Results 18,561-18,580 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Obviously, I do not agree with the Deputy on the free repeat smear test but in the interests of time, I will not rehearse the argument we have had many times. In my opening statement, I outlined why I believed it was the appropriate action to take. I do not have any more up-to-date figures available to me now but I am checking whether we can get them. If we can do so during the debate, I...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: It is still my intention for the HPV test to be introduced by the end of the year. We have reached an agreement with MedLab whereby it already uses the HPV test with regard to its backlog, which is an important point.

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I ask, with the agreement of the House, that we show each other a bit of flexibility because when a major question such as this is asked I will not rush my words because it is important. I am happy to be flexible.

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: On theex gratia payment I take the Deputy's point. My position is that the scheme is very much under way and the letters of invitation issued to women yesterday. With regard to the recent court judgment I am limited in what I can say because the House should not discuss cases that are still technically before the courts. What I will say in light of the public and medical concern that has...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the House for giving me the opportunity to provide an update on matters related to CervicalCheck. It is over a year since issues related to the CervicalCheck audit emerged. I welcome the opportunity to address a range of issues that have arisen in the past year and outline the work that is well under way in my Department, the HSE and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Issues (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The provision of radiotherapy services to cancer patients from County Donegal at the North West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry, is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Service Level Agreement (SLA). A Steering Group, to provide strategic oversight of the service, and a Monitoring Group, to review performance information and to monitor the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to utilise some €110 million in cash contributions from religious congregations to help meet the needs of persons who as children suffered abuse in residential institutions. I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, that Caranua ceased to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (9 May 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I can confirm my private office received this meeting request and is processing it in the normal way. A response will issue directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Reports (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive continues to produce its monthly performance profiles (PP) and management data reports (MDR). However, publication of the October-December 2018 PP and the MDRs for those months were delayed due to some outstanding financial issues. They are now due to published. In the meantime, the monthly performance cycle continues with the next DoH-HSE performance review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: With regard to difficulties in the recruitment and retention of Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) being reported by the voluntary and private nursing home sector, officials from my Department and from the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) met with representatives from the sector on this matter last year, and in particular to work through a business case submitted by them....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the shortcomings with the current mortuary and it is a priority to replace it. Interim arrangements have been made to expand the refrigeration capacity at the mortuary and they will be in place this week. I have acknowledged the requirement for a review of processes and management arrangements at the mortuary and expect details of it to be finalised in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Safety (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department and I were notified by the HSE in September 2017 of this patient safety issue, where cases of misdiagnosis / failure to diagnose occurred at University Hospital Kerry Radiology Department and the commencement of the look-back review. My Department and I received regular updates on the progress of the review, including the publication of the report in December 2018. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Maintaining scheduled care access for all patients is a key priority for hospitals. I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE advise that planned procedures and...