Written Answers Nos. 468-497
469. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list for orthodontic treatment for minors in the south region of County Kerry and County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5627/16]
View answer470. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the protocol in place to reduce the waiting list for orthodontic treatment for minors in the south region of County Kerry and County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5628/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 469 and 470 together.
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need are provided with treatment by the HSE. At the end of Q4 2015, waiting times in the HSE South region were as follows:
|
Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment |
Less than 2 years |
2 to 4 years |
More than 4 years |
TOTAL |
|
Number of patients |
2,483 |
1,364 |
164 |
4,011 |
In line with the HSE's aim to reduce the proportion of patients on the treatment waiting list for longer than four years, the number of patients waiting more than 4 years has fallen from 7.3% (306 patients) in Q3 2015 to 4.1% (164 patients) in Q4 2015. Following a national procurement process, a panel of independent practitioners will be contracted by the HSE in the coming weeks to provide treatment for certain categories of misalignment. The practitioners will be under contract 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 who are generally 16 years and over. It is expected that this initiative will have a positive impact on waiting times.
In addition, a pilot scheme in the Dublin North East area (DNE), which involves upskilling staff to work as orthodontic therapists is currently under way. A dental hygienist and a dental nurse qualified as orthodontic therapists in September 2015 and are now working in the HSE under the supervision of specialist orthodontists. The scheme is currently undergoing an evaluation, which includes consideration of how the scheme is affecting waiting lists. Figures are currently being collated and early indications are positive. It is planned to extend the scheme nationally after the evaluation has been completed.
471. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of the future of kidney transplants; the number of such transplants performed in each of the past five years; if a second transplant hospital will be immediately designated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5631/16]
View answerThe kidney transplant programme continues at Beaumont Hospital. The number of such transplants performed for each of the past five years was as follows:
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Deceased Kidney Transplants |
165 |
131 |
147 |
112 |
120 |
|
Living Kidney Donor Transplants |
27 |
32 |
38 |
40 |
33 |
|
Total Kidney Transplants |
192 |
163 |
185 |
152 |
153 |
Heart and lung transplants are carried out in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and liver transplants are performed in St. Vincent’s University Hospital, where pancreas transplantation will also commence shortly. There are no plans for organ transplantation at other hospitals.
472. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when additional beds at Kenmare hospital in County Kerry will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
473. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health why persons who hold a full medical card must pay extra to have blood tests carried out by their general practitioner; if these tests should be covered by their medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5642/16]
View answerPersons covered by the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme should not be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP, or the Practice Nurse on behalf of the GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition.
Consultation fees charged by GPs outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.
The Department of Health and the HSE are cognisant of the need for a new contract with GPs that will help modernise our health service and develop a strengthened primary care sector and negotiations are under way with the Irish Medical Organisation in this regard. The development of appropriate contractual arrangements in relation to the management of chronic conditions and issues such as phlebotomy services are among the significant issues to be considered during the contractual talks.
474. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in County Galway who have had their personal assistant hours cut in 2015 and in 2016 to date; the total reduction of personal assistant hours; the steps the Health Service Executive is taking to increase the number of personal assistant hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5643/16]
View answerI am committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant (PA) services available to people with disabilities. In their 2016 National Service Plan, the Health Service Executive's (HSE) priority is to provide 1.3 million hours of personal assistance to more than 2,000 people with a disability. This is the same activity level that was funded in 2014 and 2015. The HSE has confirmed that in excess of €30 million is spent annually on the provision of PA Services. I have also arranged for the Deputy's question to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed response to be supplied directly 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.
475. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5645/16]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, 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.
476. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when he will put a home care package in place for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [5647/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
477. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children who are on waiting lists in excess of six months to see a rheumatology consultant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5664/16]
View answerAs 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.
478. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to assess the staffing ratio for Naas hospital in County Kildare; and how this staffing ratio compares to other hospitals of similar size. [5669/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
479. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5672/16]
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. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. 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.
480. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 377 of 22 March 2016, why he has not been actively supporting St. James's Hospital and its appeal for the use of a pharmaceutical company under the compassionate drug access scheme for the treatment of a person (details supplied). [5676/16]
View answer481. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the drug Soliris will be available under the E112 scheme, as it appears the drug has been sanctioned to treat a person (details supplied) in Spain. [5677/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.
