Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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944. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding weight management clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33615/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Bariatric services are provided in two public hospitals – St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin and Galway University Hospital. Bariatric surgery was originally provided by St. Columcille’s Hospital and, as part of the reconfiguration of hospital services, was transferred to St Vincent’s Hospital last year. Funding was agreed to ensure the continuity of service provision as part of the transfer of services. Typically St Columcille’s carried out 20 cases per year. We are advised by St Vincent’s that the hospital have provided in excess of this number so far this year. Galway University Hospital treat on average 50 cases per year and are not anticipating any reduction in service levels for 2014.

The HSE is working with St. Vincent's University Hospital and the lead Consultant, Dr. O'Shea, to see how the service can be optimised this year within the overall resources available for obesity management in SVUH and St. Columcille's Hospital. The development of Bariatric Services will be considered as part of the 2015 service planning process in the context of competing priorities.

Bariatric surgery is only required for a small minority of obese patients (2% of the population). The vast majority of these patients require clinical treatment that is both hospital and community based as indicated by the HSE-ICGP Weight Management Treatment Algorithm, the clinical care pathway used by healthcare professionals.

My predecessor, Minister Reilly established the Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) comprising representatives from relevant Government Departments, the HSE, the Food Safety Authority, members of Academia, service professionals and safefood to examine and progress a number of issues to address the problem of overweight and obesity in Ireland.

Progress has also been made on the Healthy Eating Guidelines, Calories on Menus initiative and the Report on Recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid.

The Department of Health is also developing a new obesity policy this year which will have a significant impact on the obesity agenda, provide a framework for action based on a number of informants and help lead inter-sectoral work in addressing overweight and obesity in Ireland.

In relation to the particular query in relation to waiting lists for bariatric surgery raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you on this matter.