 March 2021 and only intends to open the facility at the end of April 2021. [19260/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1898)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1898. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if SouthDoc has given a commitment for a full return to service upon the reopening of SouthDoc, Blackpool. [19261/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1899)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1899. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons served by each out-of-hours doctor service; and the number of facilities each service has in Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Cork. [19262/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1900)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1900. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of persons served by SouthDoc in the SouthDoc, Blackpool, catchment area; and the estimated number of persons served by same in the Kinsale road catchment area. [19263/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services Data
Ceisteanna (1901, 1902, 1903)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1901. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for an assessment of needs in Cork North Lee services in March 2020 and in April 2021. [19264/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThomas Gould
Ceist:1902. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for speech and language therapy in Cork North Lee services in March 2020 and in April 2021. [19265/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThomas Gould
Ceist:1903. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for early intervention in Cork North Lee services in March 2020 and in April 2021. [19266/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1901 to 1903, inclusive, together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (1904)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1904. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the mitigation strategy that was put in place for the closure of residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds due to Covid-19; the increase in waiting list times; and his views on the success of this plan. [19267/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Keeping people safe and operating services within the public health guidelines is key to curbing the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of infection for staff and clients. Several factors have impacted on waiting lists for drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds over the course of the pandemic. These include (a) a reduction reduced in capacity to comply with public health guidance, (b) restrictions on new entries, (c) closures due to outbreaks and (d) difficulties carrying out face to face assessments and validating waiting lists as many of the interactions are telephone only.
Several important initiatives have been introduced to restore and continue access to drug and alcohol services during Covid-19. The Department of Health has issued guidance on the continuation of addiction support groups and treatment programmes during COVID-19, including level 5. In addition, the Department has developed a 'Framework for the Restoration and Continuation of Drug and Alcohol services', in a planned and appropriate manner in line with public health advice. To support the Framework, I provided once-off funding of €480,00 in November 2020 for the restoration of drug and alcohol services including the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment. In addition, the HSE has provided additional guidance to residential treatment services.
Unfortunately, the necessary safeguards have resulted in increases in waiting times for residential addiction treatment across the country ranging from an average of 2-6 weeks in some services to an average of 6-9 months in other services.
It is important to note that the HSE cannot change the capacity issues that have arisen due to the introduction of social distancing measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
I acknowledge the challenges faced by residential treatment service providers during Covid-19 and will continue to support service providers in restoring and continuing their services.
Addiction Treatment Services
Ceisteanna (1905)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1905. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for State with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy on the increased residential treatment waiting times. [19268/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The national drugs strategy commits to improving access to drug and alcohol services. The Department provides over €150 million to provide drug and alcohol services every year.
The Health Research Board reports annually on the number of cases treated for problem drug an alcohol use. In 2019, there were 10,666 cases treated for problem drug use and 7,546 cases treated for problem alcohol use. These data include 1,571 inpatient drug treatment cases, where the client attending the service stays overnight, e.g., in-patient detoxification, therapeutic communities, respite and step down, and 2,806 inpatient alcohol treatment cases.
In 2021, the Department of Health provided an additional €2 million for drug and alcohol treatment services. This funding will provide an additional 100 stabilisation treatment episodes as part of the North East Inner City initiative, a further 150 episodes nationally in tier 4 residential treatment services and 100 treatment episodes in a residential step-up treatment facility for CHOs 3, 4 and 5.
During Covid-19, the Government prioritised the restoration and continuation of drug and alcohol treatment services. Keeping people safe and operating services within the public health guidelines is key to curbing the spread of the virus and reducing the risk of infection for staff and clients.
Several factors have impacted on waiting lists for drug and alcohol detoxification over the course of the pandemic. These include (a) a reduction reduced in capacity to comply with public health guidance, (b) restrictions on new entries, (c) closures due to outbreaks and (d) difficulties carrying out face to face assessments and validating waiting lists as many of the interactions are telephone only.
Unfortunately, these necessary safe-guards have resulted in increases in waiting times for residential addiction treatment across the country ranging from an average of 2-6 weeks in some services to an average of 6-9 months in other services.
