Written Answers Nos. 782-803
782. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of persons who have been removed from outpatient waiting lists, inpatient waiting lists and day case waiting lists, through the outpatient waiting list management protocol, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and Louth County Hospital for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13857/25]
View answerWaiting List Protocols have been developed to ensure that all public hospitals manage waiting lists in a fair, equitable and transparent manner, describing the processes that must be followed by each hospital when removing a patient from a waiting list.
The majority of patients are removed when they have been treated, others may be removed as a result of waiting list validation or because they have not attended appointments, in accordance with the relevant protocol.
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 with the total number of people removed from Outpatient and Inpatient/Day case waiting lists in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth County Hospital for each of the years 2020 to 2025.
783. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number of elective surgeries and procedures cancelled, by speciality, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and Louth County Hospital for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13858/25]
View answerI fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are postponed.
While every effort is made to avoid 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.
Postponed 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.
784. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if she visited any medical facility during her visit to New York for St. Patrick's Day events. [13862/25]
View answerOn Friday, 14th March, I delivered the closing remarks at the Irish American Medical Summit, which took place at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
785. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff, by job title, currently working in the pharmacy department of Connolly Hospital; the vacancies, by job title, within this department; and the estimated timeframe for when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [13863/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
786. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if any primary care centre within CHO9 has a rehab gym on its premises, in tabular form; if so, the locations of those gyms; the number of persons on waiting lists for usage of those gyms, in tabular form. [13864/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
787. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reasons appointments for services (details supplied) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda have been cancelled; and when and where alternative appointments will be provided for persons living in the Louth area. [13883/25]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
788. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline the existing ophthalmology services operating in County Louth; the location of these services; the number of persons currently employed within these services, by grade; whether there are plans to expand these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13885/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
789. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently awaiting a first appointment for ophthalmology services in Louth; the length of time these persons have been waiting for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13886/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
790. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently awaiting a first appointment for ophthalmology services in Louth; the length of time these children have been waiting for an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13887/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
791. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of ophthalmologists currently operating within public health services in Louth; the number of vacancies currently unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13888/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
792. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health for an update on the vacant health centre in Donard, which the community would like to bring the building into use as a heritage or cultural centre; if the premises has been sold, been transferred to another State body or will be going on the market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13890/25]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
793. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the current healthcare services provided at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk. [13892/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
794. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the current healthcare services provided at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. [13893/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
795. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will follow through on the promise made by the former Minister for Health to provide 20 hospital beds for people with eating disorders, given that the current allocation of three beds does not meet requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13897/25]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, eating disorders are very complex, very individual, and can be one of the most serious mental health illnesses.
It is a key priority for myself as Minister to continue to make progress on improving eating disorder services to better meet the needs of people experiencing this condition, including supports for families and friends who are also so affected.
The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the Model of Care now funded. Most teams are fully operational and seeing people with ED every day; other teams are at different stages of recruitment and preparation for being operational. The most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community, and the roll out of community teams under the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders continues apace; by the end of this year 14 teams out of the 16 envisaged in the Model of Care will be in place.
While a small number of people benefit from inpatient treatment, which I will address further below, research shows the most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community.
Access to services is increasing, with 25% as many assessments conducted in 2024 compared to 2023 (562 vs 449). Approximately 100 dedicated Eating Disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are working on teams across the country. Last year 380 people with an eating disorder diagnosis were discharged from specialist services. Enhancing specialist mental health services such as those to support people with eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the HSE.
Eating disorders affect a relatively young section of the population, and young people up to age 18 can access 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the four CAMHS inpatient units nationwide. The new National Children’s Hospital will further increase our CAMHS eating disorder bed capacity, with 8 additional beds as part of a CAMHS inpatient unit in the hospital.
In relation to adult beds, the HSE are currently conducting a review of adult bed capacity for specialist eating disorders beds, including a review of data on bed usage in HSE acute hospitals, HSE approved centres, private placements and treatment abroad. The HSE will make recommendations for a future plan regarding the number and locations of adult eating disorder beds. It is intended that this plan will be provided by the HSE to myself as Minister by the end of June 2025. This is an important step in ensuring that we are meeting the needs of people with eating disorders who require the support of an inpatient service.
