Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of outreach clinics in circumstances in which persons living in regional areas who suffer from juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be treated locally; the counties in which regional clinics are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48960/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The specialty of rheumatology continues to be one of the most rapidly growing services within Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and now accounts for the highest number of medical day care patients per year. This increase in demand has had a corresponding effect on waiting lists for paediatric rheumatology services.

The HSE has developed a new National Model of Care for Paediatric Healthcare Services, which includes the development of a hub and spoke model of care for paediatric rheumatology as part of a national clinical network for paediatrics. The new children’s hospital will have a central role in this national model of care which will include the provision of outreach clinics to regional centres to improve access for those children living outside the greater Dublin area. The development of the new children’s hospital and urgent care centres will provide an opportunity to progress operational integration of the three existing children’s hospital rheumatology services and to plan for the appropriate provision of these services well in advance of the move to the new facilities. The Children’s Hospital Group has confirmed that facilities for rheumatology services in the new children's hospital will include clinical examination rooms in one of the Outpatient suites as well as day beds in the Day Care Unit which will be assigned to rheumatology in light of the fact that rheumatology is predominately an outpatient and day care based service. Admissions to inpatient services will be accommodated in the medical ward.

In relation to the particular query regarding current regional rheumatology services, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.