As previously advised, Eculizumab (Soliris®) is an ultra-orphan medicine licensed for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemaglobinurea (PNH) and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). Eculizumab is reimbursable for the treatment of these two conditions, for which the European Medicines Agency has completed assessments in relation to safety and efficacy. The drug is not licensed for the treatment of Degos disease by either the European Medicines Agency or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It is not in my power as Minister for Health to sanction the unlicensed use of any drug or medicine. Decisions on the use of unlicensed medicines for an individual patient are a matter for the prescribing clinician and the treating hospital.
The HSE administers the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), or E112 Scheme, for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation 883/04, as set out in EU Regulation 987/09, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. A patient may only be referred to the TAS in cases where a treatment is a proven form of medical treatment.
482. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in assessing a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for a condition; and when this person will receive a date for an assessment. [5678/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, 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.
483. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding intellectual disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5689/16]
View answerGovernment policy is to enable young people with disabilities and autism to develop the skills they will need to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible, and to receive the supports they need in order to achieve this. In 2016 the Government is providing a total of €1.56 billion for health-funded disability services including day services for approximately 22,000 people at 850 different locations. In addition, around 1,500 young people with autism and disabilities will leave school or complete their rehabilitative (life-skills) training this year and will require continuing health-funded supports.
The process of planning for the needs of this year’s school-leavers and rehabilitative training graduates is at an advanced stage, and to ensure their needs are met, funding of €7.25m is being allocated by the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports. Once off funding of €2 million is also being provided for the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings to provide suitable service locations. A standardised process for the identification of support needs has been put in place and a profiling exercise has now been completed with each individual in order to ascertain their needs and preferences.
Disability service provision, including continuing support services for young people with autism, is moving towards a community-based and inclusive model of person-centred supports. The migration to a personal supports model was recommended in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland (VFM Review), and is being implemented through the Transforming Lives programme. This transformation programme means that person-centred and individually chosen community based supports are progressively becoming the norm, and is a distinct move away from the group-based, often segregated approach of the past. The new approach will be underpinned by a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use.
Under the overarching Transforming Lives framework, a complex range of inter-related projects are under way to implement different elements of the person-centred supports model. Service providers are actively engaging in delivering services which have a person-centred focus, with person-centred planning now widely implemented, along with an increase in the delivery of community based day and residential support services. Service providers are also taking practical steps to support and actively engage with people with disabilities in community settings and are exploring new and innovative ways of doing this.
The allocation of dedicated capital funding of €100m for disability services over the period 2016–2021, together with the establishment of the Service Reform Fund agreed between Atlantic Philanthropies, the DoH, HSE (Social Care and Mental Health Services) and Genio will support the phased transition to the person-centred model of services and supports.
484. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 who has been waiting for a long time for an operation is entitled to have this treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5694/16]
View answerThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public healthcare outside the State through model form E112. The application requires the patient's Irish-based public referring hospital consultant, following clinical assessment, to certify, among other things, that the treatment is medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it.
The HSE has advised that an application under the Scheme has yet to be received in respect of the case detailed by the Deputy. In the first instance an application to the HSE will require to be made. Full details of the application process are available on the HSE website http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/treatmentabroad/ or by contacting the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme office on 056 778 4551 or via email on treatmentabroad.scheme@hse.ie.
485. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans for the lands at St. Finan's Hospital in Killarney in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5706/16]
View answerThe Health Service Executive is required to obtain value for money when disposing of surplus property assets. These proceeds will be re-invested in delivering much needed health care infrastructure. Some lands must be retained to accommodate future services. Considerable work is required in advance of any decisions.
As it is responsible for the management of the health care estate the HSE has been requested to reply directly to you on progress since January last. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up.
486. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide appropriate school leaver places to the large number of young adults with autism who are leaving school services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5721/16]
View answerThe process of planning for the needs of around 1,500 young people with disabilities and autism who will require continuing health-funded supports on leaving school or rehabilitative (life-skills) training this year commenced in September 2015. To ensure these needs are met, funding of €7.25m is being allocated by the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports. Once off funding of €2 million is also being provided for the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings to provide suitable service locations by September, based on an assessment of the physical capacity within existing services to accommodate the additional numbers. A standardised process for the identification of support needs has been put in place and a profiling exercise has now been completed with each individual in order to ascertain their needs and preferences.
