Written Answers Nos. 671-690
671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason the World Health Organization Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products of 12 November 2012 has not been signed; the necessary legislative or administrative measures required to implement the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4427/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is applying the standard approach to the ratification of international agreements to the Protocol on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in that it is seeking to ensure that all the necessary domestic legislation has been effected before it proceeds to ratification. This approach is to ensure that Ireland can fulfil all of its obligations under the agreement upon its entry into force for Ireland.
A licensing system for tobacco retailers is an outstanding requirement of the Protocol. This will be introduced through the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which has been prioritised for drafting.
673. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 886 of 19 October 2021, when the outcome of the 2022 proposal for additional nursing posts will be approved; and if approved, the length of time it will take for the changes to be implemented. [4447/22]
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.
674. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for assessment in the Regional Hospital, Tullamore. [4484/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
675. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist neurology nurses sought by site by the neurology clinical programme and clinical lead for 2021 and 2022; the number of neurology nurses who are currently working across the public health system; the number of posts sought and created; the training that has been provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/22]
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.
676. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist neurology nursing posts provided for in 2021 and 2022; the budget provided for hiring and creating such posts in 2021 and 2022; the amount spent in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4489/22]
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.
678. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the policy on the minimum number of specialist palliative care inpatient units by smallest geographic unit or CHO area; if any such area does not currently meet this threshold; the timelines to resolve such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrent palliative care policy is contained in the 2001 report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care. This report recommends that there should be at least one specialist palliative care inpatient unit in each health board area. Since the publication of the 2001 report, there have been reorganisational changes resulting in healthcare provision now being provided by nine community healthcare organisations in place of health board areas.
With recent openings of specialist inpatient palliative care units in Wicklow, Mayo and Waterford in 2020/2021, CHO8 is now the only community healthcare organisation without at least one specialist palliative care inpatient unit. The HSE in CHO8 has been working on plans for two inpatient units, one in Tullamore, co. Offaly and one in Drogheda, co. Louth. The estimated opening of the IPU in Drogheda is Q4 2023. The HSE is working on developing a costed time lined plan for the Midlands IPU.
The Department of Health is currently developing a new palliative care policy for adults to replace the 2001 report. The new policy will reflect the changes in end-of-life care including increased demand for adult palliative care, the shift towards care in the community, the emphasis in Sláintecare on addressing geographic variations in the provision of both community and hospital palliative care services, and developments in international best practice.
679. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a delegation of persons who live with Lyme disease and who have much to offer in terms of informing policy and working on creating awareness of the disease for medical professionals and others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4502/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is an infection caused by bacteria known as Borrelia (B. burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii). It is a tick borne infection that occurs as a result of bites from an infected tick. Lyme disease is relatively rare in Ireland and it is estimated that a small proportion of ticks in Ireland are infected (less than 5%).
Lyme disease may be treated by Infectious Diseases specialists or by General Internal Medicine, available across all acute hospitals or by General Practitioners (GPs). The infection is known to be endemic in certain locations and in these areas the GPs are very familiar with the most typical presentation which is a rash, often with a bull’s eye appearance.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is Ireland's specialist agency for the surveillance of communicable diseases. The HPSC is part of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and works in partnership with health service providers to provide the best possible information for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The HPSC produces fact sheets for the general public on infectious diseases. The fact sheet on Lyme disease can be found here: www.hpsc.ie/az/vectorborne/lymedisease/factsheet/
My Department considers all requests for meetings that it receives and has previously met with groups that advocate for people who live with Lyme disease. My Department will continue to engage with stakeholders on this issue.
680. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount and value of payments made by each acute hospital for preventable accidents in tabular form; the amount which relate to incidents of mortality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4503/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
681. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist nursing positions that are advised by models of care and clinical programmes which are either unfunded or funded but unfilled in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4504/22]
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.
682. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health when respite service will recommence in Belmullet Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4506/22]
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.
683. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of claims which have been made to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4507/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020, implementing in full the recommendations of Mr Justice Charles Meenan on an alternative to the Court process for eligible CervicalCheck Claims.
The Tribunal has notified my Department that it has received 19 claims to date. The number of claims received is now increasing regularly. The figure includes two claims that were consolidated. The claims received are a combination of new claims i.e. claims that were not the subject of proceedings before the High Court, and claims transferred from the High Court.
On 24 January 2022, I made an order under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019 to extend the closing date for receipt of claims by the Tribunal to 26 July 2022. The Act does not provide for a further extension of this date (i.e. post July 2022). The Tribunal has successfully brought a number of claims to conclusion swiftly and I am confident it can continue to do so.
The Tribunal is the most appropriate venue to hear and determine CervicalCheck claims. It has been specifically designed for that purpose. It is, of course, entirely up to eligible women as to whether or not they use it.
684. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of funded and open critical care beds; when the next critical care bed census will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to addressing the long-standing deficit in critical care capacity. Very significant funding of €77 million has been provided by Government across 2021 and 2022, to increase national capacity to 340 critical care beds by 2023. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing permanent adult critical care capacity to 297 beds, from a baseline of 255 beds in early 2020.
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Government in December 2020, will when implemented fully address the recommendation of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review for 430 critical care beds by 2031. In fact, it surpasses that recommendation, delivering an increase in capacity to 446 over time.
With regard to the publication of the next critical care bed capacity census, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
685. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the National Service Plan 2022 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4514/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have recently approved the 2022 National Service Plan subject to a number of amendments. Following resubmission by the HSE of the amended National Service Plan for 2022, it will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of my approval. Once the approved National Service Plan is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
686. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider making the HPV vaccine available free of cost to all persons up to age of 45 years given the October 2018 announcement from the Food and Drug Administration in the United States of America that the approved age for the HPV vaccine had been increased up to age 45 years for women and men; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4515/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
In 2009, the NIAC recommended HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 12 to 13 year old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of secondary school.
In June 2017, on foot of the NIAC’s recommendation that the HPV vaccine should also be given to boys, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.
The HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the 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 sexually active, that is, before a person is first 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. All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme are provided free of charge.
My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.
Anyone not in 1st year of secondary school or age equivalent in special schools or home schooled during the 2020/2021 school year who wishes to get the HPV vaccine, must go to their GP or sexual health clinic and pay privately for the vaccine and its administration. This applies to everyone whether or not they have a medical card/GP visit card, as it is outside of the HPV immunisation programme.
I have asked my officials to request the National Immunisation Advisory Committee consider the clinical effectiveness of providing the HPV vaccine to:
- girls and boys in secondary school who were eligible to receive HPV vaccine in 1st year but who did not receive it; and
- women up to the age of 25 years who have left secondary school and who did not receive the vaccine when eligible.
If NIAC conclude that there is sufficient evidence to support providing the HPV vaccine to one or both groups, HIQA will undertake a cost-effectiveness assessment on that basis.
688. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the €1,000 bonus to carers who work in the homes of persons with disabilities and who worked 12-hour shifts and provided care for persons throughout the pandemic, placing their own health at risk to provide that service. [4518/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
689. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to expand the weight management services throughout the country. [4521/22]
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.
690. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there is a need for a publicly funded service to get excess skin removed for those who have gone through bariatric surgery. [4522/22]
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.
