Written Answers Nos. 604-623
604. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he can provide the construction costs and running costs for the respective primary care centres located in Grangegorman, Summerhill and the Navan Road; the specific health services being provided at primary centres; the number of staff in each of these centres; the hours of operation at these primary care centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3200/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
605. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to outline plans to appoint consultant paediatric rheumatologists to Cork University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3201/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
606. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3206/23]
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.
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.
607. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if a residential place can be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3215/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
608. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the way persons who need continuous supplies of insulin are expected to maintain their health while the supply is difficult to access other than by very minimal amounts dispensed on an emergency basis from overwhelmed hospitals, given that there is a shortage of insulin supplies in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3223/23]
View answerThe Department of Health, has been advised by The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) that they have not been notified by suppliers of any current shortages of insulin-containing products and have not received any reports relating to current issues with the supply of insulin products in Ireland.
609. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive support from the Donegal north children’s disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3231/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
610. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn the unavailability of certain prescription drugs (details supplied) and the effects this is having on patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3235/23]
View answerMylan, the Marketing Authorisation Holder for Creon capsules, has not notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of a current shortage of this product. There have been some global supply issues with Creon in 2022. The company placed an allocation on the product at the wholesale level to ensure equitable distribution of available stock to pharmacies and subsequently to patients. Should a pharmacist have difficulty obtaining the product from their supplier, the company has advised that increases in the pharmacy’s allocation can be discussed with Mylan.
Regarding the penicillin antibiotic supply, it is unclear which specific antibiotic is being referred to. Clinical treatment of patients is outside of the HPRA’s remit; however, based on some hospitals’ guidance on the website below, the query may relate to phenoxymethylpenicillin, amoxicillin or clarithromycin (noting that clarithromycin is not a penicillin, but can be used as an alternative): nchd.ie/asplenic.html
The HPRA is aware of shortages of phenoxymethylpenicillin, amoxicillin and clarithromycin antibiotics in recent weeks. The HSE also recommends these antibiotics to treat some respiratory conditions and Strep A infections. Due to a combination of factors, including the level of respiratory illnesses in the community, a significant increase in demand for medicines used to treat seasonal conditions such as colds and flu has been observed over recent weeks. In some cases, this demand has been 2-3 times the average level seen during the same period in previous years. From discussions with suppliers and regulators in other countries, the HPRA understands that similar trends have been observed in other European countries that have experienced significant demand increases.
The HPRA has engaged with all stakeholders, including suppliers, to ensure a coordinated response to this increased demand. The key focus at all times has been to ensure that suitable medicines remain available to treat patients. Suitable medicines continue to be available to treat respiratory illnesses and their symptoms in both adults and children.
Further to the HPRA’s regular and ongoing engagement with industry, they have been informed that in a number of instances suppliers have increased production and sourced additional stock to respond to this recent increase in demand. Although the HPRA has no role in procuring medicines, they continue to engage with the suppliers to obtain updates and remain open to expediting regulatory procedures to enable the supply of additional stock, where possible.
Regarding the current antibiotic supply, the marketing authorisation holders have advised that whilst the phenoxymethylpenicillin oral suspension is short, the oral solid dose products are available. While there have been shortages of some brands from individual suppliers, oral solid dose and oral suspensions of amoxicillin are available. Additionally, oral solutions of clarithromycin are available as well as some brands from individual suppliers of the oral solid dose forms.
611. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the full authorised staffing numbers and positions for County Wexford’s children’s disability network team; the staff positions currently vacant; the efforts being made to fill these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3237/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
612. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the availability of sunosi, which is used to treat narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnoea in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3238/23]
View answerThe Marketing Authorisation Holder for Sunosi, TMC Pharma (EU) Limited, has not placed the product on the Irish market since being granted a marketing authorisation in 2020.
The HSE has confirmed that Sunosi (solriamfetol) was approved for reimbursement under High Tech Arrangements subject to managed access. However, the company have not been in a position to launch the product to date.
613. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of young adults on the waiting list for respite services in County Longford. [3247/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE orthopaedic staff nurses working at both CHI Crumlin and Temple Street in the years 2020 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [3248/23]
View answerAs this is a service issue I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
615. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total capital funding provided to each level 4 hospital in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3249/23]
View answerAs 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.
616. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE genetics nurses working in the cancer genetics department of St. James's Hospital in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [3250/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
617. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment will be issued to workers of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3252/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
618. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the way he intends to address the shortfall requiring an additional seven emergency consultant positions at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3253/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the total number of emergency consultants, by hospital, as of 1 January 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3254/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to revert directly to the Deputy with the information sought as soon as possible.
The most recent overall figure as per the HSE staff census confirms that at the end of November 2022 there were 153 consultants working in Emergency Medicine (wte's) out of a total of 3,860 consultants.
620. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the number of private beds allocated to public patient overflow at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3255/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
621. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if there is a timeline in place to institute surgical hubs at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3256/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE, which will be working with Hospital Groups to progress proposals for Surgical Hubs, to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
622. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the services that will be offered at proposed surgical hubs at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3257/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE, which will be working with Hospital Groups to progress proposals for Surgical Hubs, to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
623. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full list of the GPs operating under the aegis of Shannondoc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3259/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
