Written Answers Nos. 1211-1234
1211. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health his views on the 550 deaths associated with adverse events in 2022 in HSE hospitals and services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13631/24]
View answerThe delivery of high quality, safe services is a priority within the Irish healthcare system. This is in line with the Sláintecare vision of Right Care. Right Place. Right Time. An integral part of this is the appropriate and timely reporting of adverse events when they do occur. It is vital that our health services take steps to ensure adverse events are appropriately reviewed and responded to. This information is important for healthcare services to learn so that care and experiences for patients and their families can continuously improve.
The HSE has systems and procedures in place to respond when an adverse incident occurs. This approach to incident management is cognisant of the needs of those affected and supports services to learn and improve. The HSE’s Incident Management Framework was first published in 2018 and updated in 2020. The HSE’s Incident Management Framework is applied to the management of incidents and is the mechanism for incident investigations in the HSE. The focus of the Framework is on understanding how and why an incident occurred and using this knowledge to improve safety.
As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has also been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s recently published report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine for the academic years 2022/2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13634/24]
View answer1213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps he will take to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine in the school immunisation programme in consideration of the findings of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s recently published report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13635/24]
View answer1214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason the recently published Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s report (26/02/24) on the uptake of the HPV vaccine does not include information regarding the percentage of uptake achieved through the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13636/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1212 to 1214, inclusive, together.
The Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme commenced on 8 December 2022 with the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the programme.
In 2023, the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme offered free HPV vaccines to:
• females who are 24 years of age or younger
• males who are 21 years of age or younger
In relation to any extension, I can confirm that the HSE and the Department are working together to review available options in relation to the programme. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the programme activity in 2023.
With the aim of moving towards cervical cancer elimination in the coming years, it will be important to focus on increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme. As you will be aware the ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases.
As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage and protection. It is vital that, moving forward, the importance of receiving HPV vaccination when it is offered through the routine HPV vaccination programme is communicated effectively to the population and that there is no confusion over the optimum time to receive the vaccine.
In relation to vaccination uptake rates published by the HPSC, it should be noted that data are subject to ongoing review, validation and update.
The HSE National Immunisation Oversight Committee (NIOC) meets quarterly to discuss immunisation challenges and to agree actions. There is a particular focus on vaccine uptakes rates and what actions are currently being undertaken to increase uptake rates across programmes.
A HSE Taskforce has been set up in response to the declining immunisation rates. Through analysis of available data and intelligence, it will provide evidence-based expert advice and guidance to increase uptake of recommended vaccine programmes to target coverage levels and reduce the risk of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases.
1215. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if there are HIQA standards for home care delivered by the State; and if home care is regulated by HIQA. [13647/24]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to "Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care".
In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on continuing the development of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services which aims to ensure that service users are provided with regulated care. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: Regulation of home support providers; working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; the examination of future funding options for home support services; Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
(i) Regulation of home support providers
Development of a General Scheme to regulate home support services is now at an advanced stage with the Heads of Bill currently being finalised in advance of submitting to Government.
The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill is expected to be enacted in 2024 and will establish a licensing system for providers of home support services (public, private and not-for-profit). The regulations will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license and will confer on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the authority to grant, amend and ultimately revoke a license if home support providers fail to meet minimum requirements set out in regulations and quality standards.
Transitional timelines are currently being finalised for the registration of home support providers under this framework. Additionally, HIQA is currently developing standards for home support providers which are planned to go out for public consultation in 2024.
1216. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a full assessment will be arranged through CAMHS or the disability services to ascertain the range of services required by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13655/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1217. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be admitted as a matter of urgency to Dun Laoghaire Rehabilitation clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13656/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1218. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the amount being invested each year towards cancer research; the amount of this directed towards research into brain cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13661/24]
View answerIn recent years, my Department has made significant progress in improving health research infrastructure, including that of cancer research. It is not currently possible to quantify the amount of investment across all areas of brain cancer research, which can span clinical trials, epidemiological studies of causes and outcomes, and laboratory-based research. The funding sources for such research include the Health Research Board (HRB) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), cancer charities, and pharmaceutical company-funded clinical trials.
The majority of HRB funding schemes are open to cancer-related research offering continuous funding opportunities for cancer research. A 2018 report published by the HRB, which examined funding awards across seven national funders, recognised that:
• between 2011 and 2015 seven national funding agencies including the HRB reported investment of €89,719,795 in 354 awards in cancer-related research, which was the second-largest portion of overall national investment;
• cancer-related research accounts for 20.2% of all HRB funding commitments;
• the HRB was the primary national funder for cancer-related research (54% of total cancer-related research), with Science Foundation Ireland also being an important funder in this area (35%).
In line with the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, a National Cancer Research Group has been established. The Group aims to improve co-ordination and oversight of cancer research nationally and provide a forum for the agreement of research priorities. The Group also seeks to achieve continuity of funding and to ensure that funding allocations are linked to the agreed research priorities.
1219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health what arrangements are in place to ensure Irish brain tumour patients have access to advanced cancer treatments abroad not available in this jurisdiction funded by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13663/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1220. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) will receive the treatment they need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13667/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1221. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant posts, per CDNT, per post, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13672/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1222. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of staff members who are on maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave, expected to last longer than 4 weeks, per CDNT, in tabular form; and the action that is being taken by these teams to ensure established needs of children are met. [13673/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1223. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health what plans are in place to ensure GP cover, given the imminent closure for Coole medical centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13674/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1224. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital procedure for a person (details supplied); when the procedure will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13678/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1225. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he was aware of the reported removal of five patients at UHL to other healthcare facilities locally in order to free up space during high presentations during March; if he can confirm the veracity of those reports and if such instances were confined to five patients; whether those patients were removed during night-time hours; if he can confirm whether those patients and their families were given adequate notice and information concerning the move; if the relocation of these patients in the manner concerned conforms with best clinical practice; if the matter is being investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13683/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1226. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the current WTE filled and vacant in each South Tipperary CAMHS team, broken down by discipline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13686/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1227. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by each CAMHS team in south Tipperary in 2023; the number of those referrals that were accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13687/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1228. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the numbers of referrals to the South East CAMHS-ID team in 2023; and the number of those referrals accepted. [13688/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1229. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the WTE posts currently allocated and the number of those posts vacant, in the South East CAMHS-ID team, broken down by discipline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13689/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1230. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be called for hearing aids; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13695/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1231. 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. [13696/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1232. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if the National Gender Service believes that trans people need to be in their mid- to late twenties before they are mature enough to decide to pursue medical transition, as per a recent radio interview (details supplied). [13698/24]
View answer1233. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health the reason that in a recent radio interview (details supplied), National Gender Service staff considered the process to access hormones via Tavistock to be too easy. [13699/24]
View answer1234. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if, following a recent radio interview (details supplied), the National Gender Service staff believe asexuals are entitled to the same medical care and at the same age as all other sexualities. [13700/24]
View answer1235. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if, when writing the Chief Clinical Officer's business case "Model of Care and Implementation Plan for Transgender care", it was intended that service users could be excluded from the Advisory Group due to their interest in their own healthcare being considered purely ideological. [13701/24]
View answer1236. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health what consultation was done with the trans community before abandoning the Programme for Government's commitment to WPATH as per a recent article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13702/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1232 to 1236, inclusive, together.
As this is a service matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for response.
