428. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health in the context of the current cost-of-living pressures cited by health sector unions (details supplied) in the lead-up to planned industrial action, the extent to which her Department and the HSE have assessed the potential to reduce commuting costs and time for clinical nursing grades by facilitating telemedicine-enabled remote or blended working for appropriate non-acute outpatient contacts; whether any analysis has been undertaken of the cost savings to staff, patients and to the health service of shifting suitable nursing-delivered outpatient consultations to a remote model. [66243/26]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.