Written Answers Nos. 1333-1356
1333. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of an out-of-hours CareDoc facility in Athy, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14222/24]
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.
1334. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps he will take to address delays in diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in light of the fact that more than a third of people with such conditions go for more than five years without a diagnosis and in recognition of the 300,00 people living with such diseases in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14226/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
1335. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the up-to-date position regarding the location for the new genetics and genomics laboratory in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14227/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1336. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm if the new genetics and genomics laboratory will be located at the new National Children’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14228/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1423. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health If a decision has been made on the location for the main laboratory for genetic testing in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14502/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1335, 1336 and 1423 together.
The Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland is to build a strong patient and family-centred national genetics service that can be accessed equitably across the country and lifespan of patients. An important element of achieving this is increasing genomic laboratory capabilities in Ireland.
The National Strategy has a 5 year implementation phase which is being led by the HSE National Genetics and Genomics Office (NGGO). In 2024, the NGGO will concentrate on six priority deliverables defined for the year. One of these priority deliverables is the continued development of equitable national genetics and genomics services, including genomic laboratory capabilities and associated bioinformatics. This year, the NGGO will focus on the identification of current test providers (both national and international) used to meet the genetic and genomic testing needs of Irish patients. The information gathered through this process and a clinical operating model (which is currently being developed) will enable the future development of genetic and genomic laboratory capacity.
As the current focus of work is on assessment of existing capacity and need, a decision on the location of a new genomic laboratory has therefore not yet been made.
Another priority deliverable for 2024 is the development of a National Genomic Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Diseases. The NGGO have engaged with potential service users to understand the clinical need, to ensure this test directory appropriately meets that need. This directory will be a key enabling document used to inform the development of any new genomic laboratory capacity.
1337. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what interim measures are in place, if any, to ensure genetics testing continues to be carried out during relocation from its current home in CHI Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/24]
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.
1338. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the addition of screening for SMA and SCID to the newborn bloodspot screening programme will commence given the fact that screening for SMA and SCID is not scheduled to take place at the current lab in Temple Street, but rather at the new National Children’s Hospital. As the new NCH is not due to open until at least Q2 2025, and an interim location has not been announced, this has led to confusion around when implementation will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1339. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm when newborn babies will be screened for SMA and SCID as part of the newborn bloodspot screening programme; and where the testing for these conditions will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14231/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1424. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health where the testing for the recently announced new conditions to be added to the national bloodspot screening programme, namely SMA and SCID, will take place (details supplied); whether CHI Crumlin is the interim solution to ensure testing for babies commences this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1338, 1339 and 1424 together.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a key objective of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that progress continues to be made in this regard.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. Its role is crucial in ensuring that Ireland has rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress has been made on the expansion of the NBS Programme since I became Minister for Health. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved recommendations from NSAC for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme, which will bring the number of conditions screened for as part of what is commonly known as the ‘heel prick’ test in Ireland to 11, once the implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
Regarding the implementation of testing for SCID and SMA. In November 2023, I wrote to the HSE requesting that they commence implementation planning. This work has now commenced and officials in my Department will continue to be available to assist the HSE in this regard.
Furthermore, I am pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the roll-out of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants.
In relation to query on the opening of the National Children’s Hospital, the main contractor has now set out its programme for the completion of the construction and fit-out of the hospital by Q4 2024.
The introduction of screening for SMA and SCID will enable earlier identification and diagnosis, thereby facilitating earlier disease management and treatment. I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. Screening will make a real difference to their lives, which is why I am determined to see testing introduced for these conditions as soon as possible.
