Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag tógaint an díospóireacht seo thar cheann an Aire Sláinte agus glacaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh as ucht an rúin seo a chur faoi bhráid am tSeanaid.

Mar is eol duit, an buiséad 2013 tá sé an-thábhachtach go mbeadh an méid airgid agus is féidir a bheith againn chun na cúrsaí, tá mé ag déanamh translation anseo, sláinte a rith chomh maith agus is féidir linn agus an méid airgid atá i mbliana ag an HSE tá €13.404 billiún acu. Tá fás ansin de €71.5 milliún ón bliain 2012 ach tá brú uafásach mar is eol dúinn go léir ar chúrsaí sláinte. Agus an cheist díreach a chur tú os mo chomhair gur féidir le daoine áitiúla rudaí a cheannach más mian leo, for the use of goods in local integrated service areas. This is referred to in the HSE as local schemes. The device in question would fall within this category.

The HSE has responsibility for the delivery of services set out in these regional plans and to ensure that services are delivered within budget. As such ní cheart don Aire deireann sé anseo díriú a dhéanamh ar conas mar a chaitear an caiteachas sin, cad is féidir a cheannach.

The Senator may be aware that the provision of ArtAssist pumps in Galway-Roscommon was discontinued pending the outcome of a review. The Health Information and Quality Authority conducted a health technology assessment of intermittent pneumatic compression, IPC, for severe peripheral arterial disease at the request of the HSE. As the Senator said this was published on 26 June 2013. Arising from the findings of the HTA, HIQA's advice to the HSE was that, despite some promising results on the effect of IPC in people with severe peripheral vascular disease, who are not suitable for revascularisation, further high-quality studies are required to reliably demonstrate its effectiveness. It also advised that until such evidence is generated in the context of well-designed research studies, the efficacy of this treatment remains unproven.

Within the Irish health care system there has been limited use of IPC. Following the publication of this HTA report there will be engagement and discussion with prescribing clinicians regarding its findings. Is féidir liom na tuairimí a nochtadh anseo a chur faoi bhráid an Aire.