Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 2 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1081-1098

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (1081)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1081. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are waiting on a first appointment for the outpatients diabetes clinic in any of the University of Limerick Hospitals group in age groups (details supplied) in tabular form. [53190/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (1082)

Matt Shanahan

Ceist:

1082. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health his plans to commence the booster immunisation roll-out for healthcare workers across the front-line healthcare services given it has been approved by the WHO and many countries across Europe have already begun boosting the vaccinations of their front line medical staff; the reason for the delay in a decision being made to date; his views on whether it would be prudent to commence the roll-out of same as soon as possible given the level of Covid-19 related work absences being experienced at present across the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53191/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

On 8 September, I announced an update to the Covid-19 vaccination programme following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

The NIAC has recommended a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) for residents aged 65 years and older living in Long Term Residential Care Facilities and for those aged 80 years and older living in the community. The booster dose can be given after a minimum interval of six months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule. I have accepted this advice and the HSE has made the necessary arrangements to operationalise these recommendations with the booster rollout now underway.

The NIAC has now recommended that a booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech should be offered to all those aged 60-79 who have completed their primary vaccination course with any Covid-19 vaccination. The booster dose should be ideally given 6 months following completion of the primary vaccination schedule (with a minimum interval of 5 months).

The NIAC continues to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for those with waning immunity and reduced effectiveness in other groups, such as those with co-morbidities (under 60 years of age) and healthcare workers and will make further recommendations if required. I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to ensure that the NIAC examine whether there is a clinical need for healthcare workers to receive booster vaccines.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (1083)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1083. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are waiting on a first appointment to the outpatients diabetes clinic in any of the University of Limerick Hospitals group that have type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes or other forms of diabetes. [53192/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (1084)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1084. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delays in recruiting the four diabetes clinical nurse specialist posts, the three dietitian posts and the additional two consultant endocrinologist posts for University Hospital Limerick some of which were approved in January 2020. [53194/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1085)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1085. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if University of Limerick Hospitals Group is to be included in the remaining six diabetes centres acquiring DAFNE licences in 2022 (details supplied). [53195/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (1086)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1086. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions that occurred through University of Limerick Hospital Group accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment unit due to diabetic ketoacidosis or to severe hypoglycaemia in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [53196/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1087 answered with Question No. 931.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (1088)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1088. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans for the delivery of the Disability Capacity Review published in July 2021; the various work streams and the timeframes involved; if workforce planning has commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53199/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements up to 2032, was published by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman on 15th July 2021.

This Report quantifies and costs future need for disability support services. A Framework Action Plan was published alongside it detailing progress to and the priorities to underpin the preparation of a detailed Action Plan covering the years 2022-2025.

An Interdepartmental Working Group is now preparing the Action Plan for consideration of the Cabinet Social Policy SubCommittee by the end of the year. This work was enhanced by the views of service users and representative organisations who were consulted in September of this year.

Further information on the Working Group can be found at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/f7943-the-disability-framework-action-plan-working-group/.

Further information on the public consultation can be found here:

www.gov.ie/en/consultation/e9193-public-consultation-on-disability-social-care-services-to-guide-plan-for-the-next-4-years-2022-2025/

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (1089)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

1089. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a comparison was carried out in the context of the recent unmet needs identified in the Disability Capacity Review across the various CHO areas; if so, if the comparative analysis will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53200/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Disability Capacity Review sets out estimates of future disability service needs based both on the changing size and age structure of the population requiring specialist disability services, and on the level of currently-unmet need.

The paper draws significantly on the data in the Health Research Board’s disability databases - the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) and the National Physical and Sensory Disability Database (NSPDD), along with the Census and the CSO’s population forecasts, as well as administrative data from the HSE. The Disability Capacity Review was based on national-level forecasts.

Hospital Admissions

Ceisteanna (1090)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1090. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of persons over 18 years of age who were admitted through University of Limerick Hospital Groups accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment unit due to diabetic ketoacidosis or to severe hypoglycaemia in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, in tabular form. [53203/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1091)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

1091. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if the necessary funding will be provided for the resumption of the national diabetes register Sláintecare project as a priority; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that approximately 10% of the HSE annual budget is spent on diabetes care (details supplied). [53204/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In September 2019 Sláintecare Integration funding was allocated to the HSE to design and procure a National Diabetes Registry demonstrator product and develop a full specification plan for a National Diabetes Registry.

The development of a National Diabetes Registry will have a long-term benefit on

- Patient care by facilitating benchmarking of individual care against guideline recommendations and QI feedback to practitioners.

- Provision of appropriate health services by providing reliable information to healthcare planners and policymakers.

This project was paused as it was dependent on the input and expertise of key HSE staff who were redeployed onto urgent on-going COVID-19 work. This project remains a priority and, subject to COVID-19, will be revisited in the future.

