Written Answers Nos. 202-221
202. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, by staff grade, employed to work in the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick at the start of each year from 2000 to 2023, in tabular form. [4826/23]
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.
203. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans that University Hospital Limerick has to expand capacity in the coming years; the number of beds with capital project approval; the number of applications or other such submissions made for further capacity by the hospital and hospital group; the stage at which each application is at; and the level of capacity they would add, in tabular form. [4827/23]
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.
204. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4854/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDear Deputy,
I refer to the following Parliamentary Question that was tabled by you for reply by 01/02/2023.
PQ4854/23 - To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on online advertising in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if he will provide details in relation to this spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The amounts outlined in below table were spent on online advertising over the years 2013-2022 and to date in 2023 (31 January 2023).
Online advertising has been interpreted to include to Search Advertising, Social Media Advertising, Audio Visual Advertising, Audio On Demand Advertising, Visual On Demand Advertising, and Digital Advertising, Website Advertising, and Mobile Application Advertising.
Online advertising was included in Healthy Ireland campaigns, Department of Health campaigns and Department of Health COVID-19 / Winter Viruses public health guidance.
The overarching aim of Healthy Ireland to bring about a healthier population by supporting people to enjoy the best possible health and wellbeing. It is the Government-led initiative aimed at delivering the Sláintecare objective of preventing ill-health and keeping people well. Since 2018, a number of Healthy Ireland citizen engagement campaigns designed to support Healthy Ireland objectives and the Healthy Ireland Strategy 2021-2025 have been completed.
The Department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased instance of winter viruses such as RSV and Flu in Winter 2022-23 included an advertising campaign for the purposes of promoting the latest public health guidance. The level of advertising spend varies depending upon the public health requirements at the time. The HSE continues to run advertising campaigns to raise awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine programme and the latest public health advice.
The table below provides the amount spent by the Department of Health information requested in this Parliamentary Question on online advertising in each of the past ten years (2013-2022) and to date in 2023 (31 January 2023).
|
Year |
Online Advertising Spend |
|
2013 |
€ - |
|
2014 |
€ - |
|
2015 |
€ 4,417.30 |
|
2016 |
€ - |
|
2017 |
€ - |
|
2018 |
€321,508.46 |
|
2019 |
€44,008.34 |
|
2020 |
€315,101.82 |
|
2021 |
€315,101.82 |
|
2022 |
€57,364.00 |
|
2023 |
€ - |
205. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and or press office of his Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4872/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Press & Communications Unit of the Department of Health runs the Department’s social media accounts. I can assure the Deputy staff in the Department do not engage in the type of activity described.
206. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of children on disability service waiting lists for children’s disability networks teams in the Kilbarrack area; the number of additional staff recruitments that are needed to reduce this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4881/23]
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.
207. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of claims issued against the State via the State Claims Agency which relate to the deaths of persons from Covid-19, after they contracted the virus either in a hospital or nursing home. [4886/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 SCA have informed me that the the information below has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
The information contained within this report was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the below criteria:
- The explicit reference to ”hospitals” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring in an acute hospital setting.
- The explicit reference to “nursing homes” is interpreted as all claims notified to the SCA against the HSE which relate to incidents occurring within a nursing home (HSE owned and privately owned)
- Claims which relate to incidents occurring within a community health organisation location/unit have not been included in this report.
The number of claims currently being taken against the HSE, notified to the SCA, which arise from the death of a family member as a result of contracting Covid-19 in a HSE Hospital or Nursing Home setting is 44.
Definitions
National Incident Management System (NIMS):
Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”. This is hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA) for the HSE, other Healthcare enterprises and State Authorities. An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint.
208. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting on a CAMHS waiting list in each county in the State; the number who have been waiting for more than a year; the number who have been waiting for more than three months; and the number of children waiting more than six months, in tabular form. [4887/23]
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.
209. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who died on hospital trolleys in each of the past ten years, by hospital, in tabular form. [4888/23]
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.
210. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have left emergency departments without being seen, in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023. [4889/23]
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.
211. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have left emergency departments without being seen, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023, by hospital, in tabular form. [4890/23]
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.
212. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of people screened by BreastCheck in each of the past ten years. [4891/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of people screened by CervicalCheck in each of the past ten years. [4892/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
214. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons diagnosed with cancer in the State in each of the past ten years, by cancer type, in tabular form. [4893/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
215. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has held any meetings or discussions either within his Department or with external experts to seek to ascertain the reason that Ireland is suffering from an increase or perceived increase in the death rate in comparison with previous years; if he will detail the dates upon which these meetings took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4894/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health and the HSE keep under review a range of population health and epidemiological indicators to assess the impact of health threats in Ireland.
The Department of Health does not produce estimates of excess mortality. However, the Department closely monitors estimates of excess mortality which are published by a range of different sources.
Ireland continues to participate in EuroMOMO, a European mortality monitoring activity, aiming to detect and measure excess deaths related to seasonal influenza, pandemics and other public health threats. The latest published data from EuroMOMO is available here.
As per previous winter respiratory viral seasons when influenza and other respiratory viruses circulate at high levels in Ireland and Europe contributing to excess mortality, it is anticipated that excess mortality during the 2022/2023 winter period will be reported as deaths from late 2022 and early 2023 are registered.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) include an update on excess mortality in their weekly Influenza Surveillance Report.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes official statistics on mortality in Ireland and publishes quarterly and yearly statistics on registered deaths through their Vital Statistics publications. The latest published data is for Quarter 2 2022 and data is provisional. Provisional data for Quarter 3 2022 will be published in March and for Quarter 4 2022 in June. This will include data on cause of death.
The Department of Health and HSE will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to monitor trends in mortality in Ireland.
216. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure affordable access to cariban treatment for women who are pregnant and suffering with hyperemisis gravidarum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4899/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, I announced €32.2 million in funding for Women’s Health Initiatives in 2023, to include dedicated funding for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine). The dedicated funding for Cariban® will help women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during pregnancy. Cariban® is an Exempt Medicinal Product, i.e., it is not licensed with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, Cariban® is now available on an individual patient basis for those patients who meet the criteria under the community drug schemes – the General Medical Services scheme (GMS) and the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) – where Consultant Obstetrician initiated.
Under the community drug schemes, Exempt Medicinal Products must be Consultant initiated. However, whilst the original prescriber of Cariban® must be a Consultant and specialist in the relevant field, the HSE will accept a GP prescription subsequent to the initial hospital prescription for approved patients.
217. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress on the community neuro-rehabilitation team set up for in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4905/23]
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.
218. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant posts by location and by specialty; the number which are consultant appointment advisory committee-approved; the number which are not; the number which are vacant; the number which are filled on a permanent basis; the number which are filled on a temporary, agency, or locum basis; the number which have previously been filled but which are now vacant or filled on a non-permanent basis; and the number which are new posts, in tabular form. [4913/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly with the information sought as soon as possible.
219. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against patients at Beaumont Hospital for each month of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and in January 2023, in tabular form. [4917/23]
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.
220. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against staff, by staff category, at Beaumont Hospital for each month of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and in January 2023, in tabular form. [4918/23]
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.
221. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against patients at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals for each month of the years 2019 to 2022, and in January 2023, in tabular form. [4920/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against staff, by staff category, at Children’s Health Ireland hospitals for each month of 2019 to 2022, and in January 2023, in tabular form. [4921/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.
As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
