Written Answers Nos. 539-556
539. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the vaccine for children between five and 12 years of age is administered in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/22]
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.
543. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when he plans to reschedule a meeting with an association (details supplied). [2978/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of litigation against the State by certain acknowledged and unacknowledged Thalidomide survivors has been delegated to the State Claims Agency by virtue of S.I. No 405 of 2013.
I am advised that the aforementioned litigation is being case-managed by a judge of the High Court and matters are currently at discovery stage. In those circumstances, given the sub judice fact of the litigation, I am advised that it would not be appropriate for me to meet pending the resolution of the litigation and the matters arising therefrom.
However, I am anxious to assure thalidomide survivors of the Governments ongoing commitment to provide them with the necessary supports to meet their related needs. I have directed my office to set up a meeting with survivors of thalidomide, strictly without prejudice to the ongoing litigation, where I will listen to their needs and talk with them about the work underway to provide health and personal social service supports on an ex-gratia basis on a statutory footing, as committed to by the Government. However, as outlined above, matters which are before the High Court will not form part of the agenda for discussion.
544. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify a matter raised in Dáil Éireann (details supplied); if he will provide the details of the scheme in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3001/22]
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.
545. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) is currently providing care services to the HSE; and if there are plans for the arrangement between the contractor and the HSE to end. [3003/22]
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.
546. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will remedy the lack of options available to a person (details supplied). [3016/22]
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.
547. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on the orthodontic assessment waiting list in County Galway; the current waiting time on the list; the number of patients on the orthodontic treatment waiting list; the current waiting time on the list; if there are currently unfilled clinical positions in the service in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3014/22]
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.
548. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the transfer of a child (details supplied) from Sligo University Hospital to Temple Street Hospital as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been in contact with Children Health Ireland who confirm that the child was admitted to Temple Street Hospital last week.
549. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the report of the national review of specialist cardiac services; the unit or individual agent responsible for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3021/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing, and patient representatives.
The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality, and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults.
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 as the Chair of the National Review has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. However, the Cardiac Services Review is now making progress again, and the Steering Group reconvened in September 2021 with a view to finalisation of the Report.
The Steering Group intend to meet in late January and February 2022 and is currently working on the development of the proposed recommendations of the draft Report. The implementation process for the National Cardiac Services Review is also being developed as part of the process to finalise the Report.
550. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to deliver a 24-7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention service in Waterford; the way he plans to achieve same; the additional staff required to increase hours to 24/7 and other milestones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3022/22]
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 HSE has advised that discussions are still on-going to commence extended working days in the Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford in 2022. However, due to the third wave of Covid-19 in early 2021 and the subsequent Cyber-attack and recovery process these discussions were delayed and are still on-going.
The HSE has further advised that, in order to support extended hours at the existing Cath Lab, additional Consultant Interventional Cardiologists are required. One additional post was filled on a temporary contract on 24th August 2020 and was subsequently filled on a permanent basis on 1st March 2021. However, a Consultant Cardiologist post has since become vacant (due to a resignation). This post is currently progressing through the recruitment process.
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. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme.
Substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. However, the COVID-19 Pandemic impacted on the progress of the review during 2020 and into 2021 as the Chair has played a critical role in the national COVID-19 response as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group.
The Steering Group reconvened in the latter half of 2021, and the Cardiac Services Review is now making strong progress again with a view to finalisation of the Review. The Group is scheduled to meet in January and also February 2022.
551. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when children between 12 to 16 years of age who are vaccinated over three months will receive their Covid-19 booster vaccination. [3024/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra598. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when booster vaccines will be made available to the 12 to 15 years of age cohort who have underlying health conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if children aged 12 to 15 years of age living with an immunocompromised person will be prioritised for boosters; if the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommends booster vaccination for this age cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3391/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 551, 598 and 629 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.The NIAC has recommended that a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (irrespective of whether the primary vaccination course was of an mRNA or adenoviral vector) be offered to those aged 16 years and older with the rollout now underway. The NIAC will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines and will make further recommendations if required.
552. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if children with complex medical needs are included in the high-risk category for Covid-19 vaccination; and the person or body that determines high risk categories. [3025/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The NIAC makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
On the 15th November, the NIAC recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination for persons aged 16-59 years with certain underlying conditions for whom there is an increased risk of hospitalisation following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
You can view the aforementioned NIAC reccomendation below:
rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NIAC_Recommendations-on-booster-doses-of-COVID-19-vaccine-for-healthcare-workers16-59-years-with-underlying-conditions-and-all-those-50-59-years.pdf.pdf
The NIAC develops guidance for the use of COVID-19 vaccines and these are published in the Immunisation Guidelines for Ireland. These guidelines are continuously updated and include guidance on all new vaccines as they are approved for use in Ireland. The underlying conditions associated with very high or high risk of severe COVID-19 are set out in Chapter 5a of the Immunisation Guidelines.
You can view the Immunisation Guidelines below:
www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf
553. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of the consultant Sláintecare contract negotiations; the date and details of the last meeting between negotiators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3026/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to introducing the Sláintecare Consultant Contract in a timely manner. The Contract remains a key focus of the HSE and my Department. It is intended that the Contract will be introduced following engagement with the representative bodies, the IMO and the IHCA, a process that is ongoing. The Independent Chair for these talks has recently been appointed to the High Court and has to be replaced.
As the negotiations have not concluded, it would not be appropriate to make public details about them at this time, save to say that I and my officials remain committed to introducing a new contract as soon as practicable.
554. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors hired on the Sláintecare contract since September 2021; the number of doctors hired on other contracts since September 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed new Sláintecare consultant contract has not yet been introduced, and negotiations with consultants' representative bodies are ongoing with a view to offering a new contract as soon as is practicable.
The total number of doctors employed at the end of 2021 is 12,113 WTE. From September to the end of 2021, the Medical and Dental staff category has had an overall increase of 247 WTE. 74 of these are at consultant grade. Any recruitment that has occurred in January will be available in the census provided in late February.
555. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of regional health area development; the status of the implementation actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, the Government approved the geographies for six new Regional Health Areas (RHAs) as well as a detailed business case and change management programme for their implementation in July 2019. The Government is fully committed to the implementation of RHAs, as outlined in the 2020 Programme for Government, the Department of Health Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, the HSE Corporate Plan 2021-2023 and the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023.
In line with the Government decision of July 2019, a Business Case for the implementation of Regional Health Areas was drafted and is at an advanced stage following engagement with the HSE and other key stakeholders late last year. This will inform the enabling workstreams to be undertaken this year. Once the recommended policy option has been finalised, a memorandum will be prepared for Government with the expectation that this will go to Cabinet for decision in Q1 2022.
A Regional Health Areas Advisory Group has been established to provide a range of perspectives from across health and social care. As work progresses to implement the six RHAs and align the integration of care, the members of the RHA Advisory Group will provide support and guidance as the Department of Health and HSE plan for the transition towards RHAs.
As part of the implementation planning process, Department and HSE Leads have been nominated to the joint RHA Implementation Team. Work on an implementation plan for the transition to RHAs has begun. The RHA Implementation Team will report to the Sláintecare Programme Board on a regular basis.
556. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of elective centre development; if there is potential for overnight capacity being factored into procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cross Party Sláintecare Report in 2017 articulated a new vision for healthcare in Ireland, including the provision of elective only hospitals, providing protected capacity for elective care. The “Elective Hospitals Oversight Group”, under the joint governance of the Health Service Executive, Department of Health and Sláintecare, has been guiding the development of the elective hospital proposals, following the process outlined in the updated Public Spending Code, setting out the value for money requirements for the evaluation, planning, and management of large public investment projects.
In December 2021 the Government agreed, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
The elective care scope of service will be developed in two phases commencing with day cases, diagnostics, and outpatients and then by in-patient treatment. On this basis, the Elective Care Centres (ECCs) will be designed to provide sufficient capacity to facilitate future phases, including some elective in patient capacity, thereby providing a sustainable and strategic response to cater for the highly dynamic landscape of healthcare policy and practice.
Individual Preliminary Business Cases for each location are at an advanced stage of development. and will be subject to technical review by the Department of Health and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Pending favourable review(s) under the Public Spending Code, that further memoranda for Government would then be brought forward to progress this proposal for Cork, Galway and Dublin.
