Denise Mitchell
Question:1628. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health his plans, if any, to make the medication lumateperone available via the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1872/25]
View answerMedicinal Products
Questions (1628)
Written answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Questions (1629)
Robert Troy
Question:1629. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the future of a service (details supplied); and details of the staff who have been employed in this service. [1873/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (1630)
Thomas Gould
Question:1630. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the current status of Palforzia; and the current availability of same and timeline for acceptance under the drugs repayment scheme. [1878/25]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. I have reached out to the HSE on this matter.
As per the 2013 Act the HSE must robustly assesses applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to people living in Ireland.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed.
The HSE considers the following criteria prior to making any decision on pricing / reimbursement in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013:
(1) The health needs of the public,
(2) The cost effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services,
(3) The availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement,
(4) The proposed costs, benefits, and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks,
(5) The potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item,
(6) The clinical need for the item or listed item,
(7) The appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety,
(8) The efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies) and
(9) The resources available to the HSE
In terms of the specific details of the application for pricing and reimbursement of Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) for the treatment of patients aged 4 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. (Palforzia® may be continued in patients 18 years of age and older.)
The HSE received a complete application for pricing / reimbursement on the 30th March 2022 from Aimmune Therapeutics (the applicant) for Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) for the treatment of patients aged 4 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. (Palforzia® may be continued in patients 18 years of age and older).
• The first step in the process is the submission of a Rapid Review dossier (a clinical and economic dossier) to the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) for assessment. The HSE commissioned the Rapid Review process on the 1st April 2022.
• The NCPE Rapid Review assessment report was received by the HSE on the 5th May 2022. The NCPE advised the HSE that a full HTA was recommended to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) compared with the current standard of care.
• The HSE commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment on the 26th May 2022 as per agreed processes.
• The NCPE Health Technology Assessment Report was received by the HSE on the 29th November 2023. The NCPE recommended that Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness can be improved relative to existing treatments. (www.ncpe.ie/defatted-powder-of-arachis-hypogaea-l-semen-peanuts-palforzia-hta-id-22019/)
• The HSE Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) is the interface between the HSE and the Pharmaceutical Industry in relation to medicine pricing and reimbursement applications. CPU met with the applicant to discuss their application for Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®).
• The Drugs Group is the national committee which the HSE has in place to make recommendations on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The membership of the HSE Drugs Group includes public interest members. The HSE Drugs Group consider all of the evidence and make a recommendation to the HSE Senior Leadership Team. The totality of clinical and economic evidence for Defatted powder of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) for the treatment of patients aged 4 to 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy was comprehensively and extensively reviewed by the Drugs Group at the September 2024 meeting. The HSE Drugs Group recommended in favour of reimbursement of Arachis hypogaea L., semen (peanuts) (Palforzia®) subject to an improved commercial offering.
• The decision making authority in the HSE is the HSE Senior Leadership Team. The HSE Senior Leadership Team decides on the basis of all the demands it is faced with (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new use of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
• The HSE CPU proposed a meeting with the applicant to discuss the HSE Drugs Group recommendation. The applicant communicated to the HSE CPU in October 2024 that they wished for the application for Palforzia® to be paused until the end of 2025.
