Written Answers Nos. 400 to 409
400. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the national breast cancer screening programme, BreastCheck, to make it available to women from 45 years of age, 40 years of age and 35 years of age; the cost of same; when the service will be extended to cover all adult women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/15]
View answer401. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce the eligibility age for the national cervical cancer screening programme, CervicalCheck, to make it available to women, from 20 years of age; from 18 years of age; from 16 years of age; the cost of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together.
The HSE's National Screening Service provides cancer screening of the breast, cervical and bowel in line with best international evidence.
BreastCheck offers free mammograms every two years to all women aged 50-64 years. Late last year I announced the extension of breast screening to women aged 65-69 years, in keeping with EU Guidelines. I am pleased to confirm that the first invitations have issued and that the screening of 500 women in this cohort will take place this year. International evidence does not support the introduction of population based breast screening below the age of 50.
CervicalCheck offers free smear tests to women aged 25-60. This age range is based on the assessment of the risks of cervical cancer and the benefits of population screening arising from the examination of available evidence by Irish and international experts. Cancer of the cervix is extremely rare in women aged under 25.
Meanwhile, the BowelScreen programme offers free screening nationwide to men and women aged 60-69.
402. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health given the success of awareness programmes such as Blue September and Movember, if his Department is costing and developing a men's cancer screening programme; the age groups and cancer types being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39193/15]
View answerI acknowledge the contribution made by campaigns such as Blue September and Movember in helping to raise awareness of cancer in males.
The National Screening Service provides breast, cervical and bowel in line with international evidence. BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, commenced offering free bowel screening nationwide to both men and women aged 60-69 years in late 2012. The first round of screening will have been offered to the full cohort in this age group by the end of 2015.
There is insufficient evidence to recommend the introduction of screening programmes for other male cancers, such as prostate cancer. My Department and the HSE will continue to monitor emerging international evidence in this regard.
403. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Health the action the Health Service Executive has taken to tackle pyrite in a day centre (details supplied) in County Sligo. [39212/15]
View answerThe HSE advises that repairs were made to the building in question in the 1990s.
404. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 20 October 2015, the number of the additional 440 beds to ease the pressure on emergency departments that are now available; and remain to be opened, by hospital, in tabular form. [39283/15]
View answerED overcrowding is a key priority issue for the Government. Significant progress has been made to date on the overall ED Taskforce plan, with reductions in delayed discharges and waiting times for NHSS funding, allied with increased provision for transitional care funding, home care packages and nursing home beds.
The provision of additional acute hospital bed capacity is dependent on the availability of both suitable infrastructure and adequate staffing to ensure the provision of safe and quality care. In relation to your further query in this matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
405. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a dedicated report into inadequate and unreliable home care provision for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has been compiled; the progress that has been made to date in progressing such a report; when this document will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39287/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
407. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to prioritise the improvement of access to orthodontic treatment in Saint James' Hospital in Dublin 8, given the concerns of many parents that there is now a waiting list for non-emergency cases of up to three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39291/15]
View answerIn addition to the orthodontic services provided by HSE staff, a national procurement process is currently underway to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE over the next three years, with consideration of an extension to four years. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for four years or longer. Tenders are currently being evaluated and it is expected that contracts will be awarded by the end of 2015. It is expected that this initiative will have a positive impact on waiting times. The HSE has also established a pilot scheme in Dublin North East which involves the use of orthodontic therapists in the treatment of a number of eligible children. Two Orthodontic Therapists successfully completed their training with the Dublin Dental University Hospital in June 2015. Evaluation of this pilot scheme is underway.
408. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if submissions have been made to the Health Service Executive from Saint James's Hospital in Dublin 8; and from Tallaght Hospital in Dublin 24 to have these hospitals set up as a regional trauma centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39292/15]
View answerMy Department, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, is developing a Policy on a Trauma Network for Ireland. This is to ensure that people who have suffered traumatic injury have quicker access to the services best able to meet their specialised, and often multiple, needs. The international experience of establishing trauma networks has demonstrated better outcomes in terms of survival and disability. A Steering Group, which I appointed, is currently in the process of developing this policy.
One of the critical success factors in developing the policy and implementing a trauma network for Ireland will be the extent of consultation, communication and consensus building with key stakeholders throughout the process. The Steering Group is being assisted by 5 Working Groups, a public consultation process has recently concluded and consultation sessions with key stakeholders will be taking place in the coming months.
In relation to your specific query in relation to submissions made to the HSE, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
409. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39306/15]
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.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