The HSE cannot change the capacity issues that have arisen due to the introduction of social distancing measures to deal with the Covid 19 pandemic. It is anticipated that the HSE will purchase all planned treatment episodes, including the additional episodes outlined above, this year.
The Minister for Health and I are fully committed to the provision of additional drug and alcohol treatment services. We acknowledge the challenges faced by service providers during Covid-19 and will continue to support service providers in the full resumption of services.
Gambling Sector
Ceisteanna (1906)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1906. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his Department has engaged with the Department of Justice on the gambling control Bill. [19269/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Justice has overall responsibility for gambling regulation. Officials in my Department have met recently with officials in the Department of Justice in relation to gambling issues.
The Inter-Departmental Working Group Report on Future Licensing and Regulation of Gambling reported in 2019. The report addresses the social impact of gambling, including the issue of problem gambling. It notes the social and health impacts of problem gambling and acknowledges that problem gambling can lead to social breakdown, with devastating financial losses and alienation of family and friends. Problem gambling can be associated with a range of harms including higher risk of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug misuse, physical and mental health issues, separation and divorce, unemployment and insolvency
The Inter-Departmental Working Group recommended that:
- funding be made available for research, training, and community interventions into treatment of gambling addiction.
- funding of public education and awareness raising programmes and the production of relevant information materials be supported.
- assistance be given in the provision of additional services to treat gambling addiction.
In order to meet these objectives, the Group recommended that a Social Fund, managed by the gambling regulatory authority should be established.
I support the recommendations of the working group report to address the social impact of gambling and to establish a social fund to support treatment services for gambling addiction. My officials will continue to engage with the Dept of Justice to address the social impact of gambling.
Hospital Data
Ceisteanna (1907)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1907. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of cancelled outpatient and inpatient orthopaedic surgeries in the CUH in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by month in tabular form. [19270/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
On 23 March the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”. This plan outlines a three phased plan for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met.
Every phase of the plan has been informed by clinical guidance and putting patient and staff safety first.
Decisions in relation to the type and volume of activity will be made at site level based on local COVID-19 numbers, available capacity and guidance from national clinical leads.
The schedule outlined in the plan for resumption of services will be regularly monitored by the HSE and updated as appropriate, dependant on public health advice and healthcare capacity.
The work of the HSE to improve access to elective care and reduce waiting times for patients is supported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). This includes 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 as 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.
In relation to the particular query raised concerning the number of cancelled Outpatient and Inpatient Orthopaedic surgeries in the CUH in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, by month, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Citizens' Assembly
Ceisteanna (1908)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1908. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the work his Department has engaged in to prepare for the proposed citizens' assembly on drugs; if a working group has been established; if the terms of reference for the assembly have been drawn up; and if so, if he will publish same. [19271/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to convene a citizen’s assembly to consider matters relating to drug use. The timing of this, and other assemblies, over the lifetime of the Government has yet to be determined. One element critical to the success of assemblies has been the opportunity to meet in person. The restrictions experienced with Covid-19 have presented considerable difficulties in this regard, as meetings moved to being held online. The experiences and learning in this new way of working will inform how future citizen’s assemblies are conducted.
In 2019, the Government agreed to adopt a health-led approach to people who use drugs, following the publication of the report of the working group on alternative approach to the possession of drugs for personal use, which was informed by 20,000 public responses. The approach will offer compassion, not punishment, to people who use drugs. The Programme for Government endorses this approach as an important step in developing a public health-led approach to drug use.
An implementation group chaired by the Department of Health is finalising plans for the commencement of the health diversion programme in 2021. The aim of the programme is to connect people who use drugs with health services and provide a pathway to recovery, thereby avoiding a criminal conviction. Under the programme, An Garda Síochána will divert a person found in possession of drugs for personal use to the HSE for a health screening and brief intervention
As outlined in the Programme for Government, the programme will be reviewed after the first full year of implementation to ensure that it is meeting all of it aims and to make any necessary changes.