I acknowledge that Diabetes is a significant issue and driver of health expenditure. In this regard, the 2019 GP Agreement introduced the chronic disease management programme for adult GMS patients who have one or more specific chronic diseases, of which Type 2 Diabetes is one.

For the first time we are seeing the delivery of structured care on a large scale for patients with chronic conditions in a primary care setting. Patients with an existing diagnosis of one of the specified chronic conditions, and those who are assessed by their GP on an opportunistic case finding basis, as well as those identified as high risk, will benefit under the programme. It is estimated that over 430,000 medical card and GP visit card patients will benefit from the programme when it is fully implemented.

The programme focuses on prevention, patient empowerment, early diagnosis and intervention, multi-morbidity and the provision of care as close to home as possible. The aim of the programme is to reduce morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (1092)

Mark Ward

Ceist:

1092. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the financial supports that are available to persons seeking surgery for endometriosis; and if there are treatment abroad schemes for same. [53222/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I can advise the Deputy that, in the context of a required hospital stay, the only charges that apply for publicly funded hospital services are the acute in-patient charges. The 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, irrespective of illness or condition, accessing public in-patient (including day case) services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory in-patient daily charge of €80 up to a maximum of €800 in any period of 12 consecutive months, subject to a number of exemptions which include:

- medical card holders;

- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);

- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;

- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;

- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;

- women receiving maternity services;

- children up to 6 weeks of age;

- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card; and

- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.

The Deputy has also asked about treatment abroad for endometriosis. The HSE operates a Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant lead scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:

- among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;

- not available in Ireland;

- not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease.

- medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;

- a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;

- provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;

- is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.

Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NI PHS) has been in effective operation since 1 January 2021. This Scheme was introduced to mitigate the loss of access to care from private providers in Northern Ireland under the EU Cross Border Directive, which ceased to apply as a result of Brexit. It enables persons resident in the State to access and be reimbursed for private healthcare in Northern Ireland by the HSE, provided such healthcare is publicly available within Ireland.

Details on both of these schemes can be accessed on the HSE website:

TAS website: www2.hse.ie/services/treatment-abroad-scheme/treatment-abroad-scheme.html and CBD website: www2.hse.ie/services/cross-border-directive/about-the-cross-border-directive.html .

I can assure the Deputy that improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government and I secured €31m for women’s health initiatives under Budget 2022.

This additional funding supplements both the ongoing work of my Department in key areas for women and a specific dedicated allocation for innovative approaches to women’s health services nationwide, through the Women’s Health Taskforce ‘Women’s Health Fund’.

One of the key initiatives driving progress for women’s health which have been supported through Budget 2022 is extended endometriosis services in Tallaght and Cork at a cost of €1.39 million. This additional funding will build the initiatives started in 2021, by further expanding specialist endometriosis services for more complex cases across these two centres.

Departmental Contracts

Ceisteanna (1093)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

1093. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of existing contracts of an indefinite period entered into by his Department prior to the enactment of the EU Procurement Directive. [53232/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Details in relation to the number of existing contracts of an indefinite period that my Department entered into prior to February 2014 are set out in the table below.

Supplier

Description of service

Ace Draughting T/A Informa

Software licence renewal - Imaging and document management software

Waterford Technologies

Software licence renewal - Mail archiving solution

SAS Institute Limited

Software licence renewal - Statistical software

SureSkills Ltd.

Software licence renewal - Data backup software

Version One

Contract for support for the Department’s Financial Management System and associated licensing

Flextime Ltd.

Support and licensing for the Department's Time and Attendance Clocking System

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (1094)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

1094. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the two cardiac arrests which occurred in Leixlip, County Kildare on 21 October 2021 which had a delayed response time; and if he will instruct his Department that it is required to permanently station the staff needed to fill the rosters sufficiently ensuring bases (details supplied) are working on a 24/7 basis. [53242/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the details enclosed with the Deputy's question relate to an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Ceisteanna (1095)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

1095. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding mental health staff in County Kerry [53244/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (1096)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

1096. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the distribution of booster vaccines in County Kerry [53245/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (1097)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

1097. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the length of delays caused in the processing of medical cards; the measures taken to eliminate the delays; if he will consider allowing those with expired cards to continue to use them pending the processing of their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53270/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health Service Executive (HSE) National Medical Card Unit (NMCU) has responsibility for the processing of medical card applications. As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Individuals who may have queries about an application/eligibility status can also contact the NMCU helpline, which is fully operational on 1890 252 919 for further information and assistance.

Vaccination Programme

Ceisteanna (1098)

Mick Barry

Ceist:

1098. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the additional supports he will put in place to support midwives and other medical professionals in providing advice regarding the safety and positive features of the Covid-19 vaccines to pregnant women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53271/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Barr
Roinn