Wednesday, 6 Apr 2022

Written Answers Nos. 187-206

Hospice Services

Ceisteanna (187)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

187. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of delivering 30 new public palliative care beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18536/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As the Deputy may be aware, to date specialist palliative care inpatient units have been constructed with funding raised by local voluntary organisations, while the HSE provides fit-out costs.

Capital costs for a specialist palliative care unit will vary dependent on a number of factors including location, number of beds and levels of additional services provided. New units may include space for the Palliative Community Homecare Team, Day Care, treatment rooms and pharmacy, family accommodation, kitchen and canteen, staff room, administration, education and meeting rooms and, where relevant, external groundworks/landscaping.

Based on the revenue costs of new specialist palliative care inpatient beds in Mayo, Waterford and Wicklow opened in 2020/2021, the average revenue funding required to operate a specialist palliative care bed is approximately €266,000 per annum.

Finally, the locations for new inpatient units have been identified in line with national policy and the HSE's Palliative Care Development Framework 2017-2019, with units ranging from 15-36 beds.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (188)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

188. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the hospitals in which fluorescence microscopy and thromboelastography are available for diagnostics and treatment; if such technology is being used to detect and treat micro-clots associated long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18705/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Organ Donation

Ceisteanna (189)

Sorca Clarke

Ceist:

189. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if the proposed human tissue Bill providing the legal basis for an opt-out system of organ donation will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18426/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The enactment of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Bill is a priority for the Government. The Bill will provide the legal basis for an opt-out system of organ donation and will be supported by a public information campaign. Department officials are progressing the drafting of the Bill in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Council, with a view to ensuring that Government approval is secured to publish the Bill as soon as possible.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Ceisteanna (190)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

190. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) is waiting to receive surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18429/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under 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.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (191)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

191. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18436/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (192)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

192. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the Mercy University Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18437/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (193)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the National Maternity Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18438/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (194)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

194. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18439/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Ceisteanna (195)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

195. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the Rotunda Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18440/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (196)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

196. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals across HSE hospitals and community healthcare facilities in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18441/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (197)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

197. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in Beaumont Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18442/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (198)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

198. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in CHI hospitals in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18443/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (199)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

199. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in Cappagh Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18444/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (200)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

200. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in the Coombe Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18445/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (201)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

201. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in St. James’s Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18446/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (202)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

202. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in St. Vincent’s Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18447/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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 (203)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

203. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against medical, nursing, midwifery and other health and social care professionals in Tallaght Hospital in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18448/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Abortion Services

Ceisteanna (204)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

204. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the identity of the successful bidder for the tender to conduct research into the views of service users and service providers on the operation of the 2018 abortion legislation. [18449/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, i.e., before January 2022.

A request for tender to carry out the research into the views of service providers was published on eTenders. The evaluation process has concluded, and the successful application has been informed. In line with the normal procurement process, my Department is engaging with the preferred bidder to complete the necessary contractual arrangements. Once all of the relevant documentation and contractual arrangements have been completed I will be in a position to announce the award of the contract for this important research. The objective of this research is to ascertain the experiences of service providers and will be a key input to the review of the operation of the 2018 Act.

Separately, the HSE's Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme commissioned research to understand people’s experiences of using abortion care services and unplanned pregnancy supports. This research is being led by Dr Catherine Conlon of the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. This work is ongoing and will also be considered in the review of the operation of the 2018 Act.

Home Care Packages

Ceisteanna (205)

James Lawless

Ceist:

205. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange an urgent home help care package for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18465/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (206, 208)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

206. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total amount which the State spent on personal protection equipment during the pandemic which either never arrived or was not fit for use when it arrived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18501/22]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

208. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount paid back by the Chinese companies with whom this State was in a legal dispute with regarding ventilators (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18503/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 208 together.

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