Thursday, 16 Jun 2022

Written Answers Nos. 487-497

Covid-19 Pandemic

Ceisteanna (487)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

487. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if laundry workers at University Hospital Kerry will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31531/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

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

Hospital Overcrowding

Ceisteanna (488)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

488. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable for male and female patients to be sharing six-bed wards at University Hospital Kerry; if this is considered best practice; if there are plans to cease this practise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31535/22]

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.

Disability Services

Ceisteanna (489)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

489. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the proposals that have been forthcoming from relevant health service providers in relation to the repurposing of a campus (details supplied) for housing solutions for persons with disabilities who require homes in what is considered to be a decongregated community setting; the way that such proposals have been received; if none have been received, if he is open to such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31536/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (490)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

490. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the level of funding that he is providing to an organisation (details supplied) per annum; if he intends to improve the situation in view of the work being carried out by the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31537/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The National Ambulance Service, encompassing the Emergency Aeromedical Service, operates the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). The service operates in conjunction with the Irish Air Corps from Custume Barracks, Athlone and the charity funded HEMS operated by the Irish Community Air Ambulance (ICAA). The Irish Coast Guard provides additional support on an as available basis.

The ICAA is a charity funded HEMS, which has operated since July 2019 under a service level agreement with the HSE. Under this agreement the ICAA committed to fund all maintenance, repairs, fuel and other expenses incurred in the provision of the transportation element of the HEMS, while the NAS committed to providing the clinical staff and all medical consumables.

In early March of this year ICAA advised that it was experiencing financial difficulties. In order to provide funding to ensure the operation of the HEMS service, it was necessary that the issue of State Aid was addressed with the European Commission.

The Commission gave approval on 11 May to the establishment of a scheme under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework for State Aid to safeguard the provision of charity-funded HEMS services. This Framework provides that temporary limited amounts of aid may be allocated to undertakings experiencing liquidity difficulties due to the COVID pandemic. The HSE is now administering the scheme and is engaging with ICAA regarding the ongoing provision of funding.

Separately, the HSE has commenced a procurement process to ensure the ongoing provision of HEMS in the South-West of the country on a long-term sustainable basis. This procurement process is ongoing.

The Temporary Framework Scheme will ensure that the HEMS service is secured until the outcome of the HSE’s procurement process is concluded.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (491)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

491. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the situation whereby children with cancer from County Kerry must regularly travel very long distances to Cork and Dublin for less specialised cancer treatment such as blood tests and chemotherapy management; if he will review the situation with a view to putting in place a system in which localised services will be made be available for the less medically complex elements of the management of childhood cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31538/22]

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.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (492)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

492. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a minor injuries assessment unit will be provided for Killarney County Kerry to alleviate pressure on the emergency department at University Hospital Kerry and also serve the grossly expanded population in Killarney and south Kerry during the summer period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31543/22]

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.

Medical Cards

Ceisteanna (493)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

493. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card, long-term illness provision can be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31628/22]

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.

Primary Medical Certificates

Ceisteanna (494)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

494. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when reconsideration can be given to the provision of a primary medical certificate in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31629/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Facilities

Ceisteanna (495)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

495. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will commence plans for an urgently needed 50-bed ward block extension at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe to meet the growing needs of the hospital and the catchment it serves now that construction has commenced on the 50-bed replacement ward block at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31656/22]

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 Acquired Infections

Ceisteanna (496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 507, 510)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

496. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example, Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31658/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

497. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged by hospital staff in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example, Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31659/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

498. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged by hospital patients in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example, Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31660/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

499. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged by hospital visitors in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example, Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31661/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

500. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged that resulted in a payout in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date, the total amount paid out, by month, by hospital and by infection type for example Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

501. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged that resulted in a payout in respect of hospital acquired infections to hospital staff from 2019 to date, the total amount paid out, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31663/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

502. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged that resulted in a payout in respect of hospital acquired infections to hospital patients from 2019 to date, the total amount paid out, broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31664/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

503. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims that have been lodged that resulted in a payout in respect of hospital acquired infections to hospital visitors from 2019 to date, the total amount paid out, further broken down by month, by hospital and by infection type for example Covid, MRSA, CPE and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31665/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

504. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total legal costs incurred by the HSE in respect of claims lodged as a result of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31666/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

505. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total amount paid out in claims by the HSE in respect of hospital acquired infections from 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31667/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

507. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the policy and process involved in relation to managing claims arising from hospital acquired infections; if the policy or process differs depending on the hospital acquired infection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31669/22]

David Cullinane

Ceist:

510. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any patient or health care worker had a successful claim against the HSE since its inception for contracting a hospital acquired infection as a result of a health care professional not wearing appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves; if so, the number of such claims; the amount awarded; the legal costs associated with such cases; the years involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31672/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 496, 497, 498, 499, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 507 and 510 together.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive.

The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the State Claims Agency to provide this, and I understand that it will be collated shortly. I will respond directly to the Deputy on receipt of this.

Question No. 497 answered with Question No. 496.