Niall Collins
Ceist:1063. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2248/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicinal Products
Ceisteanna (1063)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Primary Medical Certificates
Ceisteanna (1064)
Joanna Byrne
Ceist:1064. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications that are currently in hand awaiting processing by the HSE in CHO 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2258/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Medical Certificates
Ceisteanna (1065)
Joanna Byrne
Ceist:1065. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications that were received by the HSE in CHO 8 in 2024. [2259/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Medical Certificates
Ceisteanna (1066)
Joanna Byrne
Ceist:1066. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of primary medical certificate applications that were processed by the HSE in CHO 8 in 2024. [2260/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (1067)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:1067. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress of the primary healthcare centre in Dundalk at the former Carroll Village Shopping Centre, The Long Walk, Demesne, Dundalk, County Louth. [2261/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Ceisteanna (1068)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:1068. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline the policies in place to address repeated cancellations of surgeries for patients and provide information on when these patients will expect to undergo their procedures (details supplied). [2263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are rescheduled.
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, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Cancer Services
Ceisteanna (1069)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:1069. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that any woman at risk of breast cancer receives a correct diagnosis in a timely and efficient manner regardless of her age, to ensure that appropriate treatment is provided as a matter of urgency; and what specific actions are being taken to prevent late diagnosis in the future. [2264/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1070)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:1070. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of late payment fines paid out by CHO 8 hospitals in 2023 and 2024. [2273/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1071)
Seán Canney
Ceist:1071. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for assessment and treatment, respectively at the pain clinic in University Hospital Galway; the number of persons waiting for treatment; the length of time they have been waiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2288/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Patient Transfers
Ceisteanna (1072)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:1072. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Meath will be transferred to Navan Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2289/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Tobacco Control Measures
Ceisteanna (1073)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:1073. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if consideration was given under the commencement of outstanding provisions in the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 in relation to licence fees for small rural businesses that, compared with large supermarkets, will struggle to meet these fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2293/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in Ireland, with 4,500 people dying each year from tobacco-related diseases. Smoking related deaths are mainly due to cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and heart disease. It is the Government’s objective to eliminate tobacco use.
These were the primary considerations in developing the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, which provides for an annual fee per outlet for retailers wishing to sell a) tobacco, b) nicotine inhaling products or c) tobacco and nicotine inhaling products. I have now set those fees under the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 (Fees) Regulations 2024.
As with other licensing systems such as for alcohol, it is a matter for each individual retailer to decide whether or not to sell these products, and to apply for the relevant licence if so.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1074)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:1074. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently review and reverse the planned changes to mental health services at Fertha View day centre, Cahersiveen, County Kerry, as these services are hugely important to the individuals and families who use them (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2297/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Medical Aids and Appliances
Ceisteanna (1075)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1075. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the freestyle libre monitoring device for free; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2301/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Qualifications
Ceisteanna (1076)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:1076. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if she has had any discussions with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science regarding recognition of clinical placements gained abroad for students studying physiotherapy outside Ireland; if there are plans to facilitate these students gaining experience/placements in Irish hospitals as part of their studies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2304/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Department of Health officials engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that we train enough graduates with the skills necessary to support the delivery of health and social care services and to develop a strategic approach to workforce planning for the health sector.
There has been engagement between CORU, the regulatory body responsible for registering physiotherapists and the HSE, with a particular emphasis on those who have studied abroad.
When a graduate who has studied abroad applies for recognition of their qualification, and where a substantial deficit in meeting the standards of proficiency to practice as a physiotherapist in Ireland exists, the Physiotherapists Registration Board offer applicants for recognition a “compensation measure”, which is designed to address what is needed to bridge the gap or deficits to support safe practice and protect the public.
A compensation measure can take the form of a period of adaptation (supervised practice) or and an aptitude test. The HSE is working to develop the clinical infrastructure required to enable Health and Social Care Professionals qualified internationally to achieve recognition and registration with the regulatory body.
The HSE, through the National Health & Social Care Professional (HSCP) Office is working on a number of work-streams to support increasing capacity to deliver sustainable and scalable clinical placement opportunities for all HSCPs including physiotherapists. This will include meeting the needs of students who have qualified outside Ireland and who require periods of adaptation to have their qualifications recognised in Ireland.
My department continue to support the HSE to design and deliver a sustainable model to provide practice placements and compensation measures through a national coordinating approach through the National HSCP Office, in close collaboration with the HSE regions. This work includes education resources, events, multi-pronged communications and the establishment of core teams within each region to formalise and develop regional level HSCP clinical infrastructure. In addition, the HSE sought to create a new grade code specifically aligned to facilitating the completion of compensatory measures for those who have trained abroad and who require them. In 2024, the Department of Health sanctioned the creation of a grade titled Physiotherapy Adaptation.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (1077)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1077. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in Donegal (details supplied) will receive home help; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2307/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1078)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1078. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason no ADHD clinic is available to adults in south Tipperary CHO 5; the plans to provide an ADHD clinic to adults in south Tipperary who require multidisciplinary treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1079)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:1079. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to commence a broader review into treatment of all young people who were seen at North Kerry CAMHS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2314/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, arising from the Maskey report, and on the back of the associated file identification process and sample file audit of North Kerry, the HSE established a Lookback Review, to review the files of young people then under the care of North Kerry CAMHS as of November 21st 2022.
The Review was commissioned on 23 January 2023, led by Dr. Colette Halpin and supported by a team of CAMHS Consultants. Phase 1 of the Review commenced on 16 June 2023, and the Consultant Review Group commenced the file reviews in September 2023. The priority is that the Lookback Review gives each young person a thorough and consistent assessment of their care and treatment, involving independent expert specialised CAMHS input. It is important also to note that after each file is reviewed, contact is made with the young person involved and, where necessary, Open Disclosure meetings take place.
The HSE has indicated to the Department that they intend to complete the North Kerry Lookback review as soon as possible and will then submit a report on the matter to the Department of Health. The Department will, in conjunction with the HSE and any other agencies as appropriate, review the final report and will use its findings to inform next steps.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1080)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:1080. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address the long delays in publishing the first phase of the North Kerry CAMHS Lookback review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2315/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (1081)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1081. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline the position in relation to a medical centre in County Tipperary (details supplied) following the retirement of a doctor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2319/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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
Ceisteanna (1082)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:1082. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all orphan medicines reimbursed in 2024; to confirm the date of the HSE executive management team’s decision; the date on which a reimbursement decision was subsequently made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2320/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (1083)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1083. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2323/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.