Results 9,981-10,000 of 27,021 for speaker:David Cullinane

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: 129. To ask the Minister for Health when pharmacies will receive the PPE, in particular surgical masks, that was promised by the HSE to keep pharmacy staff and their vulnerable customers safe from the potential risk of catching or spreading Covid-19 infection in the course of their working day in the pharmacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24261/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: We do not need to go into much detail on it. We possibly need a Teams meeting some time this week to hear people's proposals. In terms of my key proposal, obviously, we need an updated work schedule because we have a number of items to book in, including the nursing homes issue. We have the sitting on Friday also in respect of sports, which I believe should go ahead. Yesterday, we had...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I welcome all the witnesses. I have read the report and my first question is for Professor Kelleher. To some degree, the report had to look back on the most recent events and how nursing homes dealt with Covid-19. However, the report concentrated more on the framework of care under which nursing homes do or do not operate, as the case may be. The essence of the report is recommendations...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: When the panel went about its work, did it interact with HIQA? Did the HIQA report have an impact on the report of the panel?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: My time is limited so I ask Professor Kelleher to confirm whether what I now say is correct. The report refers to very poor clinical governance across the sector and noted that in the HIQA report, there are no formal governance links between the HSE and that 60% of homes with outbreaks were not compliant with the existing clinical governance framework. Is that correct?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: It is in the recommendations that talked about poor clinical governance. There is also talk about the structure and relationship between nursing homes, the Department of Health and the HSE. Is that something that the expert panel examined?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: What was the outcome?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: It also states there is not a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and communication between the sector - the HSE, HIQA and the Department - and it is not standardised or co-ordinated. Was that-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: Okay. The report also states some homes did not communicate meaningfully with residents and families about lockdowns and visitation.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: Does the report comment on the structural relationships between the HSE, the Department and nursing homes?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: Yes, that is the point I was raising.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: Did the report comment on the view that some homes did not communicate meaningfully with residents and families? Did the expert panel offer an opinion on that?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: Okay. The report also refers to an absence of an integrated infection prevention and control strategy linking nursing homes and the Department of Health and the HSE. Is that correct?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank Professor Twomey. This report is one of the best reports we have seen come before this committee or any committee. The work that was done and the very clear recommendations will serve us well if they are implemented. It is a very thorough report. To be frank, it is hard to disagree with any of its recommendations. We discussed the matter with HIQA last week and we got further...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank Ms Doherty. I again commend the work that was done by the authors of the report. It is a comprehensive report, and if it is implemented, it will serve us well. I commend those who were party to this report. The committee will publish its final report. The expert panel's report needs to be reviewed on a regular basis by the joint committee on health, when it is established. We...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed) (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: We are back in public session. I welcome officials from the Department of Health and the representatives from the HSE to continue our consideration of the Covid-19 expert panel's report on nursing homes. From the Department of Health we have Dr. Kathleen MacLellan, assistant secretary, who is presenting from committee room 2. Dr. MacLellan is very welcome. By video link we have Mr. Niall...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed) (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank Dr. MacLellan. I invite Mr. Walsh to make an opening statement if he so wishes.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed) (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank Mr. Walsh. Today, we meet in the Seanad Chamber. I remind members and witnesses that this session of our meeting must finish at 2.30 p.m. as the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges is due to meet here at 3 p.m. Therefore, I must be very strict with people about time, including with myself who, as the first questioner today, has ten minutes. Can I assume that all of the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed) (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: I shall first direct my questions at Mr. Walsh. The HIQA report relays and outlines concerns that were expressed by the chief inspector in terms of nursing homes. Some of the concerns were as follows: the absence of clinical governance in most nursing homes; staffing levels not what they should be; a difficulty in maintaining staffing levels in the event of sudden and unplanned absences;...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed) (16 Sep 2020)

David Cullinane: May I put a direct question to Mr. Walsh? One of the key issues arising from both reports concerns clinical governance and the role and authority of HIQA to examine issues in nursing homes. I am not sure whether Mr. Walsh saw the hearing last week when we had HIQA representatives before us. They outlined to us the many exchanges they have had with the Department, the HSE and Ministers...