1340. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to the establishment of an infant feeding communication forum across departments that is, with responsibility for children, health, and marketing of commercial formula milks and the Health Service Executive to align government policy, funding and Health Service Executive practices for the purposes of increasing breastfeeding initiation rates and the duration of breastfeeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14232/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1341. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to standardise breastfeeding education for healthcare professionals in maternity units and support in-service, role-specific breastfeeding education and training to enable implementation of the Baby Friendly Initiative in all 19 maternity units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14233/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1342. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to fully implement the World Health Organization Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and its subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions in legislation and ensure that this legislation is monitored and enforced in a transparent manner independent of industry, with particular attention paid to advertising and marketing online via baby clubs and social media influencers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14234/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1343. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide independent, evidence-based breastfeeding-related education and training to all healthcare professionals likely to encounter breastfeeding mothers or infants/young children in their clinical practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14236/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1344. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to provide for greater availability of breastfeeding preparation classes and breastfeeding support groups, and modes of delivery of same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14237/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1345. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop effective strategies for increasing awareness of infant and young child feeding materials within other sectors outside of the health service, for example, workplace settings, county councils, and allocate resources as required by the Health Service Executive to implement breastfeeding campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14238/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1347. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop an infant and young child feeding in emergencies preparedness plan specific to the Irish context in line with international guidance, incorporating and building on the operational guidance prepared by the Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group of the Emergency Nutrition Network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14240/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1340 to 1345, inclusive, and 1347 together.
Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health and for the HSE National health policy, including the Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, emphasises the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.
The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. A HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan Implementation Group was established to oversee delivery of the plan and a national breastfeeding Co-Ordinator was appointed as lead. The Department of Health works closely with the HSE National Breast-Feeding Co-ordinator in the implementation of HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, which has been extended out to 2025. A considerable number of areas have been progressed over the last number of years and there are a number of initiatives currently underway.
The Department is working with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland towards the establishment of an all-Island Breastfeeding Network in the near future. In collaboration with the Institute of Public Health (IPH), it is anticipated that this Forum will provide opportunities for research, promotion of breastfeeding and stakeholder engagement to be developed across the island.
Education and training for Health care professionals HCPs is provided through undergraduate, postgraduate, and voluntary avenues. Currently the HSE administers a breastfeeding course on HSELanD that is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) which is available to all midwives, PHN’s and other HCPs. This updated National Infant Feeding Education Programme (NIFEP) focuses on standardising the delivery of breastfeeding education and skills training, maximising blended learning, and ensuring health care staff are up to date with emerging evidence. To date five thousand staff have enrolled on the course.
Training is provided in health specific undergraduate courses such as medicine, nutrition and dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy (SALT). Other postgraduate certificate courses are available specifically for Infant Feeding, such as the Breastfeeding & Lactation postgraduate certificate course in UCD. The International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant training (IBCLC) is another qualification that can be undertaken voluntarily through the IBCLC commission.
Further exploration in the development of a level 9 postgraduate education qualification for infant feeding will remain on the HSE agenda to strengthen professional development for healthcare professionals in promoting breastfeeding.
An important action of the HSE Breastfeeding action Plan is to strengthen compliance with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and subsequent WHA resolutions. The HSE implemented its national policy to support compliance with the Code in 2021. Marketing of breast milk substitutes and new standards for infant feeding in maternity services requires that there be no advertising of formula milk, teats, bottles, and soothers in any part of the maternity services and that staff take active measures to protect themselves and parents, by not participating in formula industry sponsored training and events.
Furthermore, in 2022, revised Infant Feeding Standards for maternity and neonatal services were published in Ireland. This followed a review of the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) in Ireland, and the publication of revised WHO guidance for the implementation of BFI in 2018. The Standards describe the infant feeding practices and management process required within services to implement the HSE Infant Feeding Policy for Maternity and Neonatal services.
Set out below is the current position of the HSE in the context of its responsibilities under the Code;
• Self-assessment against national standards for infant feeding in maternity services completed in 2023, including areas relating to the Code.
• Five of the nineteen maternity services have implemented non-branded teats into postnatal units to reduce marketing of brands.
• Review of procedures for infant formula completed in 2023, to ensure compliance with the national clinical policy for primary care.
The Department recognises that further measures to improve and monitor compliance with the WHO code are needed across government departments and in partnership with cross-sectorial agencies.
In particular, the Department is working with the Coimisiún na Meán which was established in March 2023 further to the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. The OSMR Act 2022 amended the Broadcasting Act 2009 to establish Coimisiún na Meán and dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (“BAI”).
In addition to undertaking the functions of the BAI as the regulator for broadcasting in Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán is to establish a regulatory framework for online safety, update the regulation of television broadcasting and audiovisual on-demand services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive into Irish law.
