Written Answers Nos. 345-362
345. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of drug treatment episodes provided to date in 2019 by services (details supplied); and the equivalent figures for 2018, in tabular form. [28977/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra346. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which the availability of opioid substitution treatments has been improved to date in 2019; and if access to the treatments has been increased through an expansion of general practitioner prescribing, nurse led prescribing and the provision of OSTs in community based settings and homeless services. [28978/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which quality and safety of care in the delivery of opioid substitution treatment has been enhanced to date in 2019; and the way in which the HSE national clinical guidelines on OST are being implemented and reviewed in line with National Clinical Effectiveness Committee processes. [28979/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which relapse prevention and aftercare drug treatment services have been improved to date in 2019. [28980/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra351. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which links between maternity services and addiction services have been strengthened to date in 2019. [28983/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra352. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the need for additional residential placements for pregnant and postnatal women that need inpatient treatment for addiction to drugs and-or alcohol nationally has been quantified; and if so, the action being taken as a result. [28984/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra354. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he is increasing the range of wrap-around community and drug and alcohol taskforces residential services equipped to meet the needs of women using drugs and or alcohol in a harmful manner, including those with children and those that are pregnant. [28986/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra355. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he is developing interventions to address gender and cultural specific risk factors for not taking up treatment for drug addiction. [28987/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra356. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the assessment being made of the need for the development of specialist services to meet the needs of older persons with long-term substance use issues. [28988/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra357. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the specific actions taken during 2018 to improve outcomes for persons with co-morbid severe mental illness and substance misuse problems. [28989/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra358. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of additional detoxification, stabilisation and rehabilitation beds provided to date in 2019. [28990/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra359. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which needle exchange programmes have been expanded during 2019. [28991/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra361. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the development of an overdose prevention strategy. [28993/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 348, inclusive, 351, 352, 354 to 359, inclusive, and 361 together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
349. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which the range of progression options for recovering drug users has been increased to date in 2019; and if a new programme of supported care and employment has been developed. [28981/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025.
Action 2.1.19 commits to increase the range of progression options for recovering drug users and to develop a new programme of supported care and employment. A key component of progression is the community employment social inclusion schemes supported by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection allocates 1,000 on CE schemes to people in recovery. These drug rehabilitation projects play an important role in the rehabilitation, progression and reintegration into society of recovering drug users.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has recently established an interdepartmental group to examine the most appropriate organisation arrangements for community employment social inclusion schemes, including drug rehabilitation projects. The Department of Health is represented on the group.
I will consider the next steps in implementing action 2.1.19 in light of the recommendations of the interdepartmental group.
350. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which maternity hospitals and units have strengthened their methods of detecting alcohol abuse and supporting women to reduce their intake. [28982/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
353. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the way in which he has resourced the national women and infants health programme to provide drug liaison midwives and specialist medical social workers in all maternity networks. [28985/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy in relation to drug and alcohol addiction services is set out in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery-a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025.
Action 2.1.20 of the strategy commits to expanding addiction services for pregnant and postnatal women. This includes the provision of Drug Liaison Midwives and specialist medical social workers in all maternity networks as part of the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP).
In 2018, the Department granted funding to allocate six medical social workers nationally, one to each Maternity Network. Two Drug Liaison Midwife posts are currently in process in Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CHO4) and Mid-West Community Healthcare (CHO3) and will be appointed this year. Planning for an additional two posts in Community Health Care West (CHO2 )and South East Community Healthcare (CHO5) will be commenced in Q3 of this year.
I am committed to providing Drug Liaison Midwives in all the major maternity hospitals to support opioid dependent pregnant women throughout their pregnancy, helping them to reduce their drug dependence and improve their social circumstances and wellbeing.
360. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if the uptake of hepatitis C treatment has been increased during 2019. [28992/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a clinical and operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
362. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to date in 2019 to build capacity within drug and alcohol services to develop a patient safety approach in line with the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. [28994/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
