Written Answers Nos. 1627-1640
1627. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who presented at hospital emergency rooms suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum between the period of 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2023 and for the period of 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1021/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1628. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of presentations in each month in 2023 to the minor injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital, in tabular form; the corresponding number for each month in 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1034/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
1629. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost, capital and current, required to bring a CT scanner to Monaghan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1035/24]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
1630. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost, capital and current, required to bring an MRI scanner to Monaghan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1036/24]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
1631. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide a comfort chair that is needed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1039/24]
View answerAs this refers to an individual case, I have referred this matter to the HSE for their attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1632. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the provision of a primary care centre in Swords; the expected date for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1043/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
The Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1633. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a surgery date (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1048/24]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
1634. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of prescriptions issued for fentanyl as part of a public drug scheme or in a HSE hospital, psychiatric facility or primary care setting and by a private GP from 2011 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1055/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1635. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of prescriptions issued for codeine as part of a public drug scheme or in a HSE hospital, psychiatric facility or primary care setting and by a private GP from 2011 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1056/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1636. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the review carried out by the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the sale of codeine containing medicinal products; and when that review will be completed. [1057/24]
View answerThe review referred to by the Deputy has not been initiated and is not being conducted by the Minister for Health. It is therefore recommended that the Deputy contacts the Health Products Regulatory Authority directly on the matter.
1637. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he intends to publish the review of the Health Products Regulatory Authority on the sale of codeine containing medicinal products once it is received by the Department. [1058/24]
View answerThe review referred to by the Deputy has not been initiated and is not being conducted by the Minister for Health. It is therefore recommended that the Deputy contacts the Health Products Regulatory Authority directly on the matter.
1638. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of increasing the misuse of fentanyl (details supplied); the measures that the Department is taking to tackle fentanyl misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1059/24]
View answerThe Department of Health and the HSE are acutely aware of the dangers of new drugs, including synthetic opioids. They work in collaboration with European partners to prepare and respond to fentanyl or other new synthetic opioids, or other drugs, that may emerge.
An Garda Siochana has not reported any seizures of fentanyl. There has been no laboratory analytical confirmation of fentanyl being detected recently in Ireland. No hospital Emergency Department has reported presentations associated with fentanyl. No individual has presented for treatment to addiction services reporting dependence on fentanyl.
Two outbreaks of overdose clusters have occurred in Dublin and the Cork region since November 2023 as a result of the emergence of a synthetic opioid, a nitazene called N-Pyrrolidino protonitazene. Red Alerts continue to remain in place in these areas as the HSE monitors the situation. The HSE and NRAG (see below) continue the ongoing review of cases since November and at this point in time have not detected nitazenes outside of the Dublin and Cork Regions. Recent studies from Ghent University suggest that this compound is approximately 25 times more potent than fentanyl.
Naloxone provision and rapid responses from front-line services and paramedics undoubtedly saved lives during the two outbreak clusters given the potency of the compounds involved. What differentiates responses to nitazenes compared to heroin is the requirement for additional doses of naloxone to revive the person. As a result, the HSE has ensured that additional supplies of naloxone have been available during outbreak periods.
The HSE Naloxone programme continues to expand and is a vitally important tool in the national effort to minimise the harms caused by substance use.
The HSE has convened a national red alert group (NRAG) to monitor cases of concern and to rapidly respond to future outbreaks should they occur. This cross-sector group is coordinated by the HSE National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services and includes representatives from a wide range of stakeholders including Dublin Fire Brigade, the National Drugs Treatment Centre Laboratory, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. NRAG will meet on a monthly basis to review the current situation, risk communications, and to develop resources. A factsheet for medical care providers to be issued by the group shortly.
The HSE has issued interim guidelines to prepare for possible outbreaks nationally and has asked services to directly report on overdoses of concern and changes to drug trends. CHOs have been asked to prepare for the possible emergence of nitazenes and report on cases of concern or increases in overdoses to the HSE and the NRAG so they can continue to monitor the situation.
Work is also underway on the establishment of a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility at Merchants Quay, which will help save lives and enable people with opioid dependency to inject in a safe place and interact with medical services.
I am very appreciative of the efforts of the HSE, community drug services, hospital Emergency Departments and the Dublin Fire Brigade, for their swift responses; their collective effort has greatly minimised the harms from the use of synthetic opioids.
1639. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility to the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips (insulin and metformin) to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; if he agrees with the decision to remove them from the scheme and if he will now reverse that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1064/24]
View answerThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. Gestational diabetes is not a permanent or long-term illness and is, therefore, not covered by the LTI scheme. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. There are a range of blood glucose testing strips and medicines to manage Gestational Diabetes (i.e., insulin) available on the Reimbursement List to those with eligibility under the medical card or Drugs Payment Scheme subject to the statutory co-payments.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
1640. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1065/24]
View answerThis PQ relates to operational matters and has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
