Michael Ring
Question:256. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if a service is being removed from islands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41881/24]
View answerDisability Services
Questions (256)
Written 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 (257)
Michael Ring
Question:257. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the number of student paramedics that will be recruited in January 2025 and at what locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41887/24]
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.
Ambulance Service
Questions (258)
Pearse Doherty
Question:258. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered providing an ambulance shelter on Arranmore Island, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41888/24]
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.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Questions (259)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:259. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of new insulin pumps initiated to patients with type 1 diabetes, by hospital, inclusive of all level 3 and level 4 hospitals for 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41901/24]
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 (260)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:260. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether a hospital the size of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda should be relying on an external supplier (details supplied) for chemotherapy medication given recent production issues at that provider; his further views on whether Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda should have its own aseptic compounding facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41970/24]
View answerWritten answers
Aseptic Compounding Units (ACUs) are dedicated laboratory facilities which produce tailored treatments for patients which have a short shelf life. Treatments produced in ACUs include Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (e.g chemotherapy, immunotherapy).
The majority of public hospitals providing SACT services in Ireland have access to an ACU. Currently, a number of public hospitals outsource a portion of their SACT supply to third-party providers and to other hospitals. This is particularly the case for standard doses of treatments with long shelf lives.
Ensuring patients receive timely and quality treatment for their cancer remains a priority for the HSE and my Department. My Department works closely with the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) to improve compounding capacity across all chemotherapy-providing hospitals, to improve resilience in treatment provision for the benefit of cancer patients.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (261)
Michael Ring
Question:261. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health to outline in full the discussions that have taken place between him and a union (details supplied) in relation to the restoration of pharmacy fees and new services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41971/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
There has been ongoing engagement between Department officials and the Irish Pharmacy Union regarding the potential to extend the scope of practice of community pharmacists and the enablers needed to implement that. My Department has been carrying out a comprehensive review of the pharmacy fee structure in the context of this engagement and the intended expansion of the scope of pharmacy practice, following the recommendations of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
Pharmacy Services
Questions (262)
Michael Ring
Question:262. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the discussions that have taken place surrounding the development of a clear pharmaceutical care policy; the plans he has to introduce same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41973/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recognise the significant role pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
In July 2023, I established the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. The remit of the Taskforce was to identify and support the delivery of specific objectives, which will serve to align services and practices that can be delivered by pharmacists, and pharmacies, with the needs of the health service and patients.
The Taskforce submitted their interim report to me in October of 2023. Extending the validity of prescriptions, and extension of prescriptions by pharmacists, was recommended by the Expert Taskforce. Officials in my Department, in collaboration with stakeholders, arranged for the implementation of this change, which began earlier this year.
The Taskforce continued to work together until July 2024. In August 2024, I accepted its recommendations and published its final report. This report presents a clear pathway for implementing pharmacist prescribing in Ireland, focusing initially on a Common Conditions Service (CCS), and eventually progressing to full prescribing authority for pharmacists. I have asked officials to examine how best to apply extended models of pharmacist prescribing in an Irish context.
Enabling pharmacists to prescribe for common conditions (often called minor ailments) means pharmacists can provide advice and treat common conditions in the community. This will enable pharmacists to manage common conditions by offering advice, and, when appropriate, prescribing prescription-only medicines through established protocols.
I have established an Implementation Oversight Group which has representation from a number of organisations, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
The Implementation Oversight Group will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the common conditions service, development and delivery of training for pharmacists, optimising operational aspects of the service, overseeing the development of the necessary secondary legislation, and preparing and delivering communications to the public and other healthcare providers on these changes. I have asked that this service be put in place by early 2025.
The evolving healthcare landscape in Ireland necessitates innovative approaches to improve access to care. Expansion of the role of pharmacists is an important step forward for our health service. There has been active engagement between Department officials and relevant stakeholders regarding the role that pharmacy and pharmacists play in our health service, and this will continue into the future.
Home Care Packages
Questions (263)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:263. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a home care package will be put in place for a person (details supplied) in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41991/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (264)
Brendan Smith
Question:264. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of widespread concerns in relation to the inadequate and limited supply of HRT patches (details supplied); the measures that will be undertaken to ensure that women will have no delay in accessing such products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41995/24]
View answerWritten answers
Thank you for your query on the important issue of medicine shortages.
