Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
553. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the procedures provided to patients who are covered under the general medical scheme for the treatment of heart valve disease; the proportion of such patients treated using transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30245/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons with full eligibility (medical card under the General Medical Scheme) are entitled to free hospital services. However, procedures carried out in a hospital setting including surgical aortic valve replacement or a specialist cardiac intervention such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) are based on clinical need and on a priority basis, as opposed to a person's eligibility /General Medical Scheme status.
As this Parliamentary Question also refers to the HSE position this part of the questions is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.
