Written Answers Nos. 162-185
162. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the guidelines that are provided to State and private providers in the design, construction and fit out of new nursing home facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50170/21]
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.
163. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending the HSE services at Ladywell, Dundalk, County Louth; the number of staff and their grades; the current waiting time for second and subsequent appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50175/21]
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.
164. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of the pathfinder project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50176/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposal to establish a cross-governmental youth mental health Pathfinder unit, with participation from the Departments of Health, Education and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, was given Ministerial approval during the previous Government. Establishing the unit is a priority in the current Programme for Government.
The proposal is to formalise a new model for collaborative working within Government and place a Pathfinder unit on a statutory footing, by order under section 12 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. This section has not been used before. Various administrative, budgetary, governance and legal arrangements must be developed and agreed to ensure a robust and workable model for the Pathfinder unit.
The demands on both the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform during the pandemic have presented challenges to progressing this proposal. Nonetheless, my officials have engaged extensively with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and continue to do so, with the objective of agreeing an implementation option that fully addresses the above issues.
Officials from the Department of Health met with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in July to discuss a potential way forward and have subsequently progressed proposals for the unit through engagement with the Office of the Attorney General. Further work is required in this regard.
The implementation of the Pathfinder project is a priority for me, and I will continue to keep this matter under close review in the context of progressing Sharing the Vision , the ten-year national mental health policy.
165. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have availed of cataract surgery under the cross-Border healthcare directive in each of the past five years; the cost incurred in reimbursing patients for those procedures; the number of patients by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50182/21]
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.
166. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to frontline treatment for hyperemesis to be included on the drug payment scheme and the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50185/21]
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.
167. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a resumption of services is planned at a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal; if full-time services will be available on reopening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50190/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDay services re-opened at 39% capacity at service locations throughout August and early September of 2020, and by end of January 2021 this had increased to 51%. The combination of supports in the location, outreach supports, and remote supports provides an overall quantum of support to service users of over 60% at the end of January. The increase in day service capacity was supported by additional funding of €30 million provided in Budget 2021 to increase capacity in buildings and provide extra staff. This funding provided an increase in day services by an average of one day a week for 14,940 people against September 2020 service levels.
I was very pleased to announce last month that adult day services for people with disabilities will return to full capacity by October 22nd, in line with our COVID 19 response ‘Reframing the Challenge’ roadmap for the lifting of restrictions.
Day service providers have been requested to develop their individual day service location roadmaps to increase the level of day service provision to 100% restoration for each day service user by October 22nd.
Infection prevention and control measures that have been introduced to support the safe delivery of adult disability day services since the onset of COVID 19 will remain in place after October 22nd. These arrangements include risk assessments, enhanced environmental hygiene, and pod like arrangements in day service locations. Mask wearing will remain in place in day services, except for those who are exempt from wearing a face covering.
I also note that on 2nd September, also in line with the government statement on ‘Reframing the Challenge’, the HSE issued guidance to all providers that day service transport can now return to 100% capacity, with all relevant infection prevention and control measures still to be observed, including the wearing of face coverings where possible and appropriate for service users.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible. I note that there are several services located at the same site that the Deputy has referred to in the question, and the response provided above relates solely to HSE-funded disability services.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which air purifiers have or are being deployed to combat any further threats of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50201/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBuilding ventilation has remained one element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The appreciation of the role of ventilation has evolved in the context of developing experience and evidence. Guidance, training, and measures implemented reflect this learning.
The NPHET for COVID-19 regards ventilation as an important IPC measure and a NPHET subgroup, called the Expert Group on the Role of Ventilation in Reducing Transmission of COVID-19, was accordingly established in the early part of 2021 to provide scientific advice on ventilation and other control measures to reduce the risk of long-range (airborne) transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Following the submission of the Expert Group’s second report, it was agreed that its work would be taken forward by the Senior Officials Group on COVID-19 at the Department of the Taoiseach. Since then, the Expert Group has informed Departments’ and Agencies’ work in respect of sectoral guidance and public information regarding ventilation.
It is the responsibility of individual Government departments to provide sector-specific COVID-19 advice on ventilation as per their respective remits. In this regard, the Deputy’s attention is drawn to the large volume of published guidance across a number of sectors, cited below. The application of IPC guidance, including procurement of equipment as necessary, is an operational matter for the sector concerned.
Healthcare sector (HSE-AMRIC guidance):
“Acute Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Precautions for Possible or Confirmed COVID-19 in a Pandemic Setting V.2.5 17.08.2021” https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/
“Interim Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control for the Health Service Executive 2021 V1.3.11.01.2021” https://www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/hseinfectionpreventionandcontrolguidanceandframework/Interim%20HSE%20Guidance%20on%20IPC.pdf
“COVID-19 Interim Public Health, Infection Prevention & Control Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities V6.7 17.08.2020”www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/.
More generally, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has published Guidance on non-healthcare settings: Guidance for non-clinical settings - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (hpsc.ie)
Education sector:
Education Guidance - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (hpsc.ie)
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.
Workplaces, Businesses (including hospitality), Retails Settings, and Shopping Centres:
A revised Work Safely Protocol (previously the Return to Work Protocol) was published on 16th September as a collaborative effort between employers and employees, which was led by the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Health, with the support of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and with significant input by public health from the Health Service Executive (HSE). The revised Protocol incorporates the current advice on the Public Health measures needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and workplaces including enhanced detail on ventilation: www.gov.ie/en/publication/22829a-return-to-work-safely-protocol/.
