Written Answers Nos. 658-678
658. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the status of the operations of a centre (details supplied); when it will be fully operational to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54589/21]
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.
659. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will consider allocating a locum doctor to provide consistent cover for a practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54590/21]
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.
660. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive access to services given that the child has had no community services since December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54596/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access Inclusion Model (AIM) which supports the participation of pre-school children with disabilities in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme is under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth and the details of this case have been forwarded to that Department to follow up directly to the Deputy.
Having regard to the remainder of the Deputy's question, as it relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
661. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason the portal for Irish passport holders who were vaccinated outside of Ireland and the UK to obtain an EU digital Covid certificate is still not accessible although the gov.ie website states it would be live from 21 October 2021; when the portal will be fully functional; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54599/21]
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 EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation allows for Digital COVID Certificates to be provided to Union citizens vaccinated in a third country provided that the Member State has been provided with reliable proof of vaccination.
Ireland launched an online portal to receive applications from individuals vaccinated in third countries for Irish passport holders vaccinated in Northern Ireland from 28th September and this was extended to Great Britain on 15th October.
The further development of the portal to accept applications for Irish passport holders vaccinated in other third countries is underway, taking into account the need to ensure reliable proof of vaccination in a varied and diverse global context to support the robust trust framework on which the EU Digital COVID Certificate is built. This additional extension is expected to be available in November.
This portal will accept applications from individuals vaccinated in a third country, outside of the EU Member States and countries which have been awarded an equivalence decision, who are 18 years of age and older, hold a valid Irish passport, and a reliable proof of vaccination for a vaccine type currently authorised for use in Ireland.
662. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason the theatre in Navan hospital was closed on 3 November 2021 until March 2022 (details supplied); the way the decision to close the accident and emergency and ICU departments in Navan hospital can be justified; if he will start to adequately fund the hospital accident and emergency and ICU departments; and if arrangements will be made to reopen the theatre in Navan hospital immediately. [54606/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that a process of planning for changes to the services at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan is underway by the HSE. I am also acutely aware that any proposed changes to health services can be a source of great anxiety and worry for communities affected, and I am determined that any changes to the service at Navan must be done in consultation with the local community. I have therefore instructed the HSE to pause in the planning of these changes in order to engage in consultation with elected representatives on behalf of local people.
The context for these changes is the Smaller Hospitals Framework, which was approved by Government and published in 2013. The Framework included a list of nine designated Model 2 Hospitals, including Our Lady’s Hospital Navan. Navan will be the last of these hospitals to transition to Model 2. The HSE has advised that changes to the services at Navan, in line with the Government Decision, are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and to address clinical concerns. The HSE's planning envisages the development of a 24 /7 Acute Medical Assessment Unit, along with a 12/7 Local Injuries Unit, and an extended role for the hospital in areas such as day and ambulatory surgery. I am advised that this would see the significant majority of current footfall continue, with the hospital in the future providing more care rather than less, but at the right level of complexity in clinical terms, and supported by the necessary investment.
I cannot comment on individual cases. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the specific issue raised in relation to the theatre.
663. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the volume of available blood in the hospital service for each of the past ten months. [54607/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is the national organisation responsible for collecting, processing, testing and distributing blood and blood products in Ireland. It’s remit is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system.
The IBTS has advised that it is not possible to provide figures on the volume of blood available in the hospital service on a monthly basis, as the volume of blood available to hospitals varies on a day to day basis.
However, the IBTS has advised that it has issued a total of 104,552 Red Cell Units and 19,336 Platelet Units to hospitals over the past 10 months. The monthly breakdown of these issues is as follows:
|
Month |
Red Cell Issues |
Platelet Issues |
|
January |
9977 |
1792 |
|
February |
9658 |
1630 |
|
March |
10754 |
2044 |
|
April |
10778 |
2020 |
|
May |
10198 |
1941 |
|
June |
10610 |
1918 |
|
July |
11187 |
2014 |
|
August |
10707 |
1952 |
|
September |
10920 |
1999 |
|
October |
9763 |
2026 |
The IBTS has confirmed that the blood supply to hospitals has been maintained throughout the pandemic.
664. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when he will meet with Members of Dáil Éireann from County Meath and with the members of a campaign group (details supplied) to discuss the future of the accident and emergency and ICU departments in Navan; and if he will assist in the facilitation of a meeting of the campaign group with the Ireland East Hospital Group and, separately, with the CEO of the HSE. [54608/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware that any proposed changes to health services can be a source of great anxiety and worry for communities affected, and I am determined that any changes to the service at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan must be done in consultation with the local community. I have therefore instructed the HSE to pause in the planning of these changes in order to commence an engagement process on the plans, including with elected representatives on behalf of local people.
665. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been diagnosed with cancer in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [54616/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collects, classifies, records and stores information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient, and in relation to each tumour that occurs.
The NCRI advises that figures for 2020-2021 have not yet been fully validated. The most recent available figures from the NCRI cover the period 2015-2019 and are as follows:
|
Year |
Total Cases* |
|
2015 |
22,010 |
|
2016 |
22,712 |
|
2017 |
23,382 |
|
2018 |
24,186 |
|
2019 |
24,871 |
*These figures are for all invasive cancers, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers.
666. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an increase or perceived increase in the number of persons diagnosed with cancer since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. [54617/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collects, classifies, records and stores information in relation to each newly diagnosed individual cancer patient. The NCRI advises that figures for 2020-2021 have not yet been fully validated.
The total number of new cancers diagnosed in Rapid Access Clinics (RACs) to end-2020 stood at 94% (5,874) of the 2019 figure (6,269). For January-August 2021, this figure stands at 91.7% (3,838) of the corresponding period in 2019 (4,185).
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment. The total number GP e-referrals to RACs for January-August 2021 (37,680) stands at 126% of the activity for the corresponding period in 2019 (30,029). The total number of patients seen across all RACs for January-August 2021 stands at 96.7% (32,818) of the corresponding period in 2019 (33,935).
667. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the State; and the number of persons who underwent chemotherapy treatment in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [54618/21]
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.
668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who attended BreastCheck clinics in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [54619/21]
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.
669. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of new Covid-19 outbreaks reported in residential care settings in each month since the start of the pandemic by month; and the settings from which these outbreaks were reported, that is, nursing homes, disability care centres, mental health and-or psychiatric care settings, convents and so on. [54620/21]
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.
670. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the State who contracted Covid-19 in a hospital setting; and the number of persons who died after contracting Covid-19 in a hospital setting since the start of the pandemic. [54621/21]
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.
671. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the State who contracted Covid-19 in a residential care setting and-or nursing home; and the number of persons who died after contracting Covid-19 in a residential care setting and-or nursing home since the start of the pandemic. [54622/21]
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.
672. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons and-or families who have to date made claims against the State via the State Claims Agency in connection with the death of their loved ones, allegedly after they contracted Covid-19 in a hospital, nursing home or residential care setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54623/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive.
I have been informed by the SCA that the number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a Nursing Home, healthcare facility or hospital setting is 30.
The SCA has extracted this information from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as per the below criteria:
- The explicit reference to ”hospitals”, “residential care” or “nursing homes” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home, hospital or a community health organisation location/unit.
- Claims arising could relate to the death of a service user or staff member.
673. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has begun to outsource the final assessment of need paperwork to a private provider; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54626/21]
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.
674. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting on speech and language therapy; and the length of waiting time for a first appointment by CHO area in tabular form. [54627/21]
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.
675. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting on occupational therapy; and the length of waiting time for a first appointment by CHO area in tabular form. [54628/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra677. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting on speech and language therapy; and the length of waiting time for a first appointment by CHO area in tabular form. [54630/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra678. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have received the new standard operating procedure, SOP, assessment of need; the number of these children who then received additional therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54631/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 677 and 678 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
676. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting on child psychology services; and the length of waiting time for a first appointment by CHO area in tabular form. [54629/21]
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.
