854. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if vertebral body tethering (VBT) surgery is formally approved for funding by the HSE; if not, the funding mechanisms under which any previous VBT procedures have been covered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16522/25]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
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26,443 questions match, newest first.
855. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if vertebral body tethering (VBT) surgeries are being reimbursed under broader categories such as spinal fusion or spinal instrumentation despite being a distinct, motion-preserving procedure; and if she will provide details of any plans to establish a dedicated funding stream for VBT. [16523/25]
856. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of vertebral body tethering surgeries that have been performed in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals to date. [16524/25]
857. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has outsourced any vertebral body tethering procedures to private facilities (details supplied); and if so, the number of cases that have been handled through these arrangements. [16525/25]
858. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any vertebral body tethering (VBT) procedures have been funded through the treatment abroad scheme; and if so, the number of Irish children that have received VBT overseas. [16526/25]
859. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if a charity (details supplied) has facilitated or performed any vertebral body tethering surgeries to date. [16527/25]
860. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any research on vertebral body tethering is being conducted or has been completed in Children’s Health Ireland; if so, the scope of this research; and whether any findings have been published. [16528/25]
861. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reason CHI has removed the spine register, which previously served as an early warning system for new techniques such as vertebral body tethering; and the alternative measures in place to monitor scoliosis surgery outcomes. [16529/25]
862. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health how the HSE ensures that outcomes from vertebral body tethering surgeries are accurately tracked and monitored in the absence of a spine register. [16530/25]
863. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health how the HSE is tracking and collecting safety and performance data for vertebral body tethering surgeries, given that there is no specific ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS code for this procedure. [16531/25]
864. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the lack of a distinct coding system for vertebral body tethering is affecting the ability to audit and assess patient outcomes; and the steps being taken to introduce an appropriate classification system. [16532/25]
865. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the tethering devices used in vertebral body tethering procedures comply with EU Medical Device Regulations and relevant Irish safety standards. [16533/25]
866. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health how the HSE tracks and monitors the use of vertebral body tethering-specific medical devices in the absence of a dedicated procedure code. [16534/25]
867. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health how the procurement process for vertebral body tethering devices and associated implants has been managed; the suppliers that have been contracted to provide these devices; and whether procurement has followed HSE and EU Medical Device Regulations. [16535/25]
868. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if HIQA has been made aware if any vertebral body tethering procedures have been performed in CHI despite not being formally approved for use by the HSE; and if any regulatory concerns have been raised in this regard. [16536/25]
869. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps HIQA and the HSE are taking to ensure oversight, patient safety, and regulatory compliance regarding the use of vertebral body tethering in Ireland. [16537/25]
870. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline, and staging posts, for delivering a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector; when she hopes to bring policy proposals to Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16550/25]
871. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in a matter (details supplied); the measures this family can take to speed up the process of accessing a therapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16554/25]
872. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the reason foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is not recognised as a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16565/25]
873. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a 24-7 ambulance service for Arklow and Baltinglass; if this service will be operational in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16604/25]
874. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a young person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16618/25]
875. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a clinical HSCP director will be appointed to the executive management team in the mid-west health region; if so, when she expects this to happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16622/25]
876. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a clinical HSCP director will be appointed to the executive management team in the mid-west health region; if so, when she expects this to happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16622/25]
877. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if podiatrist services are available in Carlow and Kilkenny; if not, when the services were last available; and her intentions to restore a full level of service. [16632/25]
878. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if patients with long-term illness requiring regular blood tests to be taken by their GP will have their costs covered under the medical card scheme; and if patients holding a medical card that are currently paying their GP for the service will be reimbursed by the HSE. [16633/25]