Written Answers Nos. 1417-1439
1417. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the work that has been carried to develop pharmaceutical capacity in hospitals to make or compound highly expensive medicines on a small scale for their patients as allowed for under EU law, given increasing medicine costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12555/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1418. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times to see a consultant paediatric nephrologist at CHI Crumlin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12564/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1419. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he visited the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital during his recent visit to Australia for St. Patrick's Day events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12565/24]
View answerMinister Donnelly did not visit the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. On 12th March 2024 the Minister visited the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
1420. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of patients travelling from Kilkenny and from Carlow to receive treatment for age related macular degeneration at the ophthalmic clinic at the Mater Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12566/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1421. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant anaesthesiologist posts in University Hospital Waterford in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12567/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1422. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the proportion in percentage terms of the annual health budget spent on medical continuous glucose monitoring devices in relation to overall medical technology spending, from 2019-2023, broken down per annum, in tabular form. [12576/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1423. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the details of the number of persons who are out on sick leave due to long-Covid within the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12578/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1424. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to address the growing concern of diabetics regarding the difficulties in obtaining ozempic, some persons are finding it impossible to obtain the drug. [12579/24]
View answerOzempic is licensed for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.
Novo Nordisk, the company responsible for supplying Ozempic, has advised of supply issues with its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist products including Ozempic.
Novo Nordisk has outlined that these supply issues are due to increased global demand for GLP-1 products coupled with manufacturing capacity constraints at manufacturing sites. The company anticipates that intermittent supply issues will continue throughout 2024.
Novo Nordisk has informed advised that it has implemented monthly allocations to help ensure continuity of supply and equitable distribution of stock to patients and is working on increasing its capacity to increase production of Ozempic.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is engaging closely with the company and the wholesalers involved in the supply of this product to keep the health system and the public informed - www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/ozempic-availability-september---info-for-hcps-and-patients---1-sept-2023701f152697826eee9b55ff00008c97d0.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Novo Nordisk has issued letters to relevant stakeholders, including healthcare professionals to ensure they are aware of this supply issue and its management – www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/ema-mandated-victoza-amp-ozempic-direct-healthcare-professional-communication-(dhpc).pdf?sfvrsn=2
Further information and HSE guidance is also available relating to Ozempic supply interruption for healthcare professionals and patients - www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/glp1-ra-shortage-clinical-advice-ncpd-01112023.pdf.
I recognise that medicine shortages can be challenging for patients, carers, healthcare professionals and their teams. Based on shortages notified to the HPRA, this matter has been the subject of engagement across Health Service stakeholders. Where at all possible, all parties are focused on pre-empting and responding to any potential impacts on medicines supply. Where a shortage cannot be prevented, we will aim to provide useful information to healthcare professionals and patients.
The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its www.hpra.ie/homepage/medicines/medicines-information/medicines-shortages, where the details, including the information above, are detailed. The webpage is updated daily as new information is received.
1425. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an extension will be given to those people working in the HSE, that is, nurses who are out on sick leave due to long-Covid and whose full pay is to end in March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12580/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1426. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the cost of renovations to Millfield House, Blackpool; the cost of construction of apartments for mental health residents; and the number of residents currently in these facilities. [12581/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1427. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the current cost of security at Millfield House, Blackpool; and the total cost of security incurred by the HSE since a contract was initiated there in May 2019. [12582/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which a person (details supplied) exceeds the income limits for qualification for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the current position in regard to an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12589/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1430. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the renewal of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12590/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1431. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE lactation consultants based in CHO8 in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [12603/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1432. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to develop a model of care for people with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; and if there is a clinical lead within the HSE. [12604/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1433. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE general practitioners based in the accident and emergency department in Mullingar Regional Hospital in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the hours and days of the week where the GP is on site within the accident and emergency department, in tabular form. [12605/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1434. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current status of the health (amendment) (licensing of home support providers) Bill. [12606/24]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to "Introduce a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high quality, regulated home care".
In 2024, the Department of Health is focused on continuing the development of a regulatory framework for providers of home support services which aims to ensure that service users are provided with regulated care. Work is ongoing within the Department across four broad areas to progress this commitment: Regulation of home support providers; working with the HSE to develop a reformed model of service delivery for home support; the examination of future funding options for home-support services; Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group.
(i) Development of a General Scheme to regulate home support services is now at an advanced stage following ongoing engagement with key stakeholders. The Heads of Bill are currently being finalised in advance of submitting to Government.
The Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill is expected to be enacted in 2024 and will establish a licensing system for providers of home support services (public, private and not-for-profit). The regulations will set out the minimum requirements that a home support provider must meet to obtain a license and will confer on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the authority to grant, amend and ultimately revoke a license if home support providers fail to meet minimum requirements set out in regulations and quality standards.
Transitional timelines are currently being finalised for the registration of home support providers under this framework. Additionally, HIQA is currently developing standards for home support providers which are planned to go out for public consultation in 2024.
1435. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE vacancies by job title at St. Joseph's Campus, Longford; and the estimated timeframe for which these vacancies are expected to be filled, in tabular form. [12607/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1436. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cleft nurse specialists at CHI Temple Street in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased in 2024. [12608/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1437. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the reason a CORU registration (details supplied) in which all documents have been verified will take up to four months to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12615/24]
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.
1438. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence (details supplied); when an appointment will be rescheduled for a person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12623/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1439. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown on the spend on ambulance services across CHO8 in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [12626/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
