Written Answers Nos. 636-648
636. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to outline the plans to close the paediatric unit in Mercy University Hospital which would leave Cork University Hospital as the only hospital in the area which covers care for under 16 years-olds; and to provide a rationale for this change. [2902/24]
View answer644. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to act to stop the closure of paediatric services at Mercy University Hospital until such time as a full and adequate paediatric wing is in place at Cork University Hospital in order to avoid overwhelming services and reducing quality of care and outcomes for children in the Cork city area. [2910/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 644 together.
As the matters raised by the Deputies are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputies directly, as soon as possible.
638. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that sufficient parking will be in place for Cork University Hospital if plans are true to make it the only hospital serving under 16-year-olds which will have an inevitable increase in patient load. [2904/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
639. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to confirm if accident and emergency care will still be provided to under-16 year-olds at Mercy University Hospital after the conclusion of the plan to move paediatric care exclusively to Cork University Hospital. [2905/24]
View answer640. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of concerns that accident and emergency services at Cork University Hospital will be overwhelmed following the closure of the paediatric services at Mercy University Hospital; and what resources will be put in place to expand capacity and avoid the prospect of children on trolleys in waiting areas. [2906/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.
As the matters raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
645. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff currently working in the pricing and reimbursement system across the NCPE, HSE's corporate pharmaceutical unit and the national cancer control programme; whether or not there are any plans to increase this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/24]
View answerThe National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) has 20.5 whole-time equivalent staff.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, providing the requested information on the number of staff in the Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) and National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
646. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the level of funding spent on new medicines in 2023 and new uses of existing medicines in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/24]
View answerDue to ongoing industrial action by FORSA staff in the Health Service Executive, it has not been possible to complete the Deputy's request for information by the required deadline. A direct reply will be issued to the Deputy when this information is available.
647. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health to report on the services and access so far provided by the new mobile health unit run by the social inclusion team from CHO Dublin north city and county. [2920/24]
View answerAs this refers to a service, I have referred to the HSE for direct response.
648. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health what LGBTQI+ health services are provided by the new mobile health unit run by the social inclusion team from CHO Dublin north city and county. [2921/24]
View answerAs this relates to a service, I have referred to the HSE for direct response.