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., the company responsible for supplying Estradot, has notified Ireland’s medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), of a shortage of Estradot transdermal patches (50 microgram/24 hour transdermal patch, 75 microgram/24 hour transdermal patch, 100 microgram/24 hour transdermal patch). These shortages were notified on 10th July, 26th June and 30th July 2024, respectively, and are due to a manufacturing delay which is impacting multiple countries. The HPRA have been notified by Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d of an expected return date, reported as the 31st of October 2024 (for all three presentations).
Theramex Ireland Limited, the company responsible for supplying Evorel transdermal patches, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Evorel 50 micrograms per 24 hours transdermal patch due to an unexpected increase in demand. This shortage was notified on 5th September 2024 and an expected return date is indicated as November 2024.
In the event that patients or their carers are unable to source a medicinal product, my Department and I would advise that they discuss possible alternatives with their healthcare professional pending the resumption of normal supply.
I am aware of the stress that shortages of medicines can cause for patients and healthcare professionals alike, thusly managing and mitigating medicine shortages is the subject of several workstreams across the Department and wider health service.
The HPRA operate a multistakeholder medicine shortage framework on behalf of the Department of Health, which aims to help prevent potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by coordinating the management of potential or actual shortages across the health service as they arise.
Medicinal Products
Questions (265)
Brendan Smith
Question:265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of widespread concerns in relation to the shortage in supply of fortisip compact protein drinks (details supplied); the measures that will be undertaken to ensure that supply of these necessary drugs are made available to patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41996/24]
View answerWritten answers
To inform the response to your question, my Officials have consulted with Ireland’s medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)
Creon current supply position:
Viatris, the company that places Creon on the market in Ireland has notified the HPRA of a global supply constraint of Creon (pancreatin) medicines. Viatris has informed the HPRA that this constrained supply is due to high global demand for this medicine coupled with manufacturing capacity constraints and a shortage of the active pharmaceutical ingredient required to manufacture this medicine. The company has informed the HPRA that it has put measures in place at wholesale level (monthly stock allocations) that are intended to ensure equitable distribution of the available stock to all patients who need this medicine.
The current availability of Creon medicines is as follows:
Creon 10000 Gastro Resistant Capsules: Viatris has notified a current shortage of Creon 10000 Gastro Resistant Capsules due an increase in demand for the product, impacting multiple markets globally. The company anticipates resupply in Ireland at the start of November 2024. It is expected that Creon 10000 Gastro Resistant Capsules will remain on allocation with release to pharmacies on a periodic basis after resupply in November.
Viatris has not notified the HPRA of a current shortage of Creon 5000 Gastro Resistant Granules or Creon 25000 Gastro Resistant Capsules.
Warfarin Teva current supply position:
Teva, the company responsible for supplying Warfarin Teva tablets, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Warfarin Teva 3mg tablets due to a quality issue. This shortage was notified as beginning in July 2024 with anticipated resupply at the on the 15th of November.
Teva has also notified the HPRA of a shortage of Warfarin Teva 5mg tablets due to a quality issue. This shortage was notified as beginning in May 2024 with anticipated resupply at the on the 15th of November.
Teva has recently confirmed resupply of Warfarin Teva 1mg tablets.
Health Services
Questions (266)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:266. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to ensure additional funding is allocated for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41997/24]
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
Questions (267)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:267. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if urgent consideration will be given to a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/24]
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.
Pension Provisions
Questions (268)
Brendan Griffin
Question:268. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in a ludicrous situation where the HSE will not pay the ex gratia payment to a widower of a former employee (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42077/24]
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.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (269)
Róisín Shortall
Question:269. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of plans to cease the use of a treatment for public patients at highest risk from Covid-19 (details supplied); the reason the HSE has taken this decision; the engagements he has had with representatives of vulnerable patient groups in respect of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42079/24]
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.
Commissions of Investigation
Questions (270)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:270. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total cost associated with each Commission of Investigation under the remit of his Department in the past twenty years. [42460/24]
View answerWritten answers
Below is a table showing the total cost of each Commission of Investigation for the past twenty years. The figures are from the Department's Appropriation Accounts, which can be found at the following link: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/.
|
Year of Appointment |
Total Cost at end 2023 |
|
|
Dunne Inquiry (Post Mortem) |
2000 |
12,030,253 |
|
Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction |
2000 |
758,737 |
|
Ferns Inquiry |
2003 |
2,068,499 |
|
Lourdes Inquiry |
2004 |
2,955,403 |
|
Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance |
2007 |
302,000 |
|
Leas Cross |
2007 |
2,105,000 |
|
Cervical Check Scoping Inquiry |
2018 |
2,181,000 |
|
Cervical Check Tribunal |
2020 |
3,774,000 |