The application remains under consideration. The HSE cannot make any comment on possible outcomes from the ongoing process.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1631)
Pa Daly
Question:1631. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the current inpatient waiting lists in University Hospital Kerry, by specialty, in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1885/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1632)
Pa Daly
Question:1632. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists, per grade and per LHO; the population size they serve, employed in the CHO 4 primary care child and adolescent psychology services, in tabular form. [1887/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1633)
Pa Daly
Question:1633. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of additional psychology staff, per grade, his Department is committing to recruiting to address the crisis in primary care psychology waiting lists in CHO 4; and when he expects this recruitment drive to commence, in tabular form. [1888/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (1634)
Pa Daly
Question:1634. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the total number of children and adolescents waiting for an appointment with the CHO 4 primary care psychology service in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1889/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1635)
Pa Daly
Question:1635. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of HSE vacancies in Kerry, broken down by location and specialism, in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1900/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this relates to a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (1636)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1636. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the average patient experience time to admission via an emergency department for all patients for each quarter of each year 2019 to 2024, inclusive, Statewide and for each location; the average for all patients and for patients aged 75 or older, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1904/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Emergency Departments
Questions (1637)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1637. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of patients who were waiting zero to six hours, zero to nine hours, nine to 24 hours, and 24-plus hours for admission to an emergency department for each quarter of each year 2019 to 2024, inclusive, Statewide and by location; the number for all patients and for patients aged over 75, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1905/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Emergency Departments
Questions (1638)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1638. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who left an emergency department without being seen for each quarter of each year 2019 to 2024, inclusive, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1906/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Hospital Services
Questions (1639)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1639. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, for each quarter of each year 2022 to 2024, inclusive, by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1907/25]
View answerWritten answers
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellations or postponements, they can happen for a variety of reasons, including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
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 follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital appointments and procedures are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (1640)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1640. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer-related appointments and procedures cancelled in each quarter in each year 2022 to 2024, inclusive, by hospital, for adults and for children, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1908/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Questions (1641)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1641. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the bed-occupancy rates of each public and public voluntary hospital, by hospital group, for each quarter for each of the years 2019 to 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1909/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter I have referred the question to the Health Service Executive for a direct reply.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1642)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1642. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of assaults recorded against staff at HSE facilities in each quarter for each of the years 2019 to 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1910/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Questions (1643)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1643. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance turnaround time at each emergency department in each quarter between 2020 and 2024, inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1911/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (1644)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1644. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on primary care and community healthcare waiting lists, for each care service, in each quarter of each year from 2019 to 2024; the breakdown, by length of wait and by age, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1912/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (1645)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1645. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of people on CAMHS waiting lists, by CHO and length of wait, at the end of each quarter of each year 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1913/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (1646)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1646. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of people on waiting lists for Jigsaw, by CHO and length of wait, at the end of each quarter of each year 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1914/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (1647)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1647. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on diagnostic waiting lists at the end of each quarter of 2022 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1915/25]
View answerWritten answers
In 2022, in line with actions in the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP), the Department of Health issued formal approval to the NTPF to commence work on the development and delivery of a National Radiology Diagnostic Protocol. In October 2024, the NTPF formally launched the first National Radiology Diagnostic Waiting List Management Protocol for the administrative management of patients on radiology diagnostic waiting lists in Irish public hospitals.
As well as ensuring that patients seeking access to Radiology Diagnostic services are administratively managed in a safe, timely, fair, and equitable manner whilst waiting, by standardising the management of patients, the protocol will facilitate improved data collection and reporting about patients on Radiology Diagnostic waiting lists.
In the interim, the information that is currently being collected as part of a pilot project is being tested and validated at hospital, hospital group and national level and as such should not be used/reported without the context of the caveats set out below:
• Data is subject to inclusions and exclusions which are documented in the Data Profile Document. This document is available from Acute Operations and has been circulated to all Hospital Groups.
• Data contains urgent, routine and surveillance/planned activity which is currently not broken down in detail, as such this includes surveillance/planned activity which may not be exceeding planned date.
• Data is still undergoing validation at Hospital and Hospital Group level. Data does not take into account local nuances at site level (Site profile developed to support understanding of same).
• The purpose of this aggregate data is to provide a National Level overview of the number of patients waiting for modalities of CT, MRI and Ultrasound.
• This report is not intended to be used for the active management of hospital diagnostics waiting list, local reports and mechanisms should continue to be used for the management of diagnostics waiting lists at hospital level.
The NTPF provides my Department with Quarterly reports which set out waiting list data for CT, MRI and Ultrasound. The HSE advises that, at present, further diagnostic scans (including cholangiopancreatography, electroencephalogram, angiogram, electrocardiogram and bone scan), are not yet captured as part of this project.
The most recent report available for Quarter 3 2024 is set out at the link. At the end of Quarter 3 2024, there was a total of 287,282 patients reported on the waiting list from all sites, this represents all outpatients waiting, urgent, semi urgent, routine and planned/surveillance (where diagnostic access is planned at particular time intervals).
Diagnostic waiting list for 2022 Q1
Diagnostic waiting list for 2022 Q2
Diagnostic waiting list for 2022 Q3
Diagnostic waiting list for 2022 Q4
Diagnostic waiting list for 2023 Q1
Diagnostic waiting list for 2023 Q2
Diagnostic waiting list for 2023 Q3
Diagnostic waiting list for 2023 Q4
Diagnostic waiting list for 2024 Q1
Dental Services
Questions (1648)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:1648. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists on the dental treatment services scheme at the end of each quarter for each year 2019 to 2024, by LHO; the number of dentists who submitted claims and the total number of claims in quarter 1 of each year and each full year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1916/25]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.