Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Health when the public consultation on increasing the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors will commence; as part of the review, his views on increasing the current special authorisations available to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council emergency first responders, to include the use of epinephrine auto-injectors in an emergency, under the clinical practice guidelines, coupled with the prior medical direction of a registered medical practitioner for unnamed patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8336/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that the consultation process on easier access to 'rescue' drugs in emergencies, including adrenaline auto-injectors, commenced on 20 February 2015.

The Prescription Regulations already permit advanced paramedics, paramedics and emergency medical technicians to administer adrenaline injections to unnamed patients in emergency circumstances, in the course of their duties, in accordance with clinical practice guidelines or in accordance with the instructions of a registered medical practitioner.

The Prescription Regulations do not permit a non-medical person to obtain a prescription-only medicine for use in an emergency situation unless they already have a prescription for that patient. The review of current arrangements being undertaken by the Department of Health aims to explore the feasibility of setting up a system to allow appropriately trained non-medical persons to have ready access to certain prescription-only medicines for use in emergency situations, while ensuring that medicines continue to be controlled in an appropriate manner.

Submissions to the public consultation are expected from a wide variety of respondents. It is anticipated that strong engagement from the public and other stakeholders will help to inform a policy decision in this area within the coming months. The details of the consultation process can be found on my Department's website www.health.gov.ie. The closing date for responses is 13 March 2015.