Written Answers Nos. 571-593
571. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason premature baby and neonatal ophthalmic care is unavailable at Letterkenny University Hospital for children (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47568/21]
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.
572. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if appointments will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47583/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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.
573. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the backlog in audiology appointments in counties Cavan and Monaghan; when he expects this backlog to be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47587/21]
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.
574. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will publish all documents relating to a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47590/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
575. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47593/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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.
576. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47594/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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.
577. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter regarding Covid-19 cases in schools (details supplied). [47596/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of testing and contact tracing, as part of the wider public health response, has been under ongoing review throughout the pandemic and will continue to be reviewed and amended in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, and the vaccination status of the population.
I have approved recommendations from NPHET focusing on children in childcare and primary education settings to ensure children may continue in education to the greatest extent possible. These recommendations recognise the very significant impact of the previous testing and tracing requirements on children in these settings. The changes which came into effect on 27 September 2021 are as follows:
- Automatic contact tracing of close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education will be discontinued (not including special education facilities).
- Testing of asymptomatic close contacts in childcare facilities and primary education will be discontinued (not including special education facilities).
- Children aged 12 yrs or under, who are identified as close contacts in childcare, educational settings, special education settings or other non-household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be required to restrict movements, unless indicated by the local public health team.
- Children aged 12 yrs or under who are identified as household close contacts in household settings will still be required to restrict movements and get tested, regardless of symptomatic status.
It is important to reiterate that the public health advice remains that any child aged 12 yrs or under who displays symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should rapidly self-isolate and not attend school or socialise until 48 hours after they are symptom free.
Further information is available in the Guidance for COVID-19 Contact Tracing for Children (>3 months to under 13 years of age) published by the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre, available at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/Contact%20tracing%20under%2013s.pdf
The recommendations which have come into effect are based on what has been learned throughout the pandemic, primarily
- Children seem more likely than adults to have no symptoms or to have mild disease
- Investigation of cases identified in school settings suggests that child to child transmission in schools is uncommon and not the primary cause of Sars-CoV-2 infection in children, particularly in pre-school and primary educational settings
- Children are rarely identified as the route of transmission of infection into the household setting
- Children are not more likely than adults to spread infection to other people.
On that basis, from a public health perspective there is no clinical need for information to be routinely shared with contacts of cases and Public Health do not recommend telling parents of other children that there has been a case of COVID 19 within a class or group. Sharing of health data relating to positive cases in the manner envisaged in the question should only be done on the advice of Public Health and according to the provisions of the Infectious Disease Regulations. Since the provisions of the Infectious Disease Regulations no longer apply in this instance, it is important to note the importance of an individual’s confidentiality not being broken by others, in line with normal GDPR requirements. It is important that families are aware of the need to ensure they do not send children in to school and childcare facilities or to participate in activities if the child has new symptoms consistent with COVID 19. In these circumstances they should observe their child and contact their GP as appropriate. It is also important to regularly re-enforce the benefit to all of continuing to abide by infection prevention control and mitigation measures in place within school and childcare facilities.
The Deputy may wish to note that the changes in guidance outlined above do not apply to special educational needs (SEN) schools or SEN-specific classes or children attending respite care. In these circumstances close contacts amongst children may well still be identified and asked to restrict their movements, following a Public Health Risk Assessment conducted by a public health doctor. However, close contacts will generally be requested only to restrict their movements for 5 days and be referred for one COVID-19 test. This is to balance the observation period required for children for signs of infection, with testing at the most relevant time, whilst not prolonging restricted movements and the harms to children from these restrictions.
578. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for respiratory patients awaiting an appointment at the chest clinic in University Hospital Galway; the number of patients currently on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47601/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid protocols.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans 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 as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
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 a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department is working with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop plans to tackle the rise in waiting lists. Firstly, with the finalisation of a short-term Waiting List Action Plan which will cover the rest of the year, until December 2021. Secondly through the development of a longer-term Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the waiting time for respiratory patients, is outlined in the attached document.
