Written Answers Nos. 612-631
612. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will furnish this Deputy with the details of capital funding for a second CT scanner and build under capital submissions for the RCSI hospital group to be completed by December 2023; when plans were drawn up in relation to Connolly Hospital; when a project manager and design team was established; and if he will provide an update on the progress made to date. [30496/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
613. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if there has been any delay with the progressing of a second CT scanner for Connolly Hospital; and if his attention has been drawn to the long delays being faced by critically ill patients in terms of diagnosis due to the lack of a second CT scanner. [30497/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
614. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, by Connolly Hospital on the outsourcing of scans and tests to the private sector; if his Department has ever sought to determine what delays are entailed in patient treatment are due to the outsourcing by the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30498/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
615. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a targeted, funded strategic capital investment programme for mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30503/23]
View answerThe Government remains committed to the development of all aspects of mental health services nationally, including those for children and young people. The total allocation for mental health services in 2023 is over €1.2 billion. This is another record budget for mental health services.
In addition, a new mental health 10-year Capital Development Programme is in development to focus on upgrading existing facilities, replacing inappropriate community facilities and the continued expansion of service.
As the question also concerns services, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
616. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he will give the necessary powers to the Mental Health Commission to regulate not just approved inpatient mental health services, but the 24-hour community residences, as well as approved community mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30504/23]
View answerThe Mental Health Commission was established under the Mental Health Act, 2001. The Commission’s main functions are to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to protect the interests of patients who are involuntarily admitted.
Accordingly, the Mental Health Act 2001 states that the Inspector of Mental Health Services shall visit and inspect every approved centre at least once in each year; and visit and inspect any other premises where mental health services are being provided as he or she thinks appropriate.
A General Scheme of a Bill was published in July 2021 and proposed to extend the registration, inspection and regulation regime of the Commission and Inspector to include all community mental health residences and community mental health services.
Drafting of the Mental Health Bill is currently being progressed by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, generally in line with the published General Scheme. The Bill received priority drafting in the spring and summer legislative sessions this year and officials in my Department and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel are working intensively to prepare this lengthy, complex Bill. The publication of the Mental Health Bill is a priority for me and for the Government and I look forward to introducing the Bill to the Oireachtas as soon as possible following publication of the Bill.
The new Bill will overhaul our mental health legislation making it more person-centred and human rights focused and help to put in place a more robust framework in which mental health services can be delivered.
617. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the budget allocated to each hospital in the South/South West Hospital Group in each of the years 2019 to 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [30509/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
618. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30510/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
619. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider or re-evaluate the cessation of the national contract for the vasectomy procedure; and if he will also provide the number of persons currently waiting on the list for the procedure. [30518/23]
View answer685. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the HSE reverses its decision to make cutbacks to local vasectomy services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30872/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 685 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
620. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health to outline the response to the use of synthetic cannabinoids in vapes; and if there are any investigations into the use of cannabinoids in vapes. [30553/23]
View answer621. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline any information that the HSE has in relation to HHC cannabinoids in vapes; and if there are any recent investigations by the HSE into HHC use in Ireland. [30554/23]
View answer622. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health If there are any plans to issue harm reduction educational material in relation to HHC. [30555/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 620 to 622, inclusive, together.
The National Drugs Strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, ‘A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’, sets out a health-led approach to drug use. The strategy supports high quality monitoring, evaluation and research to ensure evidence-informed policies and practice.
Ireland has good information on substance misuse. Routine monitoring provides the information on the nature, extent and consequences of substance misuse needed to formulate evidence-informed policy, plan services and measure the effectiveness of the responses to this problem. In fulfilment of both European and national requirements, Ireland’s monitoring system collects and analyses data on drug use in the general and school-going population, treatment demand, high-risk drug use and on consequences, such as infectious diseases, deaths and overdose. nd has good information on the substance misuse situation at a national level. Routine monitoring provides the information on the nature, extent and consequences of substance misuse needed to formulate evidence-informed policy, plan services and measure the effectiveness of the responses to this problem. In fulfilment of both European and national requirements, Ireland’s monitoring system collects and analyses data on drug use in the general and school-going population, treatment demand, high-risk drug use and on consequences, such as infectious diseases, deaths and overdose.
Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) was first identified in Europe in May 2022 and was put under intensive monitoring at the end of 2022 by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). It is the first semi-synthetic cannabinoid reported in the EU and has been monitored as a New Psychoactive Substance by the EU Early Warning System since October 2022.
Early warning in Ireland is co-ordinated by the EMCDDA National Focal Point and the Early Warning, Emerging Trends (EWET) working group chaired by the Department of Health. EWET continues to monitor the emergence and use of this substance in Ireland. At present, there is limited information on the availability and use of HHC in Europe.
According to a small number of laboratory studies, HHC appears to have broadly similar effects to THC, the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. The pharmacological and behavioural effects of HHC in humans have not been studied, although recent anecdotal reports from consumers indicate that its effects might be similar to that of cannabis. The EMCDDA has responded to the potential public health and social risks from this new substance with a range of actions, including the production of a technical report in April 2023.
The HSE will add content about HHC to its website Drugs.ie but this information will be limited to the information available from the EMCDDA. The core messaging relating to HHC should highlight that there is limited available information and very little known about the risks associated with this substance and the extent of its use in Ireland. There was no evidence during recent nighttime economy drug monitoring initiatives of use of HHC at festival settings. The HSE will continue to liaise with the EMCDDA and the Early Warning and Emerging Trends (EWET) group chaired by the Department of Health for further direction on this substance.
With regard to synthetic cannabinoids, the HSE has comprehensive harm reduction information about the substances available on drugs.ie, www.drugs.ie/synthetic_cannabinoids_in_ireland_hse_update_october_2021/
The HSE also issued an alert regarding cannabis edibles contaminated with synthetic cannabinoids earlier this year, which can be found at: www.drugs.ie/news/article/hse_drug_trend_risk_communication_on_cannabis_jellies_adulterated_with_synt. The HSE is not currently conducting research on cannabinoids in vapes.
623. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people referred by their GP to lung rapid access clinics electronically in each of the months from 2020 to 2023, in tabular form. [30568/23]
View answer624. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people referred by their GP to prostate rapid access clinics electronically, in each of the months from 2020 to 2023, in tabular form. [30569/23]
View answer626. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people referred from their GP to symptomatic breast disease clinics electronically, in each of the months from 2020-2023 in tabular form. [30571/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623, 624 and 626 together.
The HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) advises that the number of electronic GP referrals sent to each of the rapid access clinics for 2020-2023 by month is given as follows:
625. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the number and proportion of people referred by their GP to pigmented skin lesion clinics electronically, in each of the months from 2020 to 2023, in tabular form. [30570/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
627. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients on active cancer treatment admitted to hospital for treatment through emergency departments, in each of the years 2017 to 2023, in tabular form. [30572/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
628. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients commencing radiotherapy treatment within 15 working days of being deemed ready to treat in each of the years 2012-2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30573/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
629. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of cancer treatment patients receiving a treatment summary and care plan in each of the years 2017 to 2023, in tabular form. [30574/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
630. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients with metastatic cancer given chemotherapy in last month of life in each of the years 2012 to 2023, in tabular form. [30575/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
631. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health the percentage of patients with Stage IV cancer receiving specialist palliative care in each of the years 2012 to 2023, in tabular form. [30576/23]
View answerI am advised that the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) does not collect specific data on cancer stage and palliative care for patients with cancer.
Data on the number of patients with cancer receiving specialist palliative care is available since 2021 and is represented in the below table. There is no breakdown available on the stage of the cancer for these patients and, therefore, all cancer patients receiving specialist palliative care in their normal place of residence are included in these figures.
Table: Cancer patients receiving specialist palliative care by year
|
2021 |
January to December |
6,874 |
|
2022 |
January to December |
6,787 |
|
2023 |
January to May |
2,939 |
