Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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704. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware that stem cell therapy is treated as an elective procedure for cancer patients and that this has a direct impact in terms of access to beds; if she will review this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4783/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Stem cell therapies are used to treat people with cancers that affect blood cells, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes. They may also be used for some solid tumours.

Stem cell therapies require complex haematological care and treatment planning. Patients requiring this type of treatment and other bone marrow transplant treatments are at greater risk of infection, requiring admission to specialised beds in special treatment units.

As part of the question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.