Written Answers Nos. 751-770
751. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing 20 additional dedicated children’s beds for psychiatric care to cease the practice of using beds in adult psychiatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/22]
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.
753. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 751 of 1 March and 430 of 31 March 2022, the consideration that his Department has given to the Health Service Executive funding request for an additional 100 neurology nurse specialists; the timescale for approval of these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27939/22]
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.
754. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, that the HSE has to expand the level of respite care provided within the rehabilitation unit of St. Joseph's Hospital, Ennis, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27959/22]
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.
755. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason that a decision was taken to engage in competitive tendering for family support network funding announced in Budget 2021; if this is a result of European Union directives; and if so, if he will name the directive. [27960/22]
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.
756. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the procedures and next steps for the winding-down of the Punchestown Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction testing centre, including details of the re-allocation of all the existing staff of the testing centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27982/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChanges to COVID-19 testing and tracing as part of the overall transition arrangements for the pandemic were approved by the Government in February 2022. There is no longer a public health rationale or need for extensive testing, case finding and tracing of infection to reduce COVID-19 transmission. The focus now is on mitigation of the severe impacts of COVID-19 for those most vulnerable to the disease and those with risk factors who may benefit from specific interventions. Full details of the current public health advice are available on the website of the HSE at www.hse.ie.
The HSE is working to implement this advice which will invariably lead to consolidation of resources in fewer centres around the country as the HSE moves through transition phases of the testing and tracing programme in the months ahead. The arrangements with regard to individual test centres is a matter for the Health Service Executive, and I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly in this regard, as soon as possible.
757. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he expects second Covid-19 booster doses to be administered to the wider age cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27986/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's COVID-19 vaccination programme is based on the principles of safety, effectiveness and fairness, with the objective of reducing severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19 infection.
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 the Department of Health based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practices in relation to immunisation.
Following the recommendation for use of vaccines against COVID-19 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorisation for use by the European Commission, the NIAC develops guidance for their use in Ireland which is contained 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.
You can view the guidelines here: www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/covid19.pdf.
The NIAC has recently advised a second booster dose for people over 65 and people with a weak immune system aged 12 and over. The Committee will continue to examine emerging evidence regarding booster vaccines for others in the population where there is evidence of waning immunity and reduced effectiveness and will make further recommendations if required.
758. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the HSE withdrawing funding from the EOLAS programmes for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27987/22]
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.
759. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the future plans for the EOLAS programmes; if same can be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27988/22]
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.
760. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when vertex will be made available here (details supplied); if persons with cystic fibrosis will be able to access it and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27990/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
761. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if cataract surgery in the case of a person (details supplied) is financially covered under their full medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that following contact from officials in my Department, which provided some information to him, the Deputy is also seeking details of average waiting times for cataract surgery.
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that 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.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting Lis Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
The health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here. The attached document outlines the national average waiting time nationally for patients currently on the waiting list for an ophthalmology OPD appointment ( it should be borne in mind that not all patients on the ophthalmology out patient list will need cataract surgery) and the national average waiting time for patients currently on the waiting list for a cataract procedure as of April 2022.
Average waits for OP Ophthalmology and IP Cataracts as at 28/04/2022
|
ArchiveDate |
Report |
Mean Wait(Days) |
Median Wait(Days) |
|
28/04/2022 |
OP Ophthalmology |
466 |
285 |
|
ArchiveDate |
Report |
Mean Wait(Days) |
Median Wait(Days) |
|
28/04/2022 |
Cataracts |
142 |
92 |
The health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate average wait times. In particular, the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care is not collected. The NTPF collects data on patients currently on the waiting list and the average time that these patients have been waiting is provided here.
762. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if extended respite care will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27994/22]
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.
763. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that are currently waiting to be allocated a wheelchair; the number of wheelchairs that are allocated each month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/22]
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.
764. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the percentage of wheelchairs and other medical aids such as zimmer-frames, orthopaedic chairs issued to patients which are refurbished and reutilised in cases in which the person no longer requires their use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27997/22]
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.
765. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28021/22]
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.
766. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the number of community physiotherapists in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28023/22]
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.
767. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 1 March and 641 of 17 May 2022, if he will clearly provide the details of the specific locations in County Wexford in which the HSE public dental service is providing emergency cover as detailed in the responses for adult medical card patients unable to access a service from their local dentist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28024/22]
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.
768. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reason that the State did not acquire the Bessboro lands when they were in the control of NAMA given the likelihood of burials on the site. [28026/22]
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 to you directly in relation to this matter.
769. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for cataract surgery at Nenagh Hospital for 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28032/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that 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.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.
The plan builds on the successes of the short-term 2021 plan that ran from September to December last year. The 2021 plan was developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF and was driven and overseen by a senior governance group co-chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and the CEO of the HSE and met fortnightly.
This rigorous level of governance and scrutiny of waiting lists has continued into this year with the oversight group evolving into the Waiting List Task Force. The Task Force will meet regularly to drive progress of the 2022 plan.
This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached document, provided to my Department by the NTPF, outlines the number of patients waiting for cataract surgery at Nenagh Hospital by time-band at the end of 2020; 2021 and April 2022.
Nenagh Hospital Cataracts
|
- |
0-6 Mths |
6-12 Mths |
12-18 Mths |
Grand Total |
|
Nenagh Hospital |
299 |
92 |
45 |
436 |
|
Cataracts |
299 |
92 |
45 |
436 |
|
23/12/2020 |
20 |
16 |
36 |
|
|
23/12/2021 |
195 |
69 |
45 |
309 |
|
28/04/2022 |
84 |
7 |
91 |
770. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health the plans that his Department has in relation to the provision of ivacaftor/kalydeco to children under 12 years of age in view of the European Medicine Agency’s approval of the drug to treat those aged six years and above; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