Galway University Hospital Respiratory Medicine Outpatient Waiting List
|
Values |
0-3Months |
3-6Months |
6-9Months |
9-12Months |
12-15Months |
15-18Months |
18-21Months |
21-24Months |
24-36Months |
36-48Months |
Grand Total |
|
Current |
376 |
290 |
209 |
220 |
152 |
124 |
195 |
177 |
457 |
144 |
2344 |
579. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of vaccines for persons here and their ability to travel in cases in which persons with habitual residence received both Covid-19 vaccinations outside this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47613/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the purposes of travel to Ireland, passengers are considered vaccinated if they have been vaccinated with an Irish approved vaccine with the recommended number of days after the final dose, as defined in S.I. 135/2021. Persons with proofs of vaccinations from other jurisdictions are accepted if they meet the required criteria.
580. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will received a date for a scoliosis operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47614/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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.
581. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting for a DEXA scan at University Hospital Limerick; when they can expect to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47630/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
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.
582. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the latest figures for the number of persons availing of methadone replacement treatment with a breakdown by treatment centre and a further breakdown by time in treatment in each centre will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47634/21]
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.
583. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if an update will be provided on the production of the first business case as required under the public spending code for the proposed new national maternity hospital; and when he expects to be in a position to submit this to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. [47635/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe business case for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to Elm Park is well advanced. In line with the provisions of the Public Spending Code, once approved by the HSE as the Sponsoring Agency, the business case will be submitted to my Department, as Approving Authority, and to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) for technical review in due course.
However, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible to provide an update on the status of the business case.
584. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to issue EU Digital COVID Certificates to Irish citizens resident here who received their vaccinations across the border in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47637/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the successful rollout of the initial implementation phase of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in Ireland the Government is adding a further service to enable Irish citizens vaccinated outside of the EU to obtain a Digital COVID certificate valid in Ireland and across the EU.
This service will be released in a two phased approach. The online portal began to accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland who hold a Northern Irish COVID vaccination certificate with a QR code on 29th September. Phase 2 will accept applications from Irish passport holders vaccinated in other non-EU countries with an Irish approved vaccine regimen and is currently in development.
585. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a second physiotherapist will be reinstated in Fermoy Hospital, County Cork. [47641/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra586. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if a physiotherapist will be reinstated in Youghal Community Hospital, County Cork. [47642/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 585 and 586 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
587. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons who are currently on waiting lists to be seen by the child and adolescent mental health services in Galway by the length of time waiting and age cohort; the number waiting in the catchment area of each mental health team in Galway city and county by the length of time waiting and age cohort; the amount by which the waiting lists in Galway have increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of young persons currently availing of these services in Galway city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47645/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra589. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times for new referrals to be seen by the child and adolescent mental health services in Galway city and county and nationally; the number of appointments that are currently held face-to-face or by other means of contact such as phone or online in Galway city and county and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47647/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra590. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the staffing breakdown within the child and adolescent mental health services currently by category such as psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, social care, occupational therapy, speech and language, administration and so on and other staff in Galway city and county and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47648/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 587, 589 and 590 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
588. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons who are currently on waiting lists to be seen by the child and adolescent mental health services nationally by the length of time waiting and age cohort; the amount by which the waiting lists have increased since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic; the number of young persons currently availing of these services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47646/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
591. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if an application for planning permission has been lodged in respect of the planned outpatient block in Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; when construction will commence on the planned outpatient block; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47652/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
592. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason primary school children in Mullingar, County Westmeath who wish to avail of the school vaccination programme are being offered appointments in vaccination centres in Athlone and Moate which is 45 and 32 kilometres, respectively from their home with no transport links, either public or private, available. [47670/21]
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.
593. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the next session of the school vaccination programme for primary school children will commence in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [47671/21]
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.
