Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1352. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his plans to prescribe dedicated training for HSE-funded personnel administering sexually transmitted infection tests, and providing support to persons living with HIV to ensure that patients do not experience stigma in individual clinics. [13097/23]
View answerThe development of sexual health services is being implemented in accordance with the recommendations set out in the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015 - 2020 and is a priority item for this Government. The Strategy's lifetime was extended to 2022. An independent Review of the Strategy has been completed and will be published on the Healthy Ireland website shortly.
The Strategy will be refreshed, following the publication of the Review, and its recommendations will be taken into account in terms of the development of the new Strategy. The views and recommendations of clinicians, service providers including the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, academics and representative organisations, amongst others, will be taken into account.
In terms of the details of current and future clinical protocols, healthcare professional training and service provision for those at risk of HIV and living with a positive diagnosis, as this is a service matter,
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
