Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1075. To ask the Minister for Health the mechanism to ensure that the referral system by which a general practitioner is required to write to request a hospital appointment for a patient will function effectively for persons of no fixed abode; if an analysis has been carried out on the extent of the difficulties of communicating appointments to patients of no fixed abode and on possible solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19983/19]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Addressing the health needs of homeless persons and improving their access to healthcare services are a priority for the Department of Health and the HSE.

It is vital that individuals with high support health needs can access supported long-term accommodation.

Individuals in emergency, supported temporary accommodation or long-term accommodation are provided with a range of health-related services by the HSE. These services are provided through in-reach and outreach specialist services, multidisciplinary teams, and services contracted through the voluntary sector.

The referral system for hospital appointments where people are homeless is a service matter. Accordingly the question has been referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.