Written Answers Nos. 359-378
359. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding a counselling service for stroke victims (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32187/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
360. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to social media influencers to promote the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the list of influencers who have been used in a public relations campaign relating to Covid-19; the campaign details for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32188/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has not paid any social media influencers to promote the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
My Department has however come together with a network of expert Young Science Communicators from across Ireland to create the SciComm Collective. It works to inspire and empower young people to live safely within the Covid-19 public health guidelines, to encourage uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and address any misinformation circulating about Covid virus or vaccines.
The group regularly create content, upload, and post information through their social media channels and @scicommcollective_ire, sharing their experiences and expertise, as well as practical advice on living safely within the COVID-19 public health guidelines.
The SciComm Collective has been live since April 2021.
361. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE breastfeeding action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32189/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
I can confirm however that in May of this year I announced significant investment towards implementing the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan, with €1.58 million of funding to provide an additional 23.5 lactation consultants across hospital and community settings.
362. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if staffing levels of lactation consultants will be increased in line with international staffing benchmark and be fully accessible in all maternity units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32190/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Sláintecare’s Healthy Living pillar, “A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025", Healthy Ireland has committed to implement the Ten Steps Forward. These Steps engage and co-ordinate multi-sectoral action to help reduce obesity and commit to investment in additional resources in acute and primary care settings together with enhanced training, provision of supports to mothers and social marketing.
This year, Healthy Ireland is making a significant investment towards giving children the best start in life through facilitating the implementation of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. Ireland has a culture of bottle feeding and, in order to improve child and maternal health, as well as reductions in childhood obesity and chronic diseases, we need to improve our breastfeeding rates. In May, I announced funding of €1.54m which will provide the additional 23.5 lactation consultants across hospital and community settings, that are required to ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed and support enhanced training, skills and knowledge to frontline staff.
363. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to remove any barriers to recruitment of new international board certified lactation consultant hospital posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32191/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
Healthy Ireland has made a significant investment towards giving children the best start in life through facilitating the implementation of the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. In order to improve child and maternal health, as well as reductions in childhood obesity and chronic diseases, we need to improve our breastfeeding rates. For this reason I announced in May funding of €1.54m which will provide the additional 23.5 lactation consultants across hospital and community settings, that are required to ensure timely skilled assistance for mothers who wish to breastfeed and support enhanced training, skills and knowledge to frontline staff.
364. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will have their procedure covered under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32282/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycare Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
365. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when day care centres will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32290/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDay centres are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population and play a key role in enabling older people to live independently in their own communities. The pandemic and associated restrictions has had a profound impact across society and especially for our older population.
All Community Health Organisations through the National Older Persons Office were requested in April 2021 to provide information on the status of their Day Care Services in order to ascertain the level of service that could resume on receipt of updated public health guidance. As a result, it was intended that approximately 100 day centres would re-open week beginning 5 July. It was also intended that an additional 55 centres would resume later in July and August, with a further 90 centres that require works expected to reopen before the end of the year. It was indicated that these dates may be subject to change as the HSE continues to deal with the significant challenge of the on-going cyber attack.
Since then updated Public Health guidance to support the re-opening of Day Care Services for Older People was provided in June 2021 to facilitate re-opening plans. Following on from this a further information request issued to HSE Services to obtain an update on re-opening plans. The process for reopening of the centres has already commenced and it is expected that more centres will reopen in the coming weeks.
366. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of public health lists (details supplied). [32362/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 per day up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months. In addition the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2019 provide for the €100 statutory charge for an Emergency Department attendance and the €75 minor injury unit / urgent care centre attendance charge.
There are cohorts of people who are exempt from these charges, including, but not limited to persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from diseases prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Act, and persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases. Persons with private health insurance may wish to use their private health insurance to cover the statutory charges arising from a public hospital service.
