Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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885. To ask the Minister for Health the date for the reopening of a service (details supplied) given the critical role it plays in sexual health for members of the LGBT+ community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5942/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Gay Men's Health Service is a community STI service and is managed through HSE Community Healthcare East (CHO6).

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented interruption to normal healthcare activity, with all services affected. The closure of the GMHS related primarily to the necessary redeployment of increasing numbers of personnel to diverse COVID-19 related duties. Since the closure, significant efforts have been made to maintain service provision.

Wave 3 of the pandemic has increased the strain on the health service. The unprecedented surge in Covid-19 infection rates has implications for staffing of these services in terms of necessary redeployment of staff to urgent pandemic related duties including testing, vaccination, contact tracing and patient treatment.  

All health services are again facing restrictions, as the health system needs to prioritise treating those with COVID-19 and rolling out the vaccination programme.

Notwithstanding these pressures, CHO6 are continuing to work to reopen the GMHS on a phased basis. The recruitment of permanent staff is progressing with administration staff in post and IT expansion underway.

Existing PrEP users are now being facilitated in GMHS. The Clinic Consultant and other doctors are providing virtual consultations, and service users attend GMHS for STI screening and blood testing, with support from agency nurses. Those with diagnosed STIs will be treated in GMHS also.

Officials from my Department are in regular contact with the HSE to monitor progress on the reopening of the service.