The Health and Safety Authority has also published checklists, including one on the topic of ventilation, to support employers preparing for the return of employees to the workplace: www.hsa.ie/eng/topics/covid-19_coronavirus_information_and_resources/.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland has also published workplace shopping centre, and retail protection and improvement guides About our COVID-19 Resources | NSAI
HPSC COVID-19 has published “COVID-19 Guidance for Hospitality Businesses V1.8 01.10.2021” Hospitality guidance.pdf (hpsc.ie)
Fáilte Ireland Operational Guidelines | Business Supports | COVID-19 Support Hub | Fáilte Ireland (failteireland.ie)
Sport:
Sport Ireland has published a return to sport guidance note with information on ventilation: Return to Sport and Physical Activity | Sport Ireland
The Arts:
The Arts Council has published a guidance note for the Arts Sector: Covid - 19 Guidance for the Arts Sector (artscouncil.ie)
There is also additional guidance on Gov.ie and on the HSE website which outlines the importance of ventilation in households, this can be found here:
COVID-19 (coronavirus) - HSE.ie
www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/how-coronavirus-is-spread.html.
169. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason the certificate of recovery has a timeline of six months when the HSE is saying a person is safe for nine months; his views on whether the certificate of recovery should be changed to nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50202/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope and details to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate has been agreed at EU level and is standardised across the EU to allow for complete interoperability.
The dataset to be included in each Digital COVID Certificate is specified in Annex I of the EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation. The dataset for a certificate of recovery includes the requirement that it is a 'certificate valid until (not more than 180 days after the date of first positive NAAT test result)'.
170. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the operations of an organisation (details supplied) being managed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50204/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSt John of God Community Services (SJOGCS) agreed with the HSE that it would defer notice of its proposed exit from service provision on 1 October 2021.
The HSE and SJOGCS reached agreement on a process which aims to ensure the financial stability and sustainability and improved governance of the vital disability and mental health services provided across the country by SJOGCS. They will participate in a Sustainability Impact Assessment over the coming period.
As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding health service worker pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50209/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding accident and emergency numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50212/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the INMO is a representative body for nurses and midwives. It is not within my remit to comment on that organisation's internal operations.
173. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a site (details supplied); and his plans for same. [50214/21]
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.
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the status of the recruitment campaign for the six whole-time equivalent posts for area directors of public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50219/21]
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 with the details requested.
175. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the number of recruitment campaigns launched to date for the 34 whole-time equivalent consultant in public health medicine posts which are due to be in place by June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50220/21]
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 with the details requested.
176. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 683 of 15 September 2021, the status of the public health consultant recruitment working group; the number of times the working group has met to date; the membership of the working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50221/21]
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 with the details requested.
177. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 684 of 15 September 2021, the analysis that his Department has carried out into the delays in recruitment of public health pandemic plan resources in the eastern region, which as of September 2021 was at 48% compared to an average of 68% across all eight departments of public health; the actions his Department is taking to fill the remaining vacancies in view of the stated competitive recruitment environment; when all 171 whole-time equivalent posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50222/21]
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.
178. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the age at which children in County Laois are receiving a first dental intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50227/21]
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.
179. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of children in County Laois currently awaiting dental intervention in each priority group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50228/21]
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.
180. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE dental surgeon positions in County Laois; the number of vacancies in County Laois for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50229/21]
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.
181. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if there is a proposal for the regulating and licensing of osteopaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50232/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCORU was established under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to regulate certain health and social care professions. There are 17 health and social care professions designated for regulation under the Act and currently there are registers open for 11 professions. The profession of osteopathy is not, however, designated for regulation.
Section 4 of the 2005 Act provides that, following a consultation process and with the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Minister for Health can make regulations designating a health or social care profession not already designated under the Act. The Department has received requests from approximately 25 health and social care professions to be statutorily regulated, including osteopaths. Consideration of which health and social care professions require statutory regulation to protect the public, and the identification of the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to achieve this aim, are highly complex. It was decided last year that the Health Research Board would be requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department on methods adopted in other jurisdictions on the regulation of health and social care professions to assist and inform the question of risk assessment within the context of professional regulation. This research has been received and is being examined by Department officials. The report is publicly available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/.
In the meantime, CORU continues the complex work of preparing for regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 the professions already designated for regulation.
I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
182. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels in the diabetes department at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50235/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in the diabetes unit in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50307/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 201 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
183. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit additional diabetes nurse specialists at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50236/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the details of the recruitment of additional diabetes nurse specialists for University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50308/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 202 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
184. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the thrive with diabetes project at University Hospital Waterford and its deliverables to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50237/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra203. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health the status of the Sláintecare Thrive with Diabetes project in University Hospital Waterford; the deliverables to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50309/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 203 together.
The ‘Waterford Thrive with Diabetes Service’ Project was one of 123 projects funded under the Sláintecare Integration Fund to support service delivery which focuses on prevention, community care and integration of care across all health and social care settings. The project focussed on supporting and empowering people with Diabetes Type 1 to thrive, providing specialist healthcare, support and self-management education, delivered mainly in an appropriate primary care setting.
Notwithstanding the impacts and challenges of COVID-19 and the cyber-attack on the HSE, the project has shown good progress on outcomes. Overall, 39% of participants achieved an improvement in self-management of their condition, the average length of stay for patients was reduced by 31% (1.3days) and 93% of participants who returned surveys indicated an improved satisfaction with service delivery.
The project transitioned from the Sláintecare Integration Fund to mainstream funding from the Enhanced Community Care Fund on 1 July 2021.
185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will seek the necessary finance for the establishment of a designated intestinal failure unit or service in Ireland in order that that the HSE fulfils its ethical and legal responsibility to reduce the unacceptably high rates of complications and mortality among persons with intestinal failure. [50238/21]
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.
