THE FEASABILITY of establishing a national Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery service is to be assessed over the coming months for the HSE by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
Patients and neurology specialists have been calling for a national DBS service to be set up for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease for some years. DBS is an effective surgical treatment for a small number of patients with Parkinson’s disease, the neurological disorder Dystonia and other movement disorders.
Irish patients considered eligible for DBS surgery are generally referred to centres outside Ireland, mainly to the UK under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. If the health technology assessment carried out by Hiqa shows that a DBS service would be feasible for Ireland, it will be up to the HSE to decide whether or not to establish such a service.
Martin Flattery, head of HTA Research and Planning at HIQA, said: “By estimating the resources required and their associated costs, this health technology assessment will evaluate the feasibility of establishing a national service in Ireland.”
DBS involves the insertion into the brain of an electrode that is then connected to a battery-powered stimulator placed in the chest wall. This stimulation of the brain may offer patients control of their symptoms, such as reducing the tremors caused by Parkinson’s disease Dystonia and other movement disorders, and improve their quality of life.
Hiqa has convened a multidisciplinary expert advisory group to oversee the process of the assessment which is expected to be completed in a number of months.
The completed evaluation with recommendations will be submitted to the HSE and to the Minister for Health for their decision.