The standards and practices that can be addressed through regulatory codes and rules include the advertisement of certain foods and beverages. In this regard, the Act states that codes and rules can be introduced which “may prohibit or restrict the inclusion in programmes or user-generated content of commercial communications considered by An Coimisiún to be the subject of public concern in respect of the general public health interests of children, in particular infant formula, follow-on formula or those foods or beverages which contain fat, trans-fatty acids, salts or sugars”.
Officials from the Department of Health have contributed to the recent public consultation on the draft safety code and met with officials from An Coimisiún to discuss their work programme.
The HSE provides evidenced based impartial information and support for feeding options in infants and young children on mychild.ie website and social media channels. HSE established the mychild.ie website, campaign and resources, including a child health communications lead in 2017. A suite of national resources is available for parents to be and new parents, including print and online information. Breastfeeding information is integrated into all mychild publications and there are a number of specific breastfeeding publications available. There are also sixty-three multipage breastfeeding guides on the mychild website. The website and breastfeeding supports available (online and in-person) are promoted through paid and organic social media advertising throughout the year alongside TV, radio and media campaigns at certain times of the year e.g. National Breastfeeding Week. The website is part of a suite of information supports provided both directly by practitioners and online. This suite of resources includes MyPregnancy, MyChild 0-2, Mychild 2-5 and Breastfeeding: A good start in life books available to all expectant parents.
In the last 4 years, the HSE has invested in a promotional campaign for parents aged 25 to 45 on mychild.ie and as one of the most popular topics, breastfeeding features strongly in this ongoing campaign. The website experienced huge growth during the pandemic with website visits rising from 1.4 million in 2019 to 5.6 million in 2021. It has had five million visits in 2022.
Parents can contact the HSE’s online breastfeeding support service through the ‘Ask our breastfeeding expert’ service on mychild.ie. The service was established in 2014 and is provided by a team of lactation consultants. It is available seven days a week with the live chat service available Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm.
Breastfeeding support groups stopped meeting in person during the Covid 19 pandemic but are back operating; 70% are run by HSE and 30% by voluntary organisations. There are over 220 breastfeeding supports nationwide provided by HSE and voluntary breastfeeding agencies, with breastfeeding groups being available in every county and the number is increasing. The vast majority of support groups meet in person, but online options are also provided and are popular with parents, where in-person groups are not feasible/easily accessible.
All nineteen maternity hospitals provide antenatal education and breastfeeding preparation classes. A new National Antenatal Education Programme for Women and their Chosen Birth Partners in line with National Standards for Antenatal education in Ireland is being implemented across all maternity hospitals in 2024.
There is a blended approach with in-person and online delivery of antenatal education in line to meet the demand for antenatal education services and service user requests. In situations where a woman is likely to need additional support to breastfeed, the pregnant woman will also have the opportunity to have a consultation with an infant feeding/lactation midwife or nurse during her pregnancy. Over the last three years, the number of lactation consultants across community and acute services has doubled to improve access to breastfeeding supports to all new parents.
The Department does not have a policy for emergency preparedness for infant feeding protection, which was highlighted in the first World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) Assessment Report for Ireland, published in late 2023. Under the “Shared Island North South research programme” work is being conducted on developing an infant and young child feeding in emergencies preparedness plan for the island of Ireland. This research is being led out by staff at Queen’s University Belfast and Technological University Dublin (TUD)
A key focus of Healthy Ireland is on building relationships and strengthening partnerships between government departments, local authorities, Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), education providers and the wider business, voluntary, community and statutory sectors. Limerick’s “We’re Breastfeeding Friendly” is an exciting example of such partnership working. We’re Breastfeeding Friendly aims to help improve the health and well-being of breastfeeding mothers, babies and their families through the development and promotion of breastfeeding friendly businesses, organisations and communities. Any business, community group or organisation that has premises open to the general public is eligible to join, for example customer services, hotels, community centres, sports and recreation facilities, restaurants, libraries, or health centres.
