Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1300. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for Ennis General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20518/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1301. To ask the Minister for Health if venesection procedures will be made available free of charge to persons with haemochromatosis who are not eligible for a medical card or GP visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20519/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out-patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies. 

The issue of the provision of therapeutic phlebotomy services for hereditary haemochromatosis patients, including the issue of charges, is under consideration by my Department and the HSE.  

It is agreed that such services should be provided at the lowest level of complexity that is clinically and operationally feasible. In time it is envisaged that the majority of this work will be done in a primary care setting.

Meanwhile, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is now accepting hereditary haemochromatosis patients who are eligible to donate blood at their fixed and mobile donation clinics nationwide.

Patients can attend a maximum of four times a year with a minimum of ninety days between phlebotomies. The patient's hereditary haemochromatosis will continue to be managed by their physician, including the monitoring of ferritin levels.