Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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502. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 567 of 20 September 2022, if he will provide details of the significant work done to date in relation to the standardisation of provision of medical and surgical aids and appliances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46910/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical and surgical aids and appliances, free of charge to eligible persons (such as medical card holders and people on the Long-Term Illness scheme) following assessment by a relevant health professional.

These are provided through community services known as Community Funded Schemes and play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning, and to remain living in their homes and local community.

Each Community Health Organisation (CHO) operates processes for the allocation of funding for medical and surgical aids and appliances. Each application within a CHO is assessed by the local Resource Allocation Group and a determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding availability within local budgets.

Currently, many of these aids and appliances are not provided on a standardised basis across the country and many do not yet have formal contracts in place governing their supply or price. This has resulted in an inequality of access for some aids and appliances in some areas. In addition, it does not allow the HSE to deliver best value for money in the provision of these aids and appliances.

The HSE established a National Service Improvement Programme for the Community Funded Schemes. This Programme is working on the development of standard operating procedures and guidelines with the aim of ensuring value for money, equity of access, and a management system that ensures compliance with those guidelines.

In respect of the aids and appliances stream, the category lists are completed, category specific information for prescribers is complete and the contracts for Aids and Appliances items are in place. The roll-out and implementation of these lists and prescribing information to CHOs and local health care workers is currently underway and is expected to be completed by November 2022.