Written Answers Nos. 475-484
475. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 2 November 2023, if he can provide further information on the further funding that he has allocated for 2024 for the national stroke strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52933/23]
View answerThe National Stroke Strategy 2022 -2027, a five year strategy was developed by a multi-disciplinary Clinical Advisory Group, under the clinical governance and leadership of the National Clinical Programme for Stroke. The Strategy has a focus of concentrating on the four identified pillars of Stroke Prevention, Acute Care and Cure, Rehabilitation and Restoration to Living, and Education and Research. The aim of the Strategy is particularly focused on achieving integration across primary, acute, and social care services in line with Sláintecare.
Following on from 2023, there is continued funding in ELS of €7.3m for the National Stroke Strategy. This will continue to improve the strategy and facilitate the recruitment of specialist staffing. In addition, in 2024 a total of €3.2m will be available to community neurorehabilitation teams (which includes stroke), including €1.4M of new developments.
This funding will support the continued implementation of the National Stroke Strategy and address the burden of stroke at a patient, organisational, and system level.
476. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Connolly Hospital Dental General Anaesthetic Unit in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, which was due to open in 2019 but has not opened since its construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52943/23]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
477. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts including temporary, locum and permanent, that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practicing in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52955/23]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible
478. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to assist in a matter regarding a medical card (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52960/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
479. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the reason for the shortage of the medicine tyvense; and the actions he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of tyvense. [52966/23]
View answer482. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify why there is a shortage of the ADHD treatment medication tyvense; if he will acknowledge the impact the scarcity of this medication is having on people who are prescribed it, especially children with autism and ADHD, who without the drug are unable to go to school, function at home or have quality of life; if he will outline the steps he is taking to secure a regular and consistent supply of the medication and indicate when this will happen so that patients and parents do not have to make huge efforts every month to try to obtain it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52969/23]
View answer485. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the reason for the shortage of the medicine tyvense; and the steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of tyvense. [53016/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 479, 482 and 485 together.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG Ireland Branch has advised of shortages of some strengths of Tyvense (20mg, 40mg and 70mg) due to an unexpected increase in demand and manufacturing challenges. These shortages are affecting multiple EU countries, not just Ireland. The company has advised that resupply of all strengths is expected on 4th December 2023. The company has provided a letter to healthcare professionals detailing this information. To date, there have not been any notifications of shortages of the 30mg, 50mg or 60mg Tyvense capsules.
There are alternative medicines also available that are authorised for the treatment of ADHD. If patients or their carers cannot source their usual medicine at present, they are encouraged to discuss alternative options with their healthcare provider pending the resumption of normal supply.
I understand that the current shortage of this medication is causing a lot of distress and worry for patients and their families. My Department is progressing several workstreams for management of shortages, including primary legislative amendments to make regulations for management of shortages via the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023.
Ireland has a medicines shortage framework in place which is operated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on behalf of the Department of Health. The Medicines Shortages Framework’s aim is to help avert potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by co-ordinating the management of potential or actual shortages as they arise. The multi-stakeholder framework includes representation from the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals, the HSE, the Department of Health and patients. The Department and HPRA maintains regular contact regarding medicines shortages.
Ireland is heavily involved in work by the European commission and the European Medicines Agency to address European wide issues relating to medicines shortages. This includes work to ensure adequate supplies of medicines, for the coming Winter period. On the 24th October, the EU Commission published a communication, entitled Addressing medicine shortages in the EU. It reinforced the Commission’s plan to introduce a suite of short-, mid- and long-term actions to be undertaken to strengthen security of medicines supply in Europe.
Unfortunately, there are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues. Medicine shortages are, unfortunately, a feature of modern health systems worldwide and a global health problem. Shortages of medicines are not unique to Ireland and there is no evidence that shortages disproportionately impact patients in Ireland compared to other countries.
The HPRA publishes a list of medicines currently in short supply on its website (Shortages List (hpra.ie) with the reason for the shortage and expected dates for the return of supply. The information is available to assist healthcare professionals in managing medicine shortages when they arise and reduce their impact on patients. The webpage is updated daily as the HPRA receives new information.
The Department and the HPRA maintains regular contact regarding medicines shortages.
480. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a nursing home scheme transitional funding award will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52967/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
481. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health how many doses of novovax have been purchased by the State; when it will start to be administered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52968/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
483. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the titles of the White Papers published by his Department from 2008 to date; if he will provide online links to these papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52982/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. My Department is currently collating the information requested and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
484. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by his Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on commissioning or funding these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53003/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. I will survey the Department and the collated reply will be prepared into a full response. This will be provided to the deputy directly within 10 working days.