Additionally, following increased demand for services and the recent preliminary census 2022 data showing an overall increase in population, a review of the Model of Care for Eating Disorders is planned. The outcomes of this review will inform eating disorder service staffing requirements and service developments into the future.
796. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health for an update on the issue of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medication shortages; the steps her Department is taking to address these shortages and mitigate the disruption to those who need HRT medication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13900/25]
View answerThank you for you query in relation to shortages of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products.
The Department is 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.
In European law, pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers should ensure an appropriate and continuous supply of the medicines they market. Companies are required to notify our medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of medicine shortages or potential shortages impacting the Irish market. The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its website and is in regular contact with suppliers in relation to these shortages with a view to minimising their duration and impact on patients.
Persistent medicinal product shortages across this therapeutic area (HRT) have been managed and continue to be managed via the national Medicines Shortages Framework (MSF), coordinated by the HPRA. The MSF involves a multi-stakeholder approach to handling shortages of human medicinal products, and the HPRA engages with all such stakeholders, in all cases where this is necessary, until such a time it is established that there is sufficient supply of medicinal products to meet the demand and continuity of care. In case of shortages with a significant public health impact, the HSE can issue clinical guidance to healthcare professionals, where appropriate, to mitigate the impact of a shortage. There have been a number of such shortages where the HSE has issued clinical guidance as a mitigation measure, including HRT (see HSE Medicines Management Guidance issued in 2022).
The HPRA has been notified of current shortage of Estradot 75 micrograms / 24 hours, transdermal patch, due to a manufacturing delay impacting upon multiple countries, including Ireland. The expected return date for this product is pending.
Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., the company responsible for supplying Estradot, has issued a letter to healthcare professionals advising of expected global supply constraints for Estradot throughout 2025. The HPRA will continue to engage with Sandoz, and the most recent supply information will be made available via the HPRA’s website: Medicine shortages .
The HPRA, along with other health service entities, is actively monitoring the national supply, and the current status is that other HRT medicines are generally available. The HPRA has engaged with relevant suppliers to understand the reasons for current reports and to examine opportunities for regulatory flexibilities to assist meeting current demand. There are a number of medicines authorised for use in Ireland as HRT for the treatment of symptoms of menopause. In the event that patients are unable to source a medicinal product due to supply constraints, they are advised discuss possible alternatives with their healthcare professional pending the resumption of normal supply.
798. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant consultant posts, by speciality, currently at the National Maternity Hospital; and when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [13916/25]
View answerAs this is a local service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
799. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of people who died from sepsis in Ireland in 2024. [13917/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
800. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the plans in place for a new attention deficit hyperactivity disorder team in Meath. [13918/25]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that plans for an Adult ADHD team for Meath are at a very advanced stage.
I have prioritised the National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults for funding since I launched the Model of Care in 2021, and have now funded a team for all areas of the country.
I provided funding for the Cavan/Monaghan/Louth/Meath team last year, and the HSE are now working to complete recruitment into the team. Posts being recruited include: Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Clinical Nurse Specialist, and an Occupational Therapist.
I expect the team to be operational by Q4 of this year.
801. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in emergency medicine based at the Mater Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [13919/25]
View answerThis PQ has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy as it relates to an operational matter.
802. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric neurosurgeries procedures carried out at CHI Temple Street in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [13920/25]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
803. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the assistance her Department is providing for cancer patients attending treatment at Dublin hospitals who face hefty parking charges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13930/25]
View answerHospitals that charge parking fees are very aware of the financial implications of parking costs for patients and their families, particularly for those with long-term illnesses.
Consequently, many hospitals have some form of exemptions or allowances in place such as the option of flexible day passes or multi-trip entry passes for regular hospital attenders and various concessions based on the type of inpatient. Furthermore, all hospitals that charge for parking have a fixed maximum daily rate.
The National Cancer Control Programme funds the Travel2Care Scheme, which is administered by the Irish Cancer Society and offers financial supports towards travelling for cancer treatment. The Travel2Care Scheme is a limited transportation assistance fund. It is available to patients travelling long distances to designated cancer centres, approved centres, or an approved children’s hospital and covers part of the associated costs, including parking charges, for said travel.
The Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a commitment to explore ways to further reduce hospital car parking charges. This is a reflection of the Government’s appreciation of the financial challenge that can be faced by people in meeting these expenses, in particular where they are frequent users of hospital services. Accordingly, my Department and the HSE are currently examining the issue.
