John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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285. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to advance evaluation of best practice for teleconsultations in primary and other care settings and develop guidance and clinical protocols for such teleconsultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52791/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Teleconsultations generally mean virtual medical consultations between healthcare professionals or between a healthcare professional and a patient. Teleconsultations can potentially provide easier access to health services in certain circumstances, in a primary care setting for example, such as in remote locations or for chronically ill patients. It can also be of assistance to have health practitioners communicate virtually between each other. Such consultations are simply another channel of service, similar to GP-patient phonecalls.

There currently are no technological barriers to teleconsultations being made available for widespread use within the context of the health service. The Department are aware that some teleconsultation solutions are currently being offered in the private health sector. When delivering remote health services, providers must ensure the integrity of patient data, as required by current data protection law and the forthcoming implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018.

Telemedicine linkages between patients and primary care professionals as well as between primary care settings in hospitals have significant potential to improve access, efficiency and patient centredness. The provision of services by telemedicine is already the subject of specific guidance to doctors from the Medical Council through the Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics. An implementation plan for the SláinteCare Committee report is being finalised which will see in coming years significant opportunity to further develop telemedicine services to enhance accessibility, responsiveness and efficiency of provision of primary and secondary healthcare services.