Marian Harkin
Ceist:173. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health for a timeline as to when the lymphoedema service will recommence at Sligo University Hospital. [7566/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Services
Ceisteanna (173)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Closures
Ceisteanna (174)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:174. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact the 500 persons are waiting on beds as a result of the closure of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7575/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (175)
Maurice Quinlivan
Ceist:175. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details suppled) who following a referral by their GP to University Hospital Limerick 18 months ago for an endoscopy has yet to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7578/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (176)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:176. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person's (details supplied) in County Clare will receive an appointment for a hearing test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7589/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (177)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of education and or training places that are available for young persons with autism who have completed a course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7591/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (178)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:178. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 704 of 29 March 2022, the way a person who was seconded from a public sector employee role to a front facing vaccination centre administration role during the Covid-19 vaccination rollout programme can finally receive their pandemic payment bonus, given that the HSE, is advising they are ineligible to apply to it given they were not an employee of the HSE and their public sector employers are unsure where to reclaim the bonus from if they were to pay it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (179)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Ceist:179. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in the State applied for the Covid-19 pandemic bonus; the number of persons who have been paid the Covid-19 pandemic bonus; the number of persons who have applied for the bonus and are still awaiting payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (180)
Mick Barry
Ceist:180. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will support the establishment of the community neuro rehabilitation team in each of the CHO areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7595/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Abortion Services
Ceisteanna (181)
Mick Barry
Ceist:181. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will outline a timeline for the further progressing of the review to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Minister for Health commenced the Review of the operation Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 in line with statutory and Government commitments. The review examined the Act of 2018 which sets out four different types of situations in which a termination of pregnancy can lawfully occur in the State. The Review will assess the effectiveness of the operation of the legislation and will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The final Report of the Review is expected to be submitted to the Minister for his consideration imminently.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (182)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:182. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the funding his Department has allocated to BreastCheck, the national breast cancer screening programme; the percentage of the total budget allocation for his Department this amounts to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7598/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following a review of the 2023 National Service Plan (NSP), the HSE is revising the plan in line with considerations and feedback provided.
I expect to receive a revised NSP shortly for consideration. In line with the Health Act 2004, the NSP, when approved, will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days. After this the HSE will ensure it is published at the earliest possible time.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (183)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:183. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the waiting lists for the BreastCheck national breast cancer screening programme; the steps his Department is taking to deal with this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7599/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (184)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:184. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when adjuvant abemaciclib will be approved to reduce the risk of breast cancer for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7600/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.
In terms of the specific details of the application for pricing and reimbursement of Abemaciclib (Verzenios®) in early breast cancer:
The HSE received an application for pricing / reimbursement on the 11th April 2022 from Eli Lilly (the applicant) for a new indication for Abemaciclib (Verzenios®) in combination with endocrine therapy for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.
- The first step in the process is the submission of a Rapid Review dossier (a clinical and economic dossier) to the National Centre for Phamacoeconomics (NCPE) for assessment. The HSE commissioned the Rapid Review process on the 11th April 2022.
- The NCPE Rapid Review assessment report was received by the HSE on the 6th May 2022. The NCPE have advised the HSE that a full HTA is recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Abemaciclib (Verzenios®) compared with the current standard of care. (www.ncpe.ie/drugs/abemaciclib-verzenios-for-adjuvant-hr-positive-her2-negative-node-positive-early-breast-cancer-hta-id-22020/ )
- The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment on the 26th May 2022 as per agreed processes.
- The NCPE publishes details of medicines where the HSE has commissioned a Rapid Review assessment and / or a full health technology assessment on their website. The website is updated at regular intervals and includes assessment outcomes and updates on reimbursement for each individual medicine and indication listed. Details of the assessment(s) of Abemaciclib (Verzenios®) are available at www.ncpe.ie/drugs/abemaciclib-verzenios-for-adjuvant-hr-positive-her2-negative-node-positive-early-breast-cancer-hta-id-22020/.
- The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications.
- The Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members. The pharmacoeconomic report will be reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group along with the outputs of commercial negotiations, and any patient group submission(s) received. The HSE Drugs Group will consider all of the evidence and make a recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team.
- The decision making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team. The HSE Executive Management Team decides on the basis of all the demands it is faced with (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new use of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The application for Abemaciclib (Verzenios®) remains under consideration. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (185)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to review the age parameters for BreastCheck to increase the provision of free examinations to people under the age of 50 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7604/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about changes to our screening programmes, such as extending the age range eligibility of a cancer screening programme, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC).
