Written Answers Nos. 293-300
293. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) currently in University Hospital Kerry will receive a bed in Listowel Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29558/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
294. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a colonoscopy requested by a doctor has taken four years to conduct; the waiting times for the procedure nationally and specifically in St. James's Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29559/18]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy regarding St. James's Hospital, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
295. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting times in St. James's Hospital, Dublin, for a colonoscopy appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29560/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
296. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if there have been changes in operating procedures in St. James's Hospital relating to conducting colonoscopies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29561/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the laboratories and-or hospitals in which screening tests for colon cancer are carried out; the number carried out since 2010 in each of these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29562/18]
View answerBowelScreen - the National Bowel Screening Programme commenced in 2012. The National Screening Service (NSS) have advised that the primary screening tool for BowelScreen is the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which operates on an automated testing platform. The FIT looks for blood in a stool sample which may indicate the presence of abnormal growths in the bowel which can become cancer. It is important to note that the FIT test itself cannot screen for colon cancer.
The National Screening Service (NSS) have advised that all FIT tests are examined by MedLab Pathology. An abnormal FIT result suggests that there may be bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract that requires further investigation. Those with an abnormal result are then invited for further testing via a colonoscopy at a hospital-based screening colonoscopy unit. The colonoscopy units which currently provide colonoscopies on behalf of BowelScreen are based in 14 hospitals across the country. They are:
1. Clonmel Hospital;
2. Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown;
3. Ennis Hospital;
4. University Hospital Galway;
5. Kerry General Hospital;
6. Letterkenny University Hospital;
7. Louth County Hospital;
8. Mater Misericordiae University Hospital;
9. Mercy University Hospital Cork;
10. Roscommon Hospital;
11. St James’ Hospital Dublin;
12. Sligo General Hospital;
13. St Vincent’s University Hospital; and
14. Wexford General Hospital.
Figures that follow show the activity related to the screening and diagnostic testing elements of the screening process. BowelScreen began inviting men and women to participate in the national bowel screening programme in October 2012, hence the reason for the provision of figures from this date.
|
Date Range |
Number of satisfactory BowelScreen FIT tests completed and examined by MedLab Pathology |
|
01/10/2012 - 30/06/2018 |
471,508 |
Colonoscopies carried out by hospital-based screening colonoscopy units, 01/10/2012 - 30/06/2018
|
Hospital |
Number of colonoscopies |
|
Clonmel Hospital |
865 |
|
Connolly Hospital |
1,093 |
|
Ennis Hospital |
1,301 |
|
University Hospital Galway |
1,582 |
|
Kerry General Hospital |
1,020 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
661 |
|
Louth County Hospital |
748 |
|
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
1,698 |
|
Mercy University Hospital, Cork |
1,219 |
|
Roscommon Hospital |
948 |
|
St James’ Hospital, Dublin |
2,110 |
|
Sligo General Hospital |
939 |
|
St Vincent’s University Hospital |
2,554 |
|
Wexford General Hospital |
1,382 |
|
Total |
18,120 |
298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of times his Department has engaged polling companies and-or Irish market researchers to conduct research on its behalf in each of the past two years; the names of such companies; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29576/18]
View answerI do not believe my Department is using polling companies but my officials will check Department records and come back to the Deputy as soon as possible.
299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the HSE's plans to develop metrics for an elimination strategy for HCV; the steps the HSE will take to reach its stated goal of having Ireland HCV free by 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29584/18]
View answer300. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the 2018 tender for HCV medicines has not been finalised; if the tender results will be released as soon as possible; the steps he will take to prevent the delay being repeated in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29585/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.
As the HSE has responsibility for this matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
