Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be provided with medical treatment either here or abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52607/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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While the Deputy may be aware that I am unable to comment on the specific care of an individual, I would like to update the Deputy on progress of a number of important system actions to address the safety and effectiveness of mesh implant use on foot of the release of the Report, entitled The Use of Uro-gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures, which was published on the 21 November 2018 on the Department of Health website.

A Synthetic Mesh Devices Advisory Group has been convened by the National Women and Infant Health Programme which includes three patient representatives, and representatives of stakeholder organisations to advise on and progress all the recommendations. I am informed that a work programme for the development of appropriate patient information resources and consent materials, the clarification and development of treatment pathways and appropriate referral services for women suffering from mesh-related complications including access to specialist diagnostic facilities such as translabial scanning is being progressed. The work being progressed by the HSE will include identifying the appropriate specialist clinical expertise and facilities required at hospital group level and nationally to provide comprehensive aftercare services. The HSE will also examine the need to look at sourcing services from abroad to address any immediate shortfalls identified, either through utilisation of the treatment abroad scheme or by commissioning services from abroad.

The Department has written to the HSE to request that it prepare a detailed Implementation Plan for the complete set of recommendations set out in the CMO’s Report, working in conjunction with other stakeholders.