Research indicates that breastfeeding gives a child the optimum start in life and that increasing our breastfeeding rates will contribute to improvements in child and maternal health and can contribute to the reduction of childhood obesity and chronic diseases. Currently the HSE are evaluating the implementation of the Breastfeeding Action plan and consideration will be given to how best to support mothers to breastfeed and increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland in the coming years.
1346. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will develop an up-to-date infant feeding policy for those with HIV in Ireland, in line with recent British HIV Association guidance, that would facilitate shared decision-making between healthcare professionals and service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14239/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for their attention and direct response to the Deputy.
1348. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to develop an electronic child health record to collect and report on breastfeeding metrics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14241/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for their attention and direct response to the Deputy.
1349. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14243/24]
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.
1350. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the number of long-term beds which are open in each of the community hospitals in County Donegal, for each of the years from 2019 to 2024, in tabular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14247/24]
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.
1351. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if he directed the HSE to temporarily use the new unopened Nenagh Community Nursing Home as a step down facility for acute care based on the overcrowding in UHL; if he was asked by any member of the Houses of the Oireachtas to do the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14255/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo reduce delays in patients accessing beds at University Hospital Limerick, the HSE Midwest Regional Executive Officer has proposed to temporarily repurpose the Nenagh Community Nursing Unit as a step-down facility.
This is an interim measure, pending HIQA registration of the facility, the recruitment of staff, and the opening of a new 96 bed block at University Hospital Limerick.
I have approved this plan as part of a suite of measures designed to address the serious and ongoing challenges at University Hospital Limerick.
1352. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 347 of 7 March 2024, if he can publish the legal advice given to the Minister for Mental Health in relation to regulating CAMHS under section 34 of the Mental Health Act, 2001; the person or body that gave this legal advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14279/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of legal advice is subject to legal privilege and so I am not in a position to publish the advice.
1353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1397 of 18 April 2023, his plans to allocate additional funding and resources to genetics services in Our Lady's Hospital Crumlin, in light of the ongoing delays in waiting times for diagnosis; the details of his plans to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14284/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government and I are fully committed to improving genetics services in Ireland. One of the key ambitions of the National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine in Ireland is to build a strong patient and family-centred national genetics service that can be accessed equitably across the country and lifespan of patients.
In 2023, the Government allocated €2.7 million to the implementation of this Strategy which included the establishment of a National Office of Genetics and Genomics and the allocation of front-line staff across the HSE Health Regions in areas of immediate need.
Last year, the following genetics/genomics posts were allocated to deliver services in CHI, Crumlin:
• 2 genomic resource associates
• 1 genetic counsellor
In Budget 2024, €1.9 million was allocated to the implementation of the Strategy, to fund both clinical and laboratory and bioinformatics investment. This includes funding for additional Consultant Clinical Geneticists, Genetic Counsellors, Genomic Resource Associates, Bioinformaticians, and Genetic Technologists.
Recruitment through the strategy will be ongoing during its implementation phase, and beyond. Some of the posts approved in 2023 were affected by the HSE recruitment moratorium.
A priority for 2024 is the development of a robust National Genetics and Genomics Workforce Plan to support the recruitment, retention, education and career development of specialised roles. As part of this, a workforce planning analysis will take place. This will include genetic counsellors and the development of the Genomic Resource Associate (GRA) roles to support patients to navigate the genetic and genomic care pathway and improve coordination of care.
The development of a National Genomic Test Directory for Rare and Inherited Diseases is another priority deliverable for 2024. This Directory will support the delivery of equitable national genetics and genomics services, including clinical genetics services, genomics laboratory capabilities and associated bioinformatics. The Directory will map the current genetic tests conducted across Ireland and provide a more transparent process for referrals. This will be a key development in improving national genetic testing and will ultimately help to reduce wait time.
1354. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a planned surgery, which did not go ahead, and ensure a new appointment is issued to the person (details supplied) as soon as possible.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14285/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
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 follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
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.
1355. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months for children and adolescents in the North Lee, South Lee, North Cork and Kerry primary care services, in tabular form. [14286/24]
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.
1356. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the psychology waiting-list numbers and exact wait-times in months for children and adolescents in the North Lee, South Lee, North Cork and Kerry CAMHS services, in tabular form. [14287/24]
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.
