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Tuesday, 12 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 606-623

Hospital Facilities

Questions (606)

Gino Kenny

Question:

606. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the way in which centres of excellence are constituted in relation to oncology services in public hospitals; the criteria that has to be satisfied before a hospital or health facility is deemed a centre of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49666/21]

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Written answers

The model of care for hospital cancer treatment is centred on eight Designated Cancer Centres serving a defined population and geographic area. The eight designated cancer centres are Beaumont Hospital, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford, University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.

Chemotherapy is delivered in 26 hospitals approved for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT). These are the eight Designated Cancer Centres and 18 other hospitals operating on a hub and spoke basis under the planning and supervision of the designated centres. Radiation oncology is provided in the public system in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. Public access to private facilities is available in Waterford and Limerick. Also, arrangements are in place for patients from the North West to be referred to Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Derry for radiation therapy.

The centralisation of specialist services into Designated Cancer Centres aims to optimise patient outcomes, through case volume, multidisciplinary working and infrastructural supports.

Hospital Staff

Questions (607)

Gino Kenny

Question:

607. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health when a permanent oncologist will be in place at St. James’s Hospital following the retirement of the previous specialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49667/21]

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Written answers

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (608)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

608. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49668/21]

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Written answers

The service provider in this case is a private group which provides private diagnostic imaging within facilities nationwide. The introduction of the system of direct access for GPs to diagnostic services provided by private groups is intended to improve the access of patients to necessary services and to cut the relevant waiting times. If there is a delay in getting an appointment, the patient, or the GP on behalf of the patient, should contact the provider directly to follow up on the matter.

Mental Health Services

Questions (609)

Gino Kenny

Question:

609. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of State-funded mental health services in an area (details supplied); the number of mental health workers and professionals employed in these services; if he will provide information regarding the increases and decreases in the available mental health services in the area over the past three years; if he will provide waiting list numbers for mental health services in the area; the level of funding spent on mental health services in the area over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49673/21]

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Written answers

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

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (610)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

610. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have had colposcopy appointments delayed, postponed or cancelled since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. [49678/21]

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Written answers

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

Questions (611)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

611. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of CervicalCheck smear tests carried out in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [49679/21]

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Written answers

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

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Questions (612)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

612. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a date for surgery will be expedited for a person (details supplied) under the treatment purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49691/21]

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Written answers

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.

The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.

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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (613)

Pauline Tully

Question:

613. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists currently working in Beaumont Hospital; if he has plans to increase the number of neurology nurse specialists in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49692/21]

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Written answers

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

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (614)

Denis Naughten

Question:

614. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49693/21]

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Written answers

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.

Legislative Measures

Questions (615)

Mark Ward

Question:

615. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Proposals; when they will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49694/21]

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Written answers

Heads of Bill to provide legislative clarity on the issue of deprivation of liberty safeguards are at a relatively advanced stage. A number of complex legal and policy issues which have arisen during the drafting process remain to be resolved.

Work on the Heads of Bill has been paused due to the diversion of resources, as part of the response to COVID-19.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (616)

Seán Crowe

Question:

616. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccination cards that are unaccounted for across the vaccination system. [49696/21]

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Written answers

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

Medicinal Products

Questions (617, 628)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

617. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 678 of 15 September 2021, the status of the establishment of a stakeholder group to address ongoing concerns relating to the use of sodium valproate; the membership of the stakeholder group; when he expects the stakeholder group to be up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49698/21]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

628. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a stakeholder group to collaboratively assess and strengthen the risk reduction measures currently associated with the prescribing and dispensing of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential as agreed in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49769/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 628 together.

Details of the proposed stakeholder group referred to by the Deputy are currently under consideration by officials within the Department of Health.

Health Service Executive

Questions (618, 629)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

618. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the status of recruitment for the six epilepsy specialist nurse posts approved by the HSE for the implementation of the Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme; the number of these posts that have been filled to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49699/21]

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Darren O'Rourke

Question:

629. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when four unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts agreed in 2018 will be filled for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme; if it is the case that six epilepsy nurse specialist posts were agreed in 2018 specifically for this purpose but only two have been recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49770/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 629 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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (619)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

619. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the shortage of neurology nurses in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49705/21]

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Written answers

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

Health Strategies

Questions (620)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

620. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the attention of his Department has been drawn to any differential in survival rates for breast cancer between patients who are diagnosed and treated in the public system and those diagnosed and treated in the private system; and if he will provide the statistics on the issue. [49706/21]

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Written answers

The Department of Health is not aware of any recent report in regard to a differential in survival rates for breast cancer between patients who are diagnosed and treated in the public system and those diagnosed and treated in the private system.

A National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) report “Cancer care and survival in relation to centralisation of Irish cancer services: an analysis of National Cancer Registry data 1994-2015 ”, published in 2019, sets out that from 2008-2014, 5-year survival by category of hospital was as follows:

-

Designated cancer centres

Other public hospitals

Private hospitals

5-year survival, 2008-2014

85%

81%

93%

There are a number of points to be consider in relation to this data, including that:

- The majority of all breast cancer cases were diagnosed or treated in designated cancer centres (70%), with the balance in either other public hospitals or in private hospitals. The proportion of breast cancer patients in private hospitals was relatively small.

- Patients can transition in and out of the public system, and between hospitals within the public system. Status may vary for individual patients at different points in their diagnosis and treatment pathway.

- The figures are not adjusted for cancer stage, or for the age of patients.

NCRI data shows that five-year net survival for breast cancer improved markedly from an average of 70% for diagnosis period 1994-1999, to 85% for 2011-2015.

The study referenced above predates the commencement of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 . Further improvements in breast cancer survival rates are to be expected over the lifetime of the Strategy.

As part of Budget 2021, an extra €20m has been allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy this year. Additional funding of €12m has also been allocated in 2021 for the restoration of cancer services in the context of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (621)

Neale Richmond

Question:

621. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to prevent persons under 18 years of age from accessing cosmetic fillers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49708/21]

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Written answers

The manufacture and placing on the market of dermal fillers is regulated under the Medical Devices Regulation, EU 2017/745 (MDR). The MDR, which became fully applicable in May 2021, has an expanded scope and will specifically include all dermal fillers (including those without a medical purpose) within the scope of the legislation once the technical requirements (known as Common Specifications) for these products are in place. Once the Common Specifications are adopted, all dermal fillers must be certified as medical devices and undergo a pre-market assessment by an independent conformity assessment body (a Notified Body) before they can be CE marked and placed on the market. The HPRA monitor the safety of medical devices in Ireland after they are placed on the market. The HPRA also operates a national reporting system for medical devices where users of devices are encouraged to report incidents or problems associated with their use, to the HPRA.

The MDR relates to the regulation of the product itself and the requirements for manufacturers of the products. It does not include provision for regulation of aspects relating to the use in practice or administration of the product, location of use, specific training or the qualifications of the individual administering the product. Certain users of these devices will be regulated professionals. Further consideration by the Department of Health may be required in this regard in the future.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Questions (622)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

622. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has plans to provide a brace for patients with pectus carinatum condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49709/21]

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Written answers

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

Medicinal Products

Questions (623)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

623. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if Xalacom eye drops could be reimbursed by the HSE; if the NCPE completed a review on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/21]

View answer

Written answers

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

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