Written Answers Nos. 536-547
536. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the reason that several MRI scans (details supplied) are no longer covered on CHO5 or medical card in Wexford MRI unit, operated by a healthcare provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41090/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
537. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when HSE-contracted home care visit staff in Laois and Offaly will resume evening and weekend hours to ensure that a full complement of service is available to patients and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41100/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
538. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health what services are currently provided in Balbriggan primary care centre; what additional services are planned to be introduced in the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41102/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
539. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of CHOs currently prescribing suboxone to those experiencing opioid addiction; and the number of prescriptions prescribed in respect of each CHO in 2022, in tabular form. [41128/23]
View answer541. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans over the next three years to optimise accessibility to suboxone to those experiencing opioid addiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41130/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 541 together.
Suboxone is the proprietary name of a medicinal product containing buprenorphine and naloxone.
The Misuse of Drugs (Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone and Medicinal Products containing Buprenorphine authorised for Opioid Substitution Treatment) Regulations 2017 came into effect on 22nd November 2017.
The purpose of these Regulations is to provide access to certain buprenorphine-based medicinal products for Opioid Substitution Treatment (including buprenorphine/naloxone and buprenorphine only) on the same statutory basis as methadone.
The phased rollout of suboxone commenced on 1st May 2018 and allowed for prescribing of this product by trained Doctors working in HSE Addiction service and specifically approved Level 1 and Level 2 GPs outside the Dublin region. This rollout then extended to suitably trained Level 1 and 2 GPs within the Dublin region in October 2018.This rollout of buprenorphine based products has continued successfully since then and the use of these substances increased substantially during the Covid pandemic due to the ease of induction onto the substance.
At the end of August 2023 there were 821 patients in receipt of buprenorphine based products as an Opioid Agonist treatment.
The HSE has advised that the use of buprenorphine based products will continue to be supported over the next three years. I understand that when new formulations become available they will be provided pending successful evaluation.
The HSE anticipates that numbers in receipt of buprenorphine based products will continue to rise in the coming years.
540. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of CHOs currently prescribing methadone to those experiencing opioid addiction; and the number of prescriptions prescribed in respect of each CHO in 2022, in tabular form. [41129/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
542. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the CHOs that currently provide rapid access stabilisation units; his plans to provide future funding for such units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41131/23]
View answerFuture funding for rapid access stabilisation units, as with all drug treatment services, will be considered as part of the Estimates process. As the number and location of stabilisation units is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
543. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on an appointment for surgery (details supplied); if he realises that the surgery was scheduled for 18 September 2023 and cancelled again; if he will expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41132/23]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
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.
544. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41137/23]
View answerSafe Access Zones legislation was prioritised for publication in the Government’s Summer legislative programme, and a Bill was published at the end of June. This Bill was initiated in the Houses in early July and is currently at Second Stage in Dail Eireann. Subject to the Parliamentary timetable it is my intention to progress this legislation through the Houses as expeditiously as possible and to have it enacted by the end of the year.
545. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the data being collected on the effects of the marketing of zero-alcohol products with the same branding, logos and colours as their parent alcoholic counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41146/23]
View answerMy current priority is the commencement of the remaining provisions of our Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, in particular the Broadcast Watershed and the Content of Advertisements provision which requires regulations which must be assessed at EU level. My Department continually monitors the evidence base on the impacts of advertising on alcohol consumption.
546. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health his plans for expanding the current number of minor injury clinics nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41148/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
547. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide full clarity on the very welcome €445,000 awarded to CHO8 for drugs and inclusion health services announced in August 2023; to seek the details on how the funds will be distributed to key frontline drug addiction organisations who are facing very difficult winter periods in terms of funding shortfalls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41164/23]
View answerI recently announced €3.5 million in annual funding to maintain existing level of drugs and inclusion health services provided by community and voluntary organisations. The funding is recurring.The funding recognises the important role of community and voluntary groups in providing drugs and inclusion health services, and acknowledges the increased costs of providing these essential services.I have allocated €445,000 per annum to CHO 8 in line with a population-based resource allocation model, to support existing services to meet the health needs of socially excluded groups, such as people who use drugs and people who are homeless.A strategic approach will be adopted in the use of this funding, to ensure tangible and quantifiable health benefits for service users and to support sustainable improvements in service provision. Priority will be given to services which are experiencing increased demand and have not received additional funding in recent years, in order to ensure maximum positive impact.It is envisaged that the funding will be distributed in Q4 2023.
I have asked the HSE to reply to your query on the details on how the funds will be distributed to key frontline drug addiction organisations in CHO 8.
