Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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548. To ask the Minister for Health if he will confirm the full implementation of the Donohue and Walsh recommendations, August 2013, following their review of the care provided by Castlebar General Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) who died in that hospital on 15 February 2013, the said recommendations having been subsequently endorsed by the coroner in February 2014; if he has read the extensive file (MVP-1137-14) on this incident sent to him by the deceased's next of kin in June 2014; if he will refer this matter to the Health Information and Quality Authority; if he and-or Castlebar General Hospital will apologise to this person's family in writing for the substandard care they received between their admission on 7 February 2013 and their death in the hospital on 15 February 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49579/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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549. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the National Centre for Medical Genetics; the reason it is no longer to be a national centre; the plans in place to have a national centre; if it is envisaged that adult services and external clinics will be dropped from this; the place the centre is to have in the Irish National Plan for Rare Diseases in view of the fact that the work of geneticists can ultimately save money with preventative care and the fact that Ireland has a low number of geneticists per capita when compared to other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49580/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The service for medical genetics in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin (OLCHC) provides services for patients and families in Ireland affected by, or at risk of, a genetic disorder. It comprises of three integrated units: a clinical genetics service; a cytogenetics laboratory and a molecular genetics laboratory. The service is under the governance of OLCHC, which has recently made a decision to discontinue the separate identification of the service as the National Centre for Medical Genetics, in the interest of clarity on governance arrangements. I am assured that there has been no reduction in the scope of the services provided.

There have been rapid and progressive developments in genetics and genomic medicine over the past five years, and it is well recognised as one area of medicine that will continue to rapidly develop over coming years. A review of the service at Crumlin, commissioned by the HSE was submitted in May this year. This report made a number of recommendations on both internal and national service issues, which will be addressed by the HSE in conjunction with OLCHC / the Children's Hospital Group. The report included a recommendation that a working group should be established, to develop a National Genetic and Genomic Medicine Network that reflects best international practice. Any concerns on the network of services will be addressed by this group's work.

The National Rare Disease Plan recognised that the timely diagnosis of rare diseases is essential. Effective genetic services have a role to play in diagnosing rare diseases; and it was in this context that the plan referred to the work of the NCMG at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. A National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases has been established in the HSE. A Clinical Lead for this programme has also been appointed. This clinical programme will ultimately be a channel for advancing and implementing recommendations in the plan, such as those on National Centres of Expertise for rare diseases.