Results 43,441-43,460 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank both Deputies for this. I fully appreciate where they are coming from in the context of how the people they represent are genuinely worried about going to the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick. I get that. We have to do two things. We must continue to invest in Ennis Hospital. We have been investing in it year on year, we have expanded its opening hours, its...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Medicinal Products (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy very much for the question. I will start by acknowledging his ongoing advocacy in terms of new medicines, including rare diseases, but obviously, this is not one of those cases. As the Deputy is aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. However, it is incumbent upon all of us, as public representatives, to...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Medicinal Products (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I will walk through the steps regarding where this is now and where it is going. As I said, the company applied for reimbursement just in the last few weeks. That application is now undergoing a rapid review at the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. The NCPE target for that is four weeks but it does not always meet it because it assesses many new medicines. Yet,...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Medicinal Products (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: These are exactly the issues that will be looked at in the rapid review and the health technology assessment. How much would it cost the State if it is on the drug payment scheme? What amount of good would the medicine do, given the amount of money that would be spent? That is how we must look at all medicines. It may be the case that it will be recommended for the drug payment scheme....

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I am afraid this will be a very short interaction on my side; I apologise. I looked into this in detail and asked the HSE to come back with more but at the moment all I can tell the Deputy is that there is a proposal, as of course she will be aware, for an externally contracted satellite haemodialysis unit for Ennis. It is under review and that is really all I have. I am sorry; I am not...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I can certainly look into the timing of when this was initially flagged locally. All I can tell the Deputy is that it was not part of the considerations for new development funding for this year. However, it is a good idea. It would make a big difference for west Clare as well as north Clare, as she quite rightly said. I have witnessed the impact of home dialysis. We all know people,...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Services (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I am not aware of the HSE board approval requirement. It is a clinical service and the HSE board agrees the national service plan. Any capital investment above €10,000 has to go to the board, but that is not what this is, so I am not sure what approval is being referred to. I join the Deputy's acknowledgement of the Irish Kidney Association and many other organisations such as...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Health Strategies (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for the question. Our overall ambition in government is to use technology to the fullest extent possible to keep everybody well and provide them with support in their homes where they need healthcare support. Our ambition is also to utilise it fully in community and hospital care. Several really good programmes are in place, the chronic disease management, CDM, programme...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): General Practitioner Services (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The question was on general rural GPs but I had a sneaky suspicion we would end up talking about Swanlinbar. I acknowledge the engagement and advocacy of Deputy Smith, other Deputies and Senators on this. The matter has been much ventilated. As the Deputy will be aware, the GP who provided the service has retired. I believe it was in 2020. The HSE advertised to fill the position on...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): General Practitioner Services (29 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I agree that the State needs to step in and I suggest it has done so in a significant way. We have increased the number of training places from 120 to 350 and we are supporting the ICGP in what it is doing. I am open to having directly employed GPs. In fact, in Swanlinbar, which has been referenced, there is a locum GP who is paid by the HSE to provide those services. In areas that are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469, 473, 522, 523, 565, 567, 575, 598 and 623 together. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provide an extensive range of aids and appliances to individuals living with a wide variety of different medical conditions. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Policy (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The Long-Term Illness (LTI) scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 illnesses covered by the scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Admissions (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Admissions (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Periodic validation forms an essential part of best practice in relation to the management of hospital waiting lists. Validation is a process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or if they wish to be removed. For a number of years...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: While concluding this review in a timely manner is important for all concerned, the review by Mr Nayagam is entirely independent. Therefore, a timeline for completion and publication of the independent review cannot be confirmed at this stage of the process. Mr Nayagam has advised he deems it necessary to review cases from additional patient cohorts. This includes additional cases that have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (27 Feb 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.