Written Answers Nos. 558-573
560. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 373 of 1 February 2024, the source of the data that the increased risk of suicide of trans people persists after gender affirming surgery. [7660/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
563. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health whether a candidate’s desire to exercise their conscientious objection with regard to the non-performance of terminations of pregnancy would disadvantage them in the hiring or promotions process within the Health Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7664/24]
View answerAs this is a matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
564. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on the roll-out of abortion provision in the eight remaining hospitals that he said would be performing abortions by early 2024; the number of people appointed to positions to ensure abortion provision could begin in these hospitals; the various positions people were appointed to, including obstetricians, nursing staff et cetera; the cost of these hirings and any other administrative or capital costs incurred in the roll-out of abortion provision in these facilities; any additional expenditure earmarked to be spent to complete the roll-out in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7665/24]
View answerIt is Government policy that termination services, under the 2018 Act, should be provided in all 19 maternity hospitals.
Currently 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals are providing full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act, which includes termination in early pregnancy (i.e. under 12 weeks). These hospitals are listed on the HSE website: www2.hse.ie/conditions/abortion/how-to-get/in-hospital/.
In the remaining 2 sites, the introduction of the service is dependent on the recruitment of additional consultant obstetrician gynaecologists, which is progressing, as is the establishment of the appropriate referral and care pathways within those hospitals.
The HSE envisages that termination services in early pregnancy will commence in the last two hospital sites in 2024.
As this is also service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
565. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will open discussions with the CMO and the secretary general in relation to the urgent need to introduce urogynaecological mesh operations; why was this procedure not introduced in autumn 2023 as expected; if the Minister will do everything within his power to ensure that these operations are provided in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7693/24]
View answerUro-Gynaecological (Transvaginal) mesh is used in the surgical treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) in women and such mesh devices have been widely used for this over the past two decades. However, in late 2017, in line with emerging international evidence, concerns were raised at national level regarding the frequency and severity of complications associated with the use of transvaginal mesh devices. The then Minister for Health requested the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to prepare a report on the clinical and technical issues involved.
In November 2018, the CMO’s Report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures was published. The Report contains a number of recommendations regarding the safe and effective provision of mesh procedures in urogynaecology and an appropriate response to women who suffer complications as a result of undergoing such procedures. In July 2018, the CMO had asked the HSE to pause all mesh procedures where clinically safe to do so, pending confirmation of the implementation of specific recommendations in the CMO’s Report. This pause remains in place.
In 2023 the HSE established a National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group to oversee vaginal mesh implants in our HSE acute hospitals in terms of both primary implant surgery and tertiary complications services. The focus of this group is to review and assess implementation of the recommendations as set out in the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO’s) report ‘The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures, 2018’ and assess the appropriateness of resuming uro-gynaecological mesh procedures, cognisant of international developments and approaches in this complex area.
The focus for the HSE and the Department of Health remains the full implementation of the CMO’s Report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures and ensuring that women who require aftercare following mesh complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary patient centred care in accordance with the evidence and supported by robust clinical governance mechanisms.
The Department of Health is committed to ensuring women’s health services receive consistent expert and focused attention and it is important that both current and future service provision aligns with the needs of patients. The HSE Oversight Group has now submitted its draft report to Department of Health and officials are actively liaising with the HSE on a number of important aspects of this work to ensure comprehensive implementation of the CMO’s Report.
Listening to the experiences of women affected by mesh remains a key priority for the Department of Health. Work continues to progress with dedicated engagements with Mesh Survivors Ireland and Mesh Ireland and these engagements are central to the Department of Health’s review of the work of the HSE’s National Vaginal Mesh Implant Oversight Group and the future decision in relation to the ongoing pause in transvaginal mesh procedures.
566. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the total cost spent by the HSE on contractors for maintenance work (details supplied) in 2023. [7712/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the maintenance and operation of the public healthcare property estates, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy 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 6th 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.
567. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have their CORU registration completed. [7713/24]
View answerOfficials in my Department have been in touch with CORU on this matter and I understand that CORU will contact you on the issues raised and will also liaise directly with the applicant concerned.
568. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when the public dental service located in Carlow (details supplied) will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7720/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
569. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting treatment from CAMHS in each CHO; the length of time patients have been on said waiting lists, in tabular form; and what steps are being taken to rapidly reduce CAMHS waiting lists. [7725/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
570. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide clarity on the eating disorder treatment process; and to detail what treatments families are entitled to. [7726/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
571. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if eating disorder treatment could be provided regardless of an individual's weight; and whether individual and-or family-based therapy could be provided at every step of the treatment process. [7727/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
572. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to provide more specialised facilities for eating disorder sufferers; what steps are being taken to provide more outpatient facilities; and what steps are being taken to provide eating disorder specialists in all public hospitals. [7728/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide more in-patient facilities for eating disorder sufferers or to facilitate a reduction of catchment restrictions; and if all in-patient facilities will provide nasogastric tube feeding where required. [7729/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
