Written Answers Nos. 325-339
325. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) for 100 additional neurology nurse specialists across Ireland including five additional nurses for Beaumont Hospital; his plans to increase neurology nurse specialists both nationally and at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60983/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
326. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a resident child psychologist post will be urgently provided in University Hospital Kerry to provide services for under eighteens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60985/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have referred it to the HSE and asked them to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
327. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that organisations (details supplied) receive the necessary allocation of core funding as requested to allow same to continue to provide a vital service to large numbers of children and young adults with special needs and their families. [60992/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I am referring the question for response to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
328. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will act on the commitment to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60995/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” contains a commitment to “Work with key stakeholders to introduce a Public Health Obesity Act, including examining restrictions on promotion and advertising aimed at children”.
The policy instrument for obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in September 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland Framework. The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. Childhood obesity is a key priority under the Policy, as is reducing the inequalities seen in obesity rates.
The OPAP provides for a mid-term review to be carried out, which will lead to a refreshed and updated Plan with a revised set of actions for the remaining lifetime of the OPAP. This review provides the opportunity to consider developments and new evidence since the publication of the OPAP, and to assess which elements might best be further progressed by legislation or by other means. A strong evidence base will be required for any new legislative measures, and the review of the OPAP will build on the work already underway to identify gaps in the implementation of the Plan, including where actions need to be progressed, whether by legislative or other means, and where further research is required. This will input into what measures should be included in a Public Health Obesity Act.
In relation to the issues around advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods aimed at children, Ireland is currently co-leading a Work Package in this area under the EU Joint Action “Best ReMaP” (Best practices in Reformulation, Marketing and public Procurement). The title of the Work Package is “Best practices in reducing marketing of unhealthy food products to children and adolescents”. Work has been underway under this Joint Action since October 2020 and there are 17 Member States participating.
329. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the requirement for persons who have previously tested positive for Covid-19 and hold a valid HSE recovery certificate in relation to the new international travel Covid-19 testing measures. [61002/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe requirements for travel are kept under regular review based on the evolving international epidemiological situation. At present, and as part of our response to the emergence of the Omicron variant, passengers travelling to Ireland require a valid test result (subject to limited exemptions). Full details on international travel policy and the types of tests accepted are published at www.gov.ie/travel.
From 5 December, a traveller with a valid recovery cert can show either:
- A negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival
- Or a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours prior to arrival
It is understood that some travellers may not be able to present evidence of a negative/not-detected RT-PCR test prior to travel due to persistently positive RT-PCR test after recovery. In these circumstances the person can present a positive RT-PCR result dated more than 11 days and less than 180 days prior to the date on which they arrive in the State. From 5 December, such individuals are required to present a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours prior to arrival.
330. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health when 24/7 PPCI will be implemented at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61003/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single Cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing Cath lab should be extended.
The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of a second Cath lab in University Hospital Waterford. The HSE has advised that funding was allocated in the 2019 Capital Plan for the provision of a second Cath lab at University Hospital Waterford and planning permission was received from Waterford City and County Council in January 2020.
The HSE has further advised that the Contractor for the construction of the new Cath Lab at UHW was formally appointed on 25th March 2021. The project commenced on 17th May 2021 with a 13 month works programme. The project could not commence earlier due to levels of Covid Infection presenting at UHW.
It is expected the main Contractor will hand over the project by the end of June 2022. Equipping and commissioning will follow for a period of 2 months and the Cath Lab is expected to be available for operational use from September 2022 onwards.
The HSE has advised that discussions are on-going in relation to the 12 bed day ward to support the second Cath Lab and that UHW will commence recruitment of the required staff for the Second Catheterisation Laboratory in the coming months.
The Herity Report also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services at UHW should cease to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned work. The then Minister for Health asked the Department to address the implications of this recommendation by arranging for a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.
The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018, under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan. While substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services, the COVID-19 Pandemic impacted on the progress of the review during 2020 and into 2021. However, the Cardiac Services Review is now making progress again, and the Steering Group has reconvened in September 2021 with a view to finalisation of the Report. The Group met most recently on 22nd November and is scheduled to meet again in December 2021.
To assist with current interventional cardiology diagnostic elective procedures, UHW has set out a ‘Service Level Agreement’ with UPMC in Waterford. This is a three day week service agreement to assist with scheduled care capacity.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, with any further information, as soon as possible.
331. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have received certificates that they have had Covid-19 to date; the number that are still valid; and if these numbers are included in the numbers counted as vaccinated. [61011/21]
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.
332. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department is paying agencies to pay private home care assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61012/21]
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.
333. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when free general practitioner care for under sevens will be introduced. [61021/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. At present all children up to and including the age of 5 are eligible for a GP visit card and therefore GP care without charges.
The Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2020 provides, amongst other things, for the phased expansion of GP care without fees to all children aged 12 years and under in three phases: to children aged 6 and 7; to children aged 8 and 9; and to children aged 10,11 and 12. Budget 2022 provides for the initial stage of this phased expansion, the provision of GP care without fees to all children aged 6 and 7 and my Department has commenced work to roll this service out in the course of 2022.
The specific date for commencing the expansion remains under consideration in light of COVID-19 and the additional pressures the expansion might place on general practice in that context and will require consultation with the IMO, representing General Practitioners. It is important to ensure that any additional pressures placed on general practice will not limit its capacity to meet the needs of all patients in the community.
334. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by an organisation (details supplied) for 100 extra neurology nurse specialists across Ireland; and if he will consult with the group in respect of this campaign. [61038/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
335. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of neurology nurse specialists by location in the State; and his plans to engage with the HSE with a view to the provision of increased capacity and resourcing in this specialist area. [61039/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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.
336. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the Covid-19 treatment regkirona which is approved by the European Medicines Agency will be made available to Irish patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61040/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra337. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn by the decision by the Dutch government and eight other EU states to acquire the EMA-approved regkirona medicine for Covid-19 patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61041/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if a detailed reply will issue in respect of correspondence (details supplied) sent to his Department. [61077/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 337 and 339 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for purchases such as those described.
As the Deputy is aware, the procurement of services and goods within the HSE must also be carried out in compliance with relevant national and EU policy and legislation including DPER guidelines on public procurement.
Further information is available at the following link: www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthbusinessservices/procurement/
My Department has been in direct contact with the correspondent to let them know of the correct protocols involved.
338. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a homecare package can be implemented in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61075/21]
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.
