Written Answers Nos. 772-789
772. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health for an update on the reopening on Lettermacaward GP surgery in County Donegal; if patients registered there can still attend Glenties GP surgery for treatment; if not, the contingency plans in place to ensure that patients continue to receive medical attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29676/24]
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.
773. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that have attended each outpatient clinic in Beaumont Hospital to date in 2024. [29678/24]
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.
774. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to clarify, further to Parliamentary Question No. 622 of 16 April 2024, if there are home care staff in Ireland currently approved to administer eye drops for blind and vision impaired people currently in receipt of home care hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29692/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
775. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the recruitment of a consultant neurologist for Bantry General Hospital. [29693/24]
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.
776. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a child (details supplied) who, having been referred to UHL ENT section by their GP as an urgent issue for ongoing ear infections, has had their referral altered to routine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29703/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
777. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason the Cross Border Directive money is being reduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29706/24]
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.
778. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of Cervical Check smear testing samples contracted out to foreign laboratories for testing for the years 2022, 2023 and to the end of June 2024; to provide these figures also as a percentage for the same time periods of the total number of smear tests carried out by Cervical Check, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29762/24]
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.
779. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on the cross-Border Directive for each of the years 2022 to 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form; the number of patients treated under the cross-Border Directive in each of the years 2022 to 2023, and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29763/24]
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.
780. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on contracting out radiotherapy treatment for public patients to private providers in CH04 for each of the years 2021 to 2023, and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29764/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
781. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of active day centres in each county; the population and demographics of each county compared to the number of active day centres, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29765/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
782. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the use of private out-of-hours services or private 24-hour access doctors to alleviate the long delays in medical card patients accessing appointments with their GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29766/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As GPs are private practitioners, the scheduling of consultations is a matter for each individual practice. Where scheduling is required, GPs prioritise appointments based on urgency and health need.
As per the GMS contract, GMS GPs are not permitted to make surgery arrangements that discriminate between GMS patients and private patients.
GPs who hold a GMS contract are required by their contract to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum or deputy, for emergencies outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting this requirement, such services facilitate the provision of GP services outside of normal surgery hours to GMS patients and private patients. GP cooperatives are private organisations.
GP OOH services are intended for urgent GP care needed outside of normal surgery hours. Routine and regularly scheduled GP care involves a continuity of care best suited to the patient's GP practice and should be scheduled with that practice during normal hours.
783. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the total number of people with medical cards, per county, in each of the years 2019-2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29817/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra784. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the total number of people with GP visit cards, per county, in each of the years 2019-2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29818/24]
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.
785. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of GPs operating in each county in Q1 and/or Q2 2024 or the latest available data (for example, end-2023), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra786. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the number of GPs operating in each county, per capita, in Q1 and/or Q2 2024 or the latest available data (for example, end-2023), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 785 and 786 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
787. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the progress of the HPV vaccination catch-up programme extension review; to provide a timeline by which a decision will be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29821/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme commenced on 8 December 2022 with the opening of the HSE’s online registration portal for the programme.
In 2023, the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme offered free HPV vaccines to:
• females who are 24 years of age or younger• males who are 21 years of age or younger
In relation to any extension, I can confirm that the HSE and my Department continue to work together to review available options in relation to the programme.
With the aim of moving towards cervical cancer elimination in the coming years, it will be important to focus on increasing vaccination uptake rates in the routine HPV vaccination programme. As you will be aware the ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative, it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage and protection. It is vital that, moving forward, the importance of receiving HPV vaccination when it is offered through the routine HPV vaccination programme is communicated effectively to the population and that there is no confusion over the optimum time to receive the vaccine.
788. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists operating under the DTSS scheme who are operating in Carrigaline, County Cork. [29822/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
789. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a shortage of tyvense medication, which is used to treat conditions such as a ADHD; the measures his Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of this vital medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29828/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe supplier of Tyvense (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) has advised that as of 8th July 2024 there are no current shortages of any presentation of Tyvense® (available as 20mg hard capsules, 30mg hard capsules, 40mg hard capsules, 50mg hard capsules, 60mg hard capsules, 70mg hard capsules) in Ireland.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) hosts a list of current and resolved shortages on its website, where relevant details of shortages are maintained. The webpage is updated daily as the HPRA receives new information.