Section 55 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) also provides that the HSE may make available private in-patient services to persons who are not entitled to, or who do not have or have waived their eligibility to public in-patient services. In these circumstances the statutory hospital charges under Section 55 that apply for such an episode of care is set out in the table below and depends on the category of hospital, duration of stay and whether the accommodation was provided in a single or multi-occupancy room. It is also noted that patients opting to be treated privately must also pay the consultant fees associated with their treatment. Patients may seek to use their private health insurance to pay for these costs.
|
Hospital Category |
Daily charge for in-patient services where overnight accommodation provided in a single occupancy room |
Daily charge for in-patient services where overnight accommodation provided in a multiple occupancy room |
Daily charge for day case in-patient services where overnight accommodation not provided |
|
Hospital specified in Fifth Schedule |
€1,000 |
€813 |
€407 |
|
Hospital specified in Sixth Schedule |
€800 |
€659 |
€329 |
367. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he can remove the visitation rules for the partner and or other nominated birth companion after the baby is born so that those who have given birth can be supported; if attendance for partners and or other nominated birth companions through all stages of labour including induction can be ensured; and if it can be ensured that partners and or other nominated birth companions can be present at all antenatal appointments given that all antenatal appointments have the potential to contain news of emotional significance as per the HSPC guidelines. [32363/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
369. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the temporary assistance payment scheme for nursing homes Covid-19 after 30 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32365/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary administrative measure in response to the challenges faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. As the pandemic continued, additional support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been delivered through the Health Service Executive (HSE).
As of 14th July 2021, 7,683 claims had been submitted as part of the Scheme. In total, €134.5 million has been made available under TAPS between 2020 and 2021.
Due to the ongoing high level of risk associated with COVID-19 during this period, the Department of Health responded by extending the scheme twice, far beyond the originally planned timescale of three months. The further extension of the scheme was outlined in the Government’s Plan 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19', published in September 2020. This provided reassurance of the Scheme’s availability and a planned timeframe of operation to the end of June 2021.
The cessation of TAPS at the end of June, as planned and previously announced, was communicated with all relevant stakeholders, including Nursing Homes Ireland – the national representative body for the private and voluntary nursing home sector.
There has been a marked improvement in the status of the virus in the community and in nursing homes due to the rollout of the National Vaccination Programme – COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in nursing homes are now at a very low level compared with the first quarter of the year and, overall, the epidemiological situation is very positive. It is the Department’s understanding that currently there is one open outbreak in a nursing home.
(Please note that the cyber-attack on the HSE on 14 May 2021 has prevented the routine notification of cases, associated deaths and outbreaks of COVID-19 to the Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system. As an interim measure, provisional epidemiological reports are being prepared but have not undergone the data validation procedures undertaken through CIDR. For this reason, data continues to be provisional at this time.)
The Scheme has fulfilled its temporary purpose of providing financial support to nursing homes to address COVID-19. Although the risk is greatly reduced, it has not been completely eliminated, therefore the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme will continue to be available to nursing homes until the end of 2021. Availability of outbreak assistance is subject to the overall sanctioned amount of €42m for 2021.
The substantial package of non-financial supports outlined below will continue to be provided for the time being:
- Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The continued supply of PPE is a key support mechanism and will be provided in line with clinical and public health recommendations;
- The COVID-19 Response Teams established to support Public Health Outbreak teams covering all residential services as well as home support settings. All stakeholders, including the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, have highlighted the significant contribution these new teams have made to supporting nursing homes throughout the pandemic;
- The HSE Temporary Accommodation Scheme;
- HSE training and development resources, including the opening up of HSeLanD to private and voluntary providers.
- IPC support and advice;
- The substantial suite of publicly available guidance developed to support the sector.
These measures and supports reflect a significant investment by the State to support nursing homes and other services and measures, such as the COVID-19 Response Teams, and are a clear signal of the work that is ongoing to integrate the wider health system.
It is also important to reflect that all nursing homes, as registered providers with HIQA, have well established obligations under the legal framework in terms of the delivery of safe care to residents. Nursing homes are required, by law, to ensure that procedures, consistent with the standards for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections published by HIQA, are implemented by staff. The current infection prevention and control standards have been in operation since 2018. Good and effective IPC procedures should be in place across the entire health and social care service as a matter of course.
In February 2021, a revised plan 'Resilience and Recovery 2021 Plan: The Path Ahead' was published by the Government. This plan recognises the need for longer-term reform of both older persons and nursing home care, broadly reflecting the lessons learned from the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel and the pandemic. However, these structural reforms, including the policy and regulatory framework, extend beyond the scope of a temporary financial support scheme aimed at a specific, time-limited public health objective.
371. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if medical cannabis can now be prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32389/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two separate pathways for accessing cannabis for medical use in Ireland.
Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP)
The provision of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) as a result of recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in their “Cannabis for Medical User – A Scientific Review”.
The review stated that if the policy decision is to make cannabis available for medical purposes, the HPRA advised that it should recognise patient need, but be evidence based. It was advised, that treatment with cannabis be only permitted under a controlled access programme for the treatment of patients with the following medical conditions which have failed to respond to standard treatments;
- spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis;
- intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy;
- severe, refractory (treatment-resistant) epilepsy.
Subsequently the Minister for Health established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Medical Cannabis Access Programme. This Group developed detailed Clinical Guidelines for the MCAP to be followed by clinicians, which contained inter alia guidance on ingredient combinations that are recommended for each of the three indications included in the MCAP
The Medicinal Cannabis Access programme (MCAP) is a 5-year pilot programme. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate access to acceptable cannabis-based products for medical use that are of a standardised quality and which meet the requirements outlined in the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended).
There are currently 4 products assessed by the HPRA for inclusion in Schedule 1 of the Regulations, more products are currently being assessed by the HPRA.
Reimbursement of the products, prescribed by approved medical consultants and supplied through community pharmacies for a specified therapeutic indication in line with Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of Cannabis for Medical Use) Regulations 2019 (as amended) will be on an individual named patient basis aligned to the patient’s eligibility under the community drug schemes (Medical Card, Long Term Illness Scheme and Drugs Payment Scheme). It cannot be assumed that reimbursement approval will be forthcoming on submission of applications. A reimbursement decision will be communicated with the prescribing consultant in writing.
The HSE have indicated that the MCAP will be operational this month.
Ministerial Licence under Section 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2016
Pending full operation of the MCAP and for medical indications not included in the MCAP, doctors may continue to utilise the Ministerial licensing route to prescribe medical cannabis for their patients, should they wish to do so.
In line with the Chief Medical Officer's advice, the granting of a licence for cannabis for medical purposes must be premised on an appropriate application being submitted to the Department of Health, which is endorsed by a consultant who is responsible for the management of the patient and who is prepared to monitor the effects of the treatment over time.
It is important to note that 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.
372. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide clarification on a vaccine-related matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32394/21]
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 my department, 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.
Currently, Ireland's COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is administering vaccines to those aged 16+.
Ireland welcomes the EMA age extension recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty (Pfizer BioNTech) to include use in children aged 12 to 15. Ireland's National Immunisation Advisory Committee are reviewing the matter and will make a recommendation as appropriate.
373. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the amount of food that is wasted or thrown out in public and voluntary hospitals in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; if the food is given away or donated in order to avoid waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32395/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to services on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
374. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to long waiting times in the emergency unit at the Rotunda Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32441/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
376. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to vaccinating teachers who will be undertaking the July provision in summer 2021. [32443/21]
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 my Department , 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: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/93f8f-minister-donnelly-announces-update-to-irelands-vaccination-prioritisation-list/
377. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the necessary capital and revenue resources for day care dementia services to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32518/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll Community Health Organisations through the National Older Persons Office were requested in April 2021 to provide information on the status of their Day Care Services in order to ascertain the level of service that could resume on receipt of updated public health guidance. As a result, it was intended that approximately 100 day centres would re-open week beginning 5 July. It was also intended that an additional 55 centres would resume later in July and August and that a further 90 centres that require minor adaptation works are expected to reopen in the next few months. Funding will be made available to assist these centres that require such works.
It was indicated that these dates may be subject to change as the HSE continues to deal with the significant challenge of the on-going cyber-attack. Since then updated Public Health guidance to support the re-opening of Day Care Services for Older People was provided in June 2021 to facilitate re-opening plans. Following on from this a further information request issued to HSE Services to obtain an update on re-opening plans. The process for re-opening of the centres has already commenced and it is expected that more centres will re-open in the coming weeks.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has confirmed the re-opening of three centres, Bessboro, The Orchard and Dundalk. I understand that three further centres at Watermans, Sligo and Waterford are due to re-open the week beginning the 19th of July with further plans for phased re-opening throughout August and September.
378. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 11 May 2021, when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their primary medical certificate application. [32519/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I indicated in my previous reply, I referred Parliamentary Question No. 671 of 11 May, 2021 to the Health Service Executive, for direct reply to the Deputy.
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and to resume normal services.
Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
