Tuesday, 28 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 693-710

Health Services

Questions (693)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

693. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the current application process for the HSE insulin pumps tendering contract will be completed; when the new list of insulin pumps will be sent to the community drug schemes; the locations in which patients will have access to same; the estimated timeline of the process from product review to inclusion on the PCRS; the persons in the expert group who review the insulin pumps; and the point in the process patient representatives are involved in this process. [46220/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 694 answered with Question No. 689.

Health Services Staff

Questions (695)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

695. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the extra funding required to provide the appropriate diabetes staffing resources to provide access to the dose adjusting for normal eating programme for all persons with type 1 diabetes will be made available in Budget 2022 [46222/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Department is currently engaging in dialogue with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE in relation to the Estimates process for 2022 / Budget 2022, it would not be appropriate for at this time to provide the type of information requested.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (696)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

696. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health his views on the need for a national diabetes register given 10% of the health service annual budget is spent on diabetes care; the reason there is no current register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46224/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In September 2019 Sláintecare Integration funding was allocated to the HSE to design and procure a National Diabetes Registry demonstrator product and develop a full specification plan for a National Diabetes Registry.

The development of a National Diabetes Registry will have a long-term benefit on

- Patient care by facilitating benchmarking of individual care against guideline recommendations and QI feedback to practitioners

- Provision of appropriate health services by providing reliable information to healthcare planners and policymakers.

This project was paused as it was dependent on the input and expertise of key HSE staff who were redeployed onto urgent on-going COVID-19 work. This project remains a priority and, subject to COVID-19, will be revisited in the future.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (697)

Seán Canney

Question:

697. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the status of progress with regard to the installation of x-ray facilities and diagnostic facilities in the primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway; when he expects them to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46225/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Hospital Staff

Questions (698)

David Cullinane

Question:

698. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of administration staff at the department of oncology at Tallaght University Hospital; if funding will be provided for the recruitment of additional administration staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46226/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Abortion Services

Questions (699)

Seán Canney

Question:

699. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to research published (details supplied) that drew attention to the fact that there is uncertainty among abortion performing doctors in Ireland regarding the measures to take in the event that an unborn baby survives the abortion procedure; if protocols and guidelines have been put in place to address this humanitarian issue; if so, the precise wording of such protocols and guidelines; if no protocols and guidelines have been put in place, his plans to take measures to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46227/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I am aware of the article to which the Deputy refers in his question, on ‘Fetal medicine specialist experience of providing a new service of termination of pregnancy for fatal fetal anomaly: a qualitative study”.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the parameters in which termination of pregnancy may be lawfully carried out in this country. Section 11 of the Act permits a termination of pregnancy to be carried out in cases where there is a condition present affecting the foetus that is likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or within 28 days of birth.

Clinical guidelines for the provision of termination of pregnancy services, within the legal framework set out in the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, have been developed by the relevant professional medical bodies. Medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.

There is regular ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to facilitate the operation of the service and to resolve any issues that may arise.

Abortion Services

Questions (700)

Seán Canney

Question:

700. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that doctors are receiving training in the way in which to perform dilation and evacuation abortions as mentioned in UCD research published in April 2021 in relation to the experiences of abortion providers since the law has changed; if dilation and evacuation abortions are currently taking place in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46232/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

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 Staff

Questions (701)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

701. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the strategy in place to enable occupational therapists across all clinical areas to pursue upgrades (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46234/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the TD.

Health Promotion

Questions (702)

Marian Harkin

Question:

702. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health the plans he is putting in place as a matter of urgency to deal with the backlog in the CervicalCheck screening; his further plans with regard to the number of women who are required to have retests due to the time delay in testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46236/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Disability Services

Questions (703)

Marian Harkin

Question:

703. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 3083 of 27 July 2021, if the daily transport charge being charged to service users in CHO1 is also being levied throughout all other CHO areas. [46239/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (704)

Alan Kelly

Question:

704. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of all extra capital expenditure under Covid-19 funding measures since March 2020; and the capital expenditure by project and location. [46240/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Medical Inquiries

Questions (705, 707)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

705. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the establishment of the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46241/21]

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

707. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the establishment of the stakeholder group into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46243/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 707 together.

Details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of sodium valproate in Ireland, and of the stakeholder group referred to by the Deputy, are currently being considered by officials within the Department of Health.

Health Services Staff

Questions (706, 708)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

706. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected timeframe for the appointment of the four epilepsy nurse specialist posts to manage the patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46242/21]

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

708. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health when the services currently in place to support families who have been affected by the use of sodium valproate will be fully operational; the details of his plans to expand support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46244/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 708 together.

As these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.

Question No. 707 answered with Question No. 705.

Question No. 708 answered with Question No. 706.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (709)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

709. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria of the HSE aids and appliances scheme; the items available through the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46245/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (710)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

710. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the way the HSE aids and appliances scheme is administered; the amount of funding allocated to the scheme for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46246/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.