Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Artassist Device is no longer available to patients living in counties Mayo and Galway; if access to this limb saving device is also denied elsewhere across the Health Service Executive regions; if he will take appropriate steps to restore early, if not immediate, access based on need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, there are many hundreds of new medical technologies and drugs that come on stream every year.  It is essential that the effectiveness of any new device or drug is fully reviewed to ensure it delivers improved outcomes for the patient and value for money for the state.  The Art Assist pump is currently being examined for its clinical efficacy and is being reviewed as part of the Clinical Programmes at a national level.  The HSE National Director for Quality, Safety and Risk is undertaking a full assessment of the efficacy of the Art Assist pump to establish not just its appropriateness but also the clinical benefit, if any, that it provides to patients. Patients who are already receiving the treatment will continue to receive it whilst the review is ongoing. It is fair and reasonable to continue providing the Art Assist pumps to current clients until the review is completed.