Written Answers Nos. 726-747
726. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health when the primary care centre in Carrickmacross will become operational; the services that will be available in the centre at that date; the services that will become available at a later stage; the number of professionals and grades that will be based in the centre associated with each service in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/22]
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.
727. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the health of mothers for each year the building of the new Maternity Hospital is delayed; the number of wards that are operating at over capacity; the level of over capacity use in each of these wards; the capacity of the hospital; the number of patients in the hospital at any one time; the patient to doctor ratio; the patient to nursing ratio; the number of babies who are in the neo-natal intensive care unit; the patient to consultant ratio; and the way that these ratios compare to best practice. [24752/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
728. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs of the cyber-attack in terms of lives lost, incapacity and serious illness; and the research that has been carried out into the negative health effects of the cyber-attack he has undertaken to date. [24755/22]
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.
729. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date on the investigation into allegations made by a whistleblower in April 2020 as a protected disclosure, regarding the care of patients during Covid-19 at St. Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin; the date this report was completed; when it will be published; the cost of the investigation to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24756/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
730. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the status of transport for a person (details supplied) to a day service. [24760/22]
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.
731. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be seen by CAHMS. [24761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
732. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for adult day care services transport for each centre operating day care services in tabular form. [24764/22]
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.
733. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) who paid €1,300 for one week of respite in a nursing home is entitled to claim back on the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
734. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if non-medical front-line staff in the health sector that is, administration staff, security, cleaning staff and so on, that worked in hospitals throughout the pandemic will be entitled to the pandemic bonus payment. [24790/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 19th April, the HSE published additional details on this payment, including full eligibility criteria, particulars, and terms and conditions that apply to HSE and Section 38 organisations' employees. This information is available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html On the Deputy's particular question, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct answer and reply.
735. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24797/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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.
736. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied). [24800/22]
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.
737. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 805 of 8 February 2022, if the €1,000 pandemic bonus will be paid to healthcare assistants that are employed by private providers but work in the homes of HSE clients as part of a homecare package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24801/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE in Covid-19 exposed front-line settings;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above front-line workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
738. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for appointments for general adult mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24802/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
739. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the new opening of the new National Forensic Mental Health Service in Portrane; the reasons for the delay in the confirmation of an opening date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
740. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if contact tracers are eligible for the Covid-19 bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24807/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 19th April, the HSE published additional details on this payment, including full eligibility criteria, particulars, and terms and conditions that apply to HSE and Section 38 organisations' employees. This information is available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html On the Deputy's particular question, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct answer and reply.
741. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if support will be provided to a nurse (details supplied) who was injured at work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
742. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if the contract for a primary care centre at a location (details supplied) will retain the site in public ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
743. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of young adults who are on waiting lists for respite services in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24844/22]
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.
744. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to date regarding the negotiations for medical scientists and their pay review; when these pay structures were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dedication, professionalism and commitment of all medical scientists throughout the country. Their drive and dedication have been key components in our managing of the pandemic.
I acknowledge the MLSA’s claim for pay parity between medical scientists and clinical biochemists. As you may be aware, the current public pay agreement, Building Momentum, includes the process of Sectoral Bargaining, to address outstanding claims such as this one. The MLSA were granted their own bargaining unit to progress this claim. The size of the Sectoral Bargaining fund available to the MLSA, and to all other cohorts of staff bound by this Agreement, equates to 1% of their basic pay. The MLSA and Health management have been engaged in talks over the last number of months with the aim of finding a way to advance their claim for pay parity through the Sectoral Bargaining process.
The Public Service Agreement Group (PSAG), comprised of union and civil service representatives with an independent chair, met on May 11th to consider this matter. They recommended that the matter be immediately referred to the WRC and that industrial peace be maintained in the meantime.
The Department of Health is disappointed that industrial action has been initiated by the MLSA and remains open to engagement with them.
As this is an ongoing IR matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
745. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of recorded cases of infection from hospital utensils and equipment and so on, in each acute hospital in each of the past five years. [24879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
746. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24881/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
To recognise their unique role during the pandemic, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers. Eligibility guidelines for this payment, as applies in HSE and Section 38 organisations, were published by the HSE on 19th April and are available at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish information for those other certain healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE in Covid-19 exposed front-line settings;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage
I am also mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above front-line workers faced. In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc/St Brigid’s Day.
747. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for when the 24 additional lactation consultants outlined in the Women’s Health Action Plan 2022-2023 will be filled; when this recruitment process will be completed; when access to such supports will be made available on maternity wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24905/22]
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.