It is expected that the funding allocation for each young person based on their individual support needs will be communicated to service providers by the end of May so as to facilitate a September commencement date, and the young people and their families will be informed of the placement which will be available to them.
487. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of school leavers accessing autism services in each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; the projected number of placements required in each of the years 2017 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5722/16]
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.
488. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to plan for the appropriate care and service provision for young adults and school leavers with autism for the next five years and for the next ten years; the long-term support services in place for persons with different levels of autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5723/16]
View answerGovernment policy is to enable young people with disabilities and autism to develop the skills they will need to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible, and to receive the supports they need in order to achieve this. In 2016 the Government is providing a total of €1.56 billion for health-funded disability services including day services for approximately 22,000 people at 850 different locations. In addition, around 1,500 young people with autism and disabilities will leave school or complete their rehabilitative (life-skills) training this year and will require continuing health-funded supports.
The process of planning for the needs of this year’s school-leavers and rehabilitative training graduates commenced in September 2015. To ensure their needs are met, funding of €7.25m is being allocated by the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports. Once off funding of €2 million is also being provided for the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings to provide suitable service locations by September, based on an assessment of the physical capacity within existing services to accommodate the additional numbers. A standardised process for the identification of support needs has been put in place and a profiling exercise has now been completed with each individual in order to ascertain their needs and preferences.
Disability service provision, including continuing support services for persons with different levels of autism, is moving towards a community-based and inclusive model of person-centred supports. The migration to a personal supports model was recommended in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland (VFM Review), and is being implemented through the Transforming Lives programme. This transformation programme means that person-centred and individually chosen community based supports are progressively becoming the norm, and is a distinct move away from the group-based, often segregated approach of the past. The new approach will be underpinned by a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use.
Under the overarching Transforming Lives framework, a complex range of inter-related projects are under way to implement different elements of the person-centred supports model. Service providers are actively engaging in delivering services which have a person-centred focus, with person-centred planning now widely implemented, along with an increase in the delivery of community based day and residential support services. Service providers are also taking practical steps to support and actively engage with people with disabilities in community settings and are exploring new and innovative ways of doing this.
The allocation of dedicated capital funding of €100m for disability services over the period 2016–2021, together with the establishment of the Service Reform Fund agreed between Atlantic Philanthropies, the DoH, HSE (Social Care and Mental Health Services) and Genio will support the phased transition to the person-centred model of services and supports.
489. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to allocate extra funding to provide free and low cost counselling to persons on lower incomes who require mental health interventions in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5724/16]
View answerCounselling is provided across the health service, by both the HSE and the voluntary sector including primary care, social care and within mental health. This type of service can be provided by a range of trained health professionals and delivered to meet a clinical need at either primary or secondary care level.
The Counselling in Primary Care (CIPC) service is a national service funded from the Programme for Government investment in Mental Health, to increase the access to counselling and psychotherapy and supplementing existing services provided by Primary Care. Since 2012, €7.5 million has been provided to develop the CIPC service. The service provides short-term counselling for adults with non-complex psychological problems aged 18 years and over and who hold a valid medical card. Every effort is made to see people as quickly as possible, however there are a number of people waiting extended periods many of whom will have specific requirements, for example, they can only attend on a specific day or time or may wish to be seen in a particular area. In some areas, there is a particular difficulty accessing accommodation in which to see clients, which in turn impacts on waiting times. This is an issue in some of the smaller rural areas and one that the HSE is working to resolve.
Within the specialist secondary care mental health service counselling and psychotherapy are provided within community mental health teams when service users are clinically assessed as requiring this intervention and they are provided by a health professional on the team. Counselling is also provided by a range of voluntary organisations across the health service and HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention funds voluntary organisations such as Pieta House and Console to provide support across a range of needs.
