Written Answers Nos. 1681-1692
1681. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of misread scans that have occurred in each hospital in the State in the past five years; if there has been an investigation into the reason these have occurred; if so, the result of that investigation; and the steps that have been taken to prevent these mistakes occurring again. [11619/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1682. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the status of the project regarding the HSE’s acquisition of land at the back of Lusk health centre for a community nursing unit; if there is scope for the installation of a primary care centre as part of the development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11624/25]
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.
1683. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether the Department is engaged with Fingal County Council regarding a site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11625/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public health estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
1684. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with a postcode in Donegal who have been recalled to the breast assessment clinic in Galway and who subsequently have had a diagnosis of breast cancer, between 2020 and the end of 2024, in tabular form. [11626/25]
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.
1685. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with a Donegal postcode who have been treated in Galway following colon screening detection of cancer, in tabular form. [11627/25]
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.
1686. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review into the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11628/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
1687. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the latest delay for the publication of a tender for the delivery of a primary care centre at Gorey, County Wexford; the reason the dates differ from that given on behalf of the Minister in a Topical Debate in the Dáil on 13 February 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11637/25]
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.
1688. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of reported cyberattacks in 2024 on her Department, on the HSE and HSE hospitals and facilities, or on section 38 or section 39 organisations or other bodies under the aegis of her Department, internally and to the National Cyber Security Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11638/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor reasons of operational and national security it would not be appropriate to disclose details of my Department’s cyber security arrangements.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
1689. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health what supports are made available by her Department and or the HSE for the establishment of a new medical general practice; if she has plans to enhance those supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11639/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services.
Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria qualify for an annual rural support allowance, and contributions are also made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.
The 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10% and introduced a €2 million annual support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking. The GP Agreement 2023 increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff and introduced a new grant support for additional practice staff capacity as well as a practice staff maternity leave support.
A financial support specific for the establishment of practices is not provided under the GMS scheme.
My Department and the HSE are undertaking a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. Under this review, consideration is to be given to the development of the support model necessary to underpin the provision of sustainable GP services.
It is worth noting that some GP practices operate from HSE Primary Care Centres (PCCs). PCCs are modern, purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for a primary care team to work from. There are 179 PCCs operational with 5 more under construction.
1690. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to implementing a reimbursement scheme through the medical card and or drugs payment scheme for Ozempic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11650/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1692. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed Bill to further regulate nicotine inhaling products, including a complete ban on disposable vapes, which was approved by Cabinet on 10 September 2024; to provide a timeline for when the proposed Bill will be drafted; the proposed timeline for when it will be brought before the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraCabinet approval was given on 10 September to proposals for a Bill to further regulate nicotine inhaling products, including a complete ban on disposable vapes. Those proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General. Once completed, the draft legislation will require notification at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).
Pre legislative scrutiny was waived by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health on 25 September. The waiver was requested on the basis that the provisions in the Bill primarily stem from the recommendations made by the Committee during pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019.
At this early stage in the legislative process, I do not have a timeline for the introduction of the measures in the Bill.
