Ken O'Flynn

782. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the potential healthcare savings from expanded obesity treatment programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28099/26]

783. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the regional prevalence of obesity in Ireland; the regions with the highest hospital admission rates for obesity-related illness; the steps being taken to address health inequalities linked to obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28100/26]

784. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal requirement exists obliging clinicians to report clinical outcomes, complications, and follow-up care requirements to the Health Service Executive or her Department in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement. [28101/26]

785. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the Health Service Executive maintains any centralised or national system for the monitoring, recording, or analysis of clinical outcomes, complication rates, or long-term healthcare impacts for patients who receive procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, the reason for the absence of such a system. [28102/26]

786. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms n place at a national level to evaluate patient safety, treatment effectiveness, and long-term health outcomes in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme, in the absence of a centralised outcomes monitoring system. [28103/26]

787. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audits, reviews, or evaluations have been conducted by her Department or the Health Service Executive into clinical outcomes, complication rates, or follow-up care requirements arising from procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; and if so, to provide details including dates, scope, and findings. [28104/26]

788. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether national clinical guidelines or standardised protocols are in place governing follow-up care for patients returning to the State after receiving procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if not, whether such guidelines will be developed. [28105/26]

789. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the body or unit within her Department or the Health Service Executive holds responsibility at a national level for oversight of clinical outcomes, complication reporting, and long-term follow-up in respect of procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. [28106/26]

791. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the apparent discrepancy whereby expenditure was recorded under the treatment abroad scheme for paediatric gender services in 2024 despite no referrals being recorded in that year; and to outline the accounting and reporting methodology used to link expenditure to individual patient referral years. [28108/26]

792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records total cost per patient episode, including multi-year treatment costs; and if she will provide the average and total cost per minor referred for gender-related treatment abroad since 2020. [28109/26]

793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether clinical outcomes, complications, or follow-up care requirements are recorded for minors referred abroad for gender-related treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the mechanisms used to monitor and evaluate these outcomes. [28110/26]

794. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the arrangements are in place within the HSE to provide ongoing clinical care, including psychological and medical follow-up, to minors who have received gender-related treatment abroad under the treatment abroad scheme. [28111/26]

795. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy basis upon which referrals of minors for gender-related treatment abroad continue to be authorised in light of changes to paediatric gender services in the United Kingdom following the Cass Review; and whether any review of Irish referral practices has been undertaken. [28112/26]

796. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal review, audit, or risk assessment has been conducted in relation to the referral of minors abroad for gender-related treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, to provide details of the findings and dates of such reviews. [28113/26]

797. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to identify the public healthcare providers abroad to which minors from Ireland have been referred for gender-related services under the treatment abroad scheme since 2020. [28114/26]

798. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance or oversight arrangements are in place between the HSE and foreign healthcare providers in respect of treatment delivered to minors under the treatment abroad scheme. [28115/26]

799. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal expenditure ceiling, cap, or upper limit applies to funding approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the value of such limits; and if no such ceiling exists, the rationale for the absence of expenditure controls in a publicly funded scheme. [28118/26]

800. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there is a maximum cost threshold per patient under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the level at which additional approvals are required; and the approval process triggered when such thresholds are exceeded. [28119/26]

801. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the approval hierarchy in place for treatment abroad scheme funding decisions, including the grade or role of officials authorised to approve standard applications and high-cost or complex cases; and whether Ministerial or Departmental sanction is required above specified thresholds. [28120/26]

802. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal written policy, circular, or governance framework governs approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, to provide the title and date of such policy; and if not, the basis upon which consistent decision-making is ensured. [28121/26]

803. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether value-for-money or cost-effectiveness assessments are conducted in respect of treatments funded under the treatment abroad scheme; if so, the methodology used; and if not, the reason no such assessments are required. [28122/26]

804. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of internal audits, external audits, or Comptroller and Auditor General reviews conducted in respect of the treatment abroad scheme since 2020; the dates of such audits; and whether any findings or recommendations were made regarding expenditure controls or governance. [28123/26]

805. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific oversight mechanisms exercised by her Department in relation to the treatment abroad scheme, including whether regular reporting, budget monitoring, or performance review processes are in place; and the frequency of such oversight. [28124/26]

806. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records and tracks expenditure by treatment category, referral pathway, or clinical indication; and if not, the reason such data is not collected in the context of public expenditure oversight. [28125/26]

807. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any external body, including HIQA or another regulatory or advisory entity, has reviewed or been requested to review the governance, safety, or cost oversight of the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, to provide details of such reviews. [28126/26]