Results 17,581-17,600 of 26,766 for speaker:David Cullinane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: That is what I wanted to establish. We are essentially starting from scratch again and will try to screen as many people as we can as quickly as possible. I hope that next year will see a return to the numbers of previous years. Before I move to Professor Ó Laoide, I will ask Ms Morrogh about her opening statement. Screening is important, but rapid access to assessments, testing,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: Is it down to a lack of equipment and a lack of specialists?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: Ms Morrogh stated that 100,000 people were awaiting radiology appointments. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I tabled a parliamentary question on consultant radiologists. The official HSE response was that of the 314 posts in total, 27 were vacant, or 8.5%. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association says the figure is 60 posts when some of the positions filled by locum or agency staff are included. If he has the figure, will Professor Ó Laoide confirm the number of vacant consultant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: We have very little time available to us and I have many questions to ask, so I will get through as many as I can. There are many vacant radiologist posts and 100,000 people waiting for radiology assessments. I tabled a parliamentary question on the number of consultant oncologists. According to the national cancer control programme, NCCP, there are 41 approved consultant medical...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I am sorry, but this session was an opportunity for us. I specifically told the clerk to the committee that I wanted to raise the issues of capacity, oncology, radiography, staffing, including consultants, and so on. We should have the figures. If Professor Ó Laoide does not have them with him, will he ensure that they are sent to us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: How many?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I wish to ask about surgeries now. A response to a parliamentary question indicates that the number of oncology surgeries performed over a number of months this year was less than half of the number performed in 2019. We can only assume that was caused by Covid-19 and we can all accept that there was an obvious interruption to all services but in terms of cancer surgeries, the numbers are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: That is an awful lot of procedures that were not carried out that maybe would have been carried out-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening and Care Services: Discussion (9 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: What is the timeframe to catch up on those missed surgeries?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Education (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: 77. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 3 November 2020, if an update will be provided on his plans for paying student nurses and midwives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42289/20]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Education (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I am sure the Minister is aware that there is a strong campaign under way by student nurses and midwives for fair pay in respect of the work they do. I have heard the Minister state that he is committed to resolving this issue, but student nurses and midwives need more than words now; they need action. I have also heard the Minister say he is committed to a review. It must be ensured that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Education (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I spoke to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, yesterday. It is very concerned that what the Minister is considering is a short-term response. If something can be done in the context of Covid-19, that would be of some help. The Minister, however, can also resolve the issue in the medium to long term immediately as well. When the INMO hears about further reviews, it will hear...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Nursing Education (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I think the Minister's response is disingenuous. We got a similar response from the Taoiseach in recent days. Let me be very clear that my party is certainly not looking for a return to the past or an apprenticeship programme. We are supporting the call from the INMO for fourth-year students to be paid the equivalent rate of a healthcare assistant and that there be a fair allowance for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disabilities Assessments (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: 79. To ask the Minister for Health the average wait time for children requiring an assessment of needs in the context of the legal requirements on the HSE to commence such an assessment within three months and complete it within six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42290/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medicinal Products (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: 85. To ask the Minister for Health if the drug dupilumab for the treatment of severe atopic eczema will be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42338/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medicinal Products (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I am raising with the Minister the issue of dupilumab, which is a drug for people with severe eczema. I know that the drug approval process is an apolitical one, and so it should be and I fully support that, but my understanding is that this drug was discussed at a meeting on Tuesday of this week within the HSE. Can the Minister provide an update to the House on this drug?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medicinal Products (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I hope we will see movement on this issue in January. The drug is a treatment for severe eczema, which causes inflamed, dry and broken skin, which is exhausting to treat, painful and intensely itchy. I have met many people who suffer from this unfortunate disease and many healthcare professionals who are campaigning on the issue. While the issue is apolitical, we all get lobbied on these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Medicinal Products (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: I thank the Minister for his response. I recently met with Professor John Crowne. We had a good discussion on cancer care and one of the issues he raised with me was, again, these high-tech drugs to which the Minister referred in the field of cancer. He was very supportive of and enthusiastic and excited about a lot of these new drugs. However, he pointed out that many of them are not...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (10 Dec 2020)

David Cullinane: 92. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting and wait times for scoliosis treatment and surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42337/20]