The health diversion programme is aligned with the strategic priority in the EU Drugs Strategy to provide alternatives to coercive sanctions for people who use drugs. Another such measure is the drugs treatment courts in Dublin and other parts of the country. Ireland is committed to mainstream the implementation of effective measures that have a rehabilitative element and avoid a criminal sanction. To this end, Ireland will share comprehensive and in-depth data and exchange of best practices on alternatives to coercive sanctions with EU Member States.
I look forward to the commencement of the health diversion programme, which will radically change how we deal with drug use in Irish society. I believe that the future availability of data and learning on effective Irish and EU alternatives to coercive sanctions should inform the holding of a citizen's assembly on drug use. The development of a replacement for the current national drugs strategy in 2025 would also be a relevant factor.
National Drugs Strategy
Ceisteanna (1909)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1909. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if, after consideration of the data by the relevant departmental group, he will publish the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy; and if so, the date for publication. [19272/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy is a dynamic strategy and contains 50 actions which are to be delivered over the period 2017-2020.
The Department has commenced a mid-term review of the actions in the strategy, in consultation with stakeholders. The review provides an opportunity to reflect on progress in implementing the strategy from 2017 to 2020, progress achieved to-date under the action plan, any new issues that have arisen including the impact of Covid-19 and to consider the development of new actions to address emerging needs and challenges.
The review will be informed by a focussed policy assessment of expenditure on drugs and alcohol services being carried out by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), new data on trends and indicators in drug and alcohol for 2019/2020, and the impact of Covid-19 on drug and alcohol services.
It will also reflect commitments in the Programme for Government for a health-led approach to drug use and misuse and the new EU drugs strategy and action plan 2021-2025.
The national oversight committee gives leadership and direction to support the strategy. The committee has membership from statutory, voluntary and community sector and is chaired by me as Minister for State. The committee has received regular updates on the mid-term review and a draft report will be presented to a special meeting of the committee in May for its consideration.
The review when finalised will be brought to Government for approval. Publication of the review and supporting documents will follow soon thereafter.
I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the national drugs strategy is relevant and appropriate to address the societal challenges arising from the use of drugs, especially for children and young people and for those at greatest risk of harm.
Drug and Alcohol Task Forces
Ceisteanna (1910)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:1910. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the funding to be provided to drug and alcohol task forces in 2021, by task force. [19273/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The funding allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task Forces at the beginning of 2021 is set out in the attached table and remains unchanged from 2020.
An additional €1 million was allocated in budget 2021 to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces, and to increase core funding for existing services.
It should be noted that this €1 million has not been is not included in the table. The distribution of this funding will be informed by the outcome of mid term review of the national drugs strategy which is underway.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (1911)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:1911. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter relating to a Covid-19 vaccine certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19274/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is important to differentiate between a vaccine certificate, the purpose of which is to provide evidence that a particular vaccine has been administered to a certain individual on a certain date, with the notion of an immunity certificate which might exempt people from public health measures on the basis that the person is purportedly immune to SARS-CoV-2.
As well as providing a record of vaccination, vaccine certificates also facilitate follow up of adverse events. The HSE is planning for the production of vaccine certificates at part of its implementation planning for a COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Immunity certificates are problematic on a number of grounds. It is not yet clear if the proposed vaccines for COVID-19 actually stop people getting the virus. It is also not clear whether the thresholds for protective immunity are the same in all groups e.g. older persons or those who are immunosuppressed.
On 17 March 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for a Regulation to introduce a ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the pandemic.
This proposed regulation lays down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates to facilitate people’s fundamental right to move and reside freely within the EU. Careful consideration is being given to the proposal and its many policy, ethical, infrastructural and operational implications across a number of sectors.
Question No. 1912 answered with Question No. 1655.
Drugs Payment Scheme
Ceisteanna (1913, 1914)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:1913. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he plans to add cariban, xonvea and navalem to the approved drugs list under the drugs payment scheme; and the treatments available under the drugs payment scheme to treat hyperemesis gravidarum. [19283/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Murphy
Ceist:1914. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if drugs for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum are being considered for the drugs payment scheme or medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19284/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1913 and 1914 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.