Written Answers Nos. 586-605
586. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the status of the programme for Government commitment to publish an updated national rare diseases plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49608/21]
View answer587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the publication of the updated national rare diseases plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49609/21]
View answer588. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a review of the existing national rare diseases plan was conducted in the context of the updating of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49612/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 586 to 588, inclusive, together.
A National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland (2014 – 2018) was launched by the Minister for Health in July 2014. This is a generic policy framework for rare diseases. The scope of the plan is broad given that there are approximately 8,000 rare diseases affecting millions of EU citizens; and consequently, there can be a dearth of expertise and knowledge about some rare diseases, simply because they are so rare.
Many of the major recommendations of the plan have already been implemented including the establishment of a HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and a Rare Disease Office. Building on this progress, themes for inclusion in a roadmap for the coming period were agreed, with the Rare Disease Task Force, which comprises the main rare disease advocacy groups; Rare Disease Ireland (RDI), the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCP), and the Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPPOSI).
In late 2020, the National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases was operationalised and incorporated into the National Rare Disease Office. So, from 01 September 2020, the NRDO became the main contact point and driver for national HSE rare disease projects and initiatives. The work of the NRDO is overseen and governed by HSE Acute Operations under the governance of the Office of the Chief Clinical Officer, where the National Rare Disease Plan is firmly embedded.
Meetings to ensure that the input and the voice of the patient is represented in the ongoing work in relation to Rare Diseases, took place at regular intervals with the Rare Disease Task Force, the HSE National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases and the Rare Disease Office. Continuing this practice, earlier this year (2021) I met with the HSE, The NRDO and The Rare Disease Taskforce and a very fruitful discussion was held regarding priority areas for the future in order to build on the significant progress made to date in implementing the Rare Disease Plan. A number, of key themes for inclusion in a roadmap for the coming period have been agreed.
589. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide national, regional and departmental breakdowns of which HSE IT systems such as databases, virtualisation servers, emails and other elements of important IT infrastructure, particularly in north-east counties, are still waiting to be restored in view of the cyberattack on the HSE and the ongoing strain on the healthcare system and HSE staff; and when each of these critical systems will return to their normal functionality. [49615/21]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
590. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if University Limerick Hospitals Group is included in the remaining six diabetes centres to become dose adjusting for normal eating licensed in 2022; if a centre in the mid-west is included in the remaining six centres becoming licensed in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49619/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
591. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the funding in budget 2022 to provide a minimum of one whole-time equivalent diabetes specialist pump nurse for the adult diabetes clinic in the University Limerick Hospitals Group to enable insulin pump therapy initiation for persons who are clinically suited to this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49620/21]
View answerIn 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.
592. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of persons over 18 years of age that are attending University Limerick Hospitals Group adult diabetes service and using insulin pump therapy to manage their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49621/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
593. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an association (details supplied) seeking extra neurology nurse specialists across Irish hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49622/21]
View answerIn 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.
594. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the Covid-19 funding allocated to a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49636/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and personal social services including addiction services. The HSE either directly provides such services or arranges to have them provided directly on its behalf through service level arrangements.
As the correspondence relating to this parliamentary question relates to operational and contractual matters between the organisation referred to by the Deputy and the HSE, it is not appropriate for me to comment on it.
I have asked the HSE to review this matter and to engage with the organisation. I have been assured that the HSE will continue to work closely with the organisation to ensure a sustainable future for its services.
595. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if an MRI machine in use at University Hospital Kerry is used exclusively for private patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49637/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
596. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI machines in use at University Hospital Kerry; the body that operates the machines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49638/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
597. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients that received an MRI in University Hospital Kerry in each of the past 36 months by public and private in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49639/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
598. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients referred from County Kerry to County Cork for an MRI in each of the past 36 months by public and private in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49640/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
599. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the new supports that will be forthcoming from his Department in 2021 and 2022 for the 40,000 persons with epilepsy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49647/21]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
600. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health when the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate to epilepsy patients will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49648/21]
View answerDetails of the proposed inquiry into the licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate in Ireland are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.
601. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that the medical assessment unit in Nenagh General Hospital is only seeing approximately four to six patients per day given that it has the capacity to see upwards of 20 patients per day and given the medical assessment unit in Ennis sees 20 to 24 patients per day; his plans to address this major shortfall that is increasing pressure on the accident and emergency department in University Hospital Limerick and on general practitioners in north County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49649/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
602. Deputy Michael McNamara 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. [49651/21]
View answerUnder 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.
603. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the pilot waiting projects which have taken place in the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh, Our Lady's Hospital Navan and University Hospital Kerry; the terms of reference and findings of these pilots projects; the steps taken in each hospital; the results in each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49657/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
604. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is still waiting for an angiogram; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49661/21]
View answerUnder 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.
605. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of the pilot waiting list project taken by Beaumont Hospital; the measures taken; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49658/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