The HSE National Service Plan for 2016 commits to ring-fencing a proportion of the €35m programme for Government funding for counselling services for young people under 18 years to be developed in collaboration with HSE Primary Care. In addition, the programme for Government funding will also be utilised for continued development of general adult teams and child and adolescent mental health services, as well as improved 24-7 responses and liaison services and to address specific mental health care needs of homeless persons in 2016.
490. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his plans to set up a national suicide authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5725/16]
View answerI have no plans to set up a separate suicide prevention authority. This function is currently being carried out by the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) which was established in 2005 to oversee the implementation of the then national suicide prevention strategy and to co-ordinate suicide prevention initiatives around the country.
In June last year, the Government launched ‘Connecting for Life’, our new strategy to reduce suicide for the period 2015-2020. The new Strategy, which has an implementation focus on youth mental health, sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This includes a greater focus on the important area of support for families and communities in suicide prevention, and will include providing community-based organisations with guidelines, protocols and training on effective suicide prevention.
Connecting for Life provides a detailed and clear plan to achieve each of the goals it proposes, with defined actions and a lead agency and key partners in place for each individual objective. This plan will be supported by robust implementation and governance structures, as well as resourcing and communications frameworks. The Strategy assigns specific responsibility to the NOSP as a statutory agency to fulfil a number of tasks, including the development and implementation of surveillance systems, the implementation and evaluation of the Strategy, the development and provision of suicide prevention training and education programmes, increasing national awareness about suicide prevention and setting out a national suicide research and prevention programme. NOSP, together with the Department of Health, other Government Departments, NGO and community partners are proceeding with the implementation of Connecting for Life.
Funding for suicide prevention has increased significantly in recent years from €3.7 million in 2010 to the current level of €11.55 million, which includes an additional €2.75 million provided in 2015 for additional Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention and for priority actions in Connecting for Life. I would like to assure the Deputy that dealing with the high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government, and this is reflected in the significant investment in suicide prevention and mental health services generally in recent years.
492. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the services available for mental health supports to families in hotel room emergency homeless accommodation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5732/16]
View answerThe modern mental health service, integrated with other areas of the wider health service, extends from promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention through to supporting those experiencing severe and disabling mental illness. It includes specialised secondary care services for children and adolescents, adults, older persons and those with a intellectual disability and a mental illness. In relation to the specific services available for homeless people, as this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
493. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will make the drug Kuvan available on the long-term illness scheme to sufferers of Phenyketonuria and BH4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5750/16]
View answer494. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the annual immediate cost if he made the drug Kuvan available on the long-term illness scheme to sufferers of Phenyketonuria and BH4; the number of sufferers who would benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5751/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or ministerial decisions.
Sapropterin (Kuvan®) was previously considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time, insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted by the manufacturer.
The manufacturer recently submitted a new application for pricing and reimbursement of Kuvan; this application is now being considered in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and using the processes outlined in national pricing framework agreements. Based on previous pricing information supplied by the company, reimbursing Kuvan to phenylketonuria patients in Ireland could cost somewhere between €3m and €10m per year, given an estimated treatment cohort of 60-180 patients.
As the application process is ongoing, it is not possible to discuss potential outcomes or comment further at this time.
495. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is available publicly in St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8. [5753/16]
View answerAs 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.
496. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to fill the position of registrar of births, deaths and marriages (details supplied) in Thurles in County Tipperary. [5755/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
497. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the person who or the body that provides support and guidance to persons who have a side effect to a vaccine administered by the Health Service Executive, particularly to Gardasil or to the human papillomavirus vaccine; why no manual or leaflet is available to warn persons of the possible side effects of this vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5762/16]
View answerI am aware of claims of an association between HPV vaccination and a number of conditions experienced by a group of young women. It appears that some girls first suffered symptoms around the time they received the HPV vaccine, and understandably some parents have connected the vaccine to their daughter’s condition.
I want to make it quite clear that anyone who is suffering ill health is eligible to seek medical attention, and to access appropriate health and social care services, irrespective of the cause of their symptoms. The girls and their families should seek medical advice from their family doctor in the normal manner and be guided by this advice in accessing appropriate services including specialist opinion where necessary.
The Health Services Executive provides information to parents on all vaccines administered in the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule. As the provision of information concerning vaccines to parents is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
