Ken O'Flynn

1924. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether quarterly oversight meetings between the HSE and the Department of Health concerning the treatment abroad scheme include review of patient-level expenditure verification, invoice reconciliation, or audit exception reporting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41893/26]

1926. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme maintains a formal panel of independent clinical reviewers to assess applications prior to approval of expenditure; if so, the composition and governance arrangements of that panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41905/26]

1927. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any categories of the treatment abroad scheme applications automatically require secondary independent clinical validation prior to approval, including applications above specified expenditure thresholds, high-risk procedures, experimental treatments, or treatments involving minors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41906/26]

1928. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of treatment abroad scheme applications in respect of which independent clinical advice was sought in each year from 2020 to 2026, broken down by specialty area and outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41907/26]

1929. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme has published internal criteria or guidance governing when independent clinical advice must or should be sought before approval decisions are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41908/26]

1930. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether clinicians providing independent clinical advice to the treatment abroad scheme are required to complete declarations regarding conflicts of interest, prior professional relationships, or institutional affiliations relating to overseas treatment providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41909/26]

1931. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of appeals lodged against treatment abroad scheme decisions in each year from 2020 to 2026; the number upheld, partially upheld, and rejected; the average processing time for appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41910/26]

1932. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance structure of the National Appeals Office in respect of treatment abroad scheme appeals; whether independent external clinical expertise forms part of the appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41911/26]

1933. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audits, reviews, inspections, or examinations of the treatment abroad scheme have been conducted by the HSE Internal Audit function, the Comptroller and Auditor General, or any external body since 2020; if so, the dates and broad findings of each review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41912/26]

1934. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme operates any expenditure-control thresholds, enhanced review procedures, or escalation mechanisms for high-cost approvals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41913/26]

1935. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual expenditure approved under the treatment abroad scheme in each year from 2020 to 2026, broken down by medical specialty, destination country, and number of approved patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41914/26]

1936. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records both the estimated cost at the point of authorisation and the final invoiced cost paid following treatment in each individual case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41916/26]

1937. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme conducts any formal variance analysis between estimated and actual expenditure incurred per patient following overseas treatment approval; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41917/26]

1938. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of treatment abroad scheme cases since 2020 in which final invoiced costs exceeded original estimated costs by (a) less than 10%, (b) 10% to 25%, (c) 25% to 50%, and (d) greater than 50%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41918/26]

1939. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any threshold exists under the treatment abroad scheme requiring additional review, approval, or escalation where final treatment costs materially exceed original estimated expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41919/26]

1940. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme maintains a patient-level expenditure reconciliation process following completion of treatment abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41920/26]

1941. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audits carried out by the HSE internal audit office or Comptroller and Auditor General since 2020 examined variance between estimated and actual expenditure under the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will provide the dates and broad findings of any such audits. [41921/26]

1943. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal written clinical governance assessment, evidence review, or risk-benefit analysis was completed prior to the approval of the 2021 consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post associated with the National Gender Service Model of Care; and if she will provide details of the body or individuals responsible for preparing and approving such documentation. [41924/26]

1944. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee received any written submissions, appendices, briefing papers, or supporting documentation referencing WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 during consideration of the 2019 application for the consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post associated with the National Gender Service Model of Care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41925/26]

1945. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any external expert advice, peer review, or independent clinical assessment was sought prior to the inclusion of WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 within the consultant application submitted in December 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41926/26]

1946. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE retains records identifying the specific individuals, committees, or governance structures responsible for approving references to WPATH Standards of Care Version 7 within the 2019 consultant application associated with the National Gender Service Model of Care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41927/26]

1947. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any review has been undertaken of the evidential basis, governance arrangements, or clinical assumptions underpinning the 2018 National Gender Service Model of Care in light of subsequent international reviews and evolving evidence; and if she will provide details of any such review. [41928/26]

1948. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any concerns were recorded during recruitment campaigns for the consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post associated with the National Gender Service Model of Care regarding the proposed service model, governance arrangements, clinical framework, or evidential basis underpinning the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41929/26]

2023. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has now formally approved the establishment of a centralised reporting mechanism to record cases in which healthcare professionals are subject to criminal investigation for serious offences; the governance structure which will oversee that mechanism; the categories of offences to be recorded; whether all HSE-funded agencies and Section 38 and 39 bodies will be included; the implementation timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42436/26]

2024. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE currently maintains any national dataset recording the number of healthcare workers who are on administrative leave, restricted duties, reassigned duties, or precautionary suspension arising from criminal investigations or allegations of serious misconduct; if so, the annual figures from 2020 to 2026 broken down by staff category and HSE region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42437/26]