Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this matter. I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Health.

I have the details and response on the guidelines and policy around incontinence pads. I will give the Deputy these as part of my response but I assure him that I will be following this case up further, on the back of his contribution, with the Department of Health and the HSE. The guidelines and policy are focused on the fact that the approach has to be person centred. It has to take into account the needs of the individual person, be it a child or adult, and has to be appropriate. I will certainly be taking this up following on from the Deputy's engagement on the floor of the Dáil this morning.

The HSE provides a wide range of medical products and services under the community-funded schemes to eligible persons in accordance with the Health Act 1970, as amended. These are provided following assessment by a relevant health professional. The HSE oversees the provision and supply of incontinence wear products for eligible persons across the country. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment and the determination of the most appropriate products that will meet the individual's needs.

The provision of clinically appropriate incontinence wear products to eligible persons is administered within each health region under a national tender arrangement. The HSE advises that this is a person-centred delivery system which allows the individual or their carer to vary both the time of delivery and the amount of product delivered according to their specific needs. It is also possible to alter the location for a particular delivery should the need arise.

The HSE also utilises the service provided by public health nurses and continence nurse advisers to assess individual patient needs to ensure the supply of incontinence wear products is appropriate.

As part of the national service improvement programme for the community-funded schemes, the HSE has completed and implemented national guidelines in respect of incontinence wear products. These are published and are available on the HSE website.

Governance arrangements have been strengthened through the implementation of an integrated electronic management system to support the ordering, supply and distribution of incontinence wear products across all healthcare settings, including the home delivery service.

The HSE advises that in circumstances where a person does not hold full eligibility, such as through a medical card or a long-term illness scheme card, reimbursement support for incontinence wear products is provided under the drugs payment scheme, DPS. This scheme provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances, including incontinence wear, exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The scheme threshold is €80 per month. While there are no set limits on the quantity, the DPS claim must be supported by a valid prescription for the products.

That outlines the policy, oversight and guidance. At the core should be appropriate care and supply for the individual. I will certainly take up the case with the Department and the Minister for Health following the Deputy's contribution.

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