Written Answers Nos. 190-209
190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the proportion of all breast cancer diagnoses made as a result of a person’s attendance at symptomatic breast disease clinics in each of the years 2015 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33061/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
191. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the absolute number of ductal carcinoma in-situ, pre-cancers and cancers detected each year through BreastCheck; the detection rate of same in each of the years 2015 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
192. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the absolute number of low-grade lesions, high-grade lesions and of cancers detected; the detection rate of same, detected through CervicalCheck in each of the years 2015 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
193. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the use of teleclinics or similar video communications as a means of consultant psychiatrist appointments for CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
194. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health his views on the personnel employed to conduct teleclinics for CAMHS, noting their qualifications; if they are HSE employees or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33075/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
195. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if the use of teleclinics to conduct CAMHS consultations is part of the strategy to resource CAMHS teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33076/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
196. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will include a person (details supplied) in the north Kerry CAMHS audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33078/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to progress nurse prescribing of opioid substitution therapy; the status of the working group set up to examine this issue; the timeline that he is working towards for introduction of nurse prescribing of opioid substitution therapy; the reason for the delay in progressing this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Drugs Strategy commits in strategic action 2.1.14 to improve the availability of Opioid Substitution Treatment (OSTs). This is now known as Opioid Agonist Treatment (OATs) . The HSE is leading in this action, and it includes examining potential mechanisms to increase access to OATs such as the expansion of GP prescribing, nurse led prescribing and the provision of OATs in community-based settings and homeless services.
Over the last two years, arising from and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, significant progress has been made in this action, notably - a substantial group of 1000 additional people were inducted into the OAT programme. This was achieved through an allocation of additional funding of €4.2m from my Department in 2021 and significant support from community based addiction services, homeless services and GPs. Further resources of €10 million were provided to meet the health needs of people experiencing homelessness and addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This work is continuing and in Budgets 2021 and 2022, I secured significant additional funding of €17 million to support the implementation of the health actions in the national drugs strategy.
Six strategic implementation groups with independent chairs have been established to drive the strategic priorities identified in the midterm review of the national drugs strategy which concluded in 2021.
One of the groups has specific responsibility for the third strategic priority which aims to develop integrated care pathways and harm reduction responses for high-risk drug users so as to achieve better health outcomes for people who are homeless, offenders, stimulant users and injecting drug-users.
High-risk drug users have complex health and social care needs that make them vulnerable to drug overdose and premature death. Integrated care pathways are required to deliver the best outcomes for this cohort, that connect care settings between GPs, primary/community care providers, community specialist teams and hospital-based specialists.
The issue of improving the availability of OAT under strategic action 2.1.14 can be examined as part of this process.
I am committed to supporting people with substance misuse issues on their journey to recovery.
199. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the annual cost per bed of the Keltoi facility when it was open. [33106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
200. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the annual cost per bed of providing a State-owned addiction residential rehabilitation bed. [33107/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the capital cost per bed of providing a State-owned addiction residential rehabilitation service. [33108/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
202. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his Department has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of opening State-run residential rehabilitation facilities. [33109/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, as amended, the HSE is responsible for the provision of health and social services including addiction services. In cases where new development funding for the opening or expansion of addiction services is provided, the HSE submits a robust business case, in line with specified criteria, for approval of the drawdown of this funding. The Department has not requested a cost-benefit analysis of opening state-run residential addiction rehabilitation facilities.
203. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the annual cost per bed of a State-owned community detox bed. [33110/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the capital cost per bed of providing a State-owned community detox bed. [33111/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the capital cost per bed of providing a State-owned medical detox bed. [33112/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the annual running cost, per bed of providing a State-owned medical detox bed. [33113/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
207. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the cost per facility of assessment fees for addiction residential rehabilitation and detox facilities; and the percentage of these fees that were waived in 2021 and to date in 2022, respectively in tabular form. [33114/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average annual salary of a community development worker in the addiction sector. [33115/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.
209. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of community development workers employed by the State in each of the drug and alcohol task force areas in tabular form in each drug and alcohol task force. [33116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