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The Committee recently published its Work Programme which includes examination of the potential expansion of cancer screening programmes in Ireland. The NSAC's first Annual Call (2021) for proposals received a significant response with over 50 submissions received. Submissions on expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening were received from a number of sources, including the BreastCheck programme. The NSAC have asked HIQA to look at the evidence for the expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening to women between 45 and 74 years of age, and this work has begun.
Under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a Proposal for an updated European Council Recommendation on cancer screening which includes Breast Cancer was formally approved on 9 December 2022 and published thereafter. The NSAC will consider this recommendation and advise me and the Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland.
Ireland will also be actively engaged with the significant ongoing collaborative work at European level to take forward the updated Recommendation on cancer screening.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (186)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of mammograms carried out by BreastCheck in 2022; how this number compares to numbers of mammograms carried out over the previous three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7605/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (187)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:187. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the number of BreastCheck screening locations; if there are plans afoot to increase this number; if there are plans to have a screening unit in every county in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7606/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (188)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:188. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) will receive an urgent appointment for paediatric surgery at CHI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7607/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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 this regard, as the particular query raised is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (189)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the business case in relation to the Mater Hospital long-Covid clinic (details supplied); the reason for the delay in reviewing this submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7608/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (190)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to further expand the free contraception scheme to people aged over 30 years; the steps he is taking to address the significant costs of contraceptives for some cohorts who are not eligible for the free scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7609/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The free contraception scheme for women aged 17 -25 was launched on 14th September, 2022, and expanded to include 26 year-olds on January 1st, 2023. The scheme is currently open to women aged 17-26 who are ordinarily resident in Ireland.
For eligible women, the free contraception scheme provides for:
The cost of consultations with GPs, family planning clinics and other relevant medical professionals to discuss contraceptive options with eligible patients and to provide prescriptions for these;
- The cost of prescription contraception, dispensed at local pharmacy of choice;
- The cost of fitting and/or removal of various types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) plus any necessary checks, by medical professionals certified to fit/remove LARCs (e.g. intrauterine devices (IUD), systems (IUS), coils and implants);
- The cost of providing the wide range of contraceptive options currently available to GMS (medical) card holders, which will also be available through this scheme, including contraceptive injections, implants, IUS and IUDs, the contraceptive patch and ring, and various forms of oral contraceptive pill, including emergency contraception.
- Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted under the scheme will remain eligible for the subsequent checks and free removal of any devices that were inserted before their 27th birthday, in order to ensure continuity of care.
Funding has been provided in Budget 2023 for the scheme to be further expanded to include 27-30 year olds from September 1st, 2023.
Funding through Budget 2023 was also provided to expand the scheme to 16 year-olds also, but this is subject to consultation across Government, legal advice and legislative amendment. Approximately €32 million has been allocated to support the scheme in Budget 2023.
Since 14th September, 2022, over 2,200 GPs, primary care centres, family planning centres and student health clinics have signed contracts with the HSE to provide services under the scheme. Similarly, over 1,850 pharmacies are also participating in the scheme.
For women who are outside the current eligible age cohorts for the scheme, those with a medical card already have access to the same contraception options at minimal cost (subject only to the prescription charge), while those with a GP visit card are also supported to some extent, as the cost of GP consultations is covered. Furthermore, the Drugs Payment Scheme, for which anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland is eligible, covers the cost of prescription items, if these exceed the monthly limit, which is currently €80.
Any decisions regarding future expansion of the free contraception scheme is subject to the annual Estimates process and will require Government approval.
Information regarding the scheme is available through the HSE’s www.sexualwellbeing.ie website. This information is regularly updated and provides full details of how to access the scheme.
Patient Transport
Ceisteanna (191)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1516 of 18 January 2023, the number of beds allocated to patients transferred via ambulance to Nenagh and St. John’s Hospitals, respectively; the additional resources that will be put in place in both hospitals to facilitate this new pathway; if surgeries have resumed in Ennis; if surgeries will be cancelled in St. John’s to facilitate the change in protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7610/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (192)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the additional resources that were provided to Shannondoc, the out-of-hours GP service for mid-west region, before Christmas 2022; the way in which these resources were utilised; if the HSE set key performance indicators for this service; if so, to outline these key performance indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7611/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.