Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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553. To ask the Minister for Health the procedures provided to patients who are covered under the general medical scheme for the treatment of heart valve disease; the proportion of such patients treated using transcatheter aortic valve implantation and surgical aortic valve replacement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30245/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Persons with full eligibility (medical card under the General Medical Scheme) are entitled to free hospital services. However, procedures carried out in a hospital setting including surgical aortic valve replacement or a specialist cardiac intervention such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) are based on clinical need and on a priority basis, as opposed to a person's eligibility /General Medical Scheme status.

As this Parliamentary Question also refers to the HSE position this part of the questions is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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554. To ask the Minister for Health the number of private patients treated in public hospitals for heart valve disease; the proportion of patients treated using transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30246/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems.

The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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555. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE have taken a position on the HIQA recommendation contained in its health technology assessment of trans catheter aortic valve implementation in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at low and intermediate risk of surgical complications published in November 2019; if these recommendations will be adopted and implemented; and if not, the rationale in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30247/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a specialist cardiac intervention and is covered by the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services which is ongoing. The Review commenced in January 2018 with Professor Phillip Nolan as Chair of the Steering Group. This Review aims to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme.

While substantial progress has been made on the Review, the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted on the progress of the review, as the Chair has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response, both as a member of the NPHET and Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. However, it is intended that the Review will continue and work is now underway to progress this to completion over the coming months. The HIQA Health Technology Assessment report is an important resource in this regard.

As this Parliamentary Question also refers to the HSE position this part of the questions is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.