Written Answers Nos. 310-324
310. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE since 1 January 2021; the number paid on the enhanced scale; the number employed who had 18 plus months prior experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60952/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the disciplinary procedure for employees of the health service was last revised; the versions which apply to different providers; if the same version does not apply to all providers, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60953/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
312. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the advice he received from AMRIC in relation to HEPA filters in schools. [60959/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra313. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he still maintains his opposition to the use of HEPA filters in schools. [60960/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together.
Ventilation has remained a core element of the broader infection prevention and control (IPC) response over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ventilation should not be seen as a standalone measure, but rather a single component of the overall layered response required to reduce the risk of transmission, and an adjunct to the continued need for adherence to the full range of public health measures.
The importance of ventilation as a measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is embedded in Government communications on the pandemic. This will continue to be the case in upcoming campaigns. Current campaigns include #ProtectOurProgress (GIS) and #LayerUp (DoH).
The NPHET has emphasised the importance of ventilation on numerous occasions throughout the pandemic and most recently in its recommendations of the 11th November. These were as follows:
- there is a significant strengthening of communications targeted at both household settings and relevant sectors, outlining why good ventilation is important and the practical steps that can be taken to improve ventilation;
- an assessment of ventilation forms a core component of inspection of premises under the Work Safely Protocol and other sectoral guidance; and
- further to the publication of revised HPSC guidance on ventilation in non healthcare settings, that renewed consideration be given to the provision of mechanisms/incentives to support businesses/organisations to improve ventilation.
The HSE’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Division (AMRIC) was established in early 2019, under the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer. It is led by the AMRIC National Clinical Lead and consists of a core multidisciplinary team with expertise across a range of relevant clinical domains.
The AMRIC provides expert advice on the practical and safe implementation and application of antimicrobial resistance and infection control measures in health and social care settings. In addition, the HSE has advised that all HSE AMRIC guidance promotes adequate ventilation as one of a number of measures to reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
On 18th November 2021, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre published updated “Guidance on non-healthcare building ventilation during COVID-19 V3.0”. This is available at: www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/placesofworshipguidance/Guidance%20on%20non%20HCbuilding%20ventilation%20during%20COVID-19.pdf The HPSC advise that guidance should be read and interpreted in conjunction with all sector specific government departmental advice.
Guidance on the sectoral application of the broad range of public health measures, including ventilation, is a matter for individual sectors. In this regard, the Department of Education has provided detailed information on ventilation within schools, including in relation to air cleaning devices. This is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.
314. 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. [60967/21]
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.
315. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the median and mean length of the average and longest trip by a National Ambulance Service ambulance in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [60969/21]
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.
316. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances in the National Ambulance Service fleet by outpost location. [60970/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra320. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the largest number of times a National Ambulance Service ambulance was redirected in a single shift between seeing patients. [60974/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service shifts which went overtime by the number of hours of overtime in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form and as a percentage of all shifts. [60975/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service ambulance trips over 100km, 150km and 200km in tabular form and as a percentage of all trips. [60976/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service ambulance trips over one, two and three hours in tabular form and as a percentage of all trips. [60977/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 320 to 323, inclusive, together.
As these questions relate to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
317. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the staffing components of the National Ambulance Service ambulance fleet. [60971/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy can find the breakdown of staff of the National Ambulance Service on page 7 of this document: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/our-workforce/workforce-reporting/health-service-personnel-census-oct-2021.pdf
318. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of callouts reached by the National Ambulance Service within 20 minutes and over 20 minutes, by dispatch standard; and the average median and mean and maximum for same. [60972/21]
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.
319. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average median and mean distance travelled in a single day by a National Ambulance Service ambulance in 2020 and to date in 2021. [60973/21]
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.
324. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress made to provide a network of primary healthcare centres in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60981/21]
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.
