Results 2,041-2,060 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: In response to the criticism of the health service, we need to be careful because over 100,000 very dedicated and committed people work in the health service. We need to keep in mind the fact that they must work over Christmas while the rest of us are at home. Every week 61,500 people attend outpatient departments and a further 23,000 people attend the accident and emergency departments....

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: An additional 5,000 people now work in the health service when compared with 2014 and we are making huge progress. It is important to give credit where credit is due in respect of the service that is delivered. Many people have been caught up in the rental market and I am talking about tenants in particular. We need to give security and do everything possible for them. We need to all work...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. The only thing we all need to be conscious of in regard to health insurance is that we do everything possible to try to prevent further increases. The risk equalisation arrangement makes sure there is a level playing field for everyone, regardless of age. I welcome the Bill from that point of view but we have to deal with the cost of private health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their detailed presentations. I will touch on a number of issues. The witnesses have referred to an additional number of midwives and I am not sure whether that takes into account the number of people who retire every year. One major concern I have is lack of support for nursing staff, consultants and junior doctors when there is an adverse event. It is not clear...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentation, which was circulated to members before the meeting. I welcome the report on the national maternity strategy. My problem with reports is that in 2003, when there were between 90 and 100 consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, the plan was that to have 180 by 2012. The report published last year showed that in 2014 there were 121 consultants....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The simple solution is to give us the figures for what was in place in 2014 and what is in place now. That would allow us to see the comparisons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I ask that we be given the figures for 2014 as well because that is the year we are talking about and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The reference period. If it is possible, Ms Fitzgerald might also give us the figures as of January 2017-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: -----for each of the units, and the birth rate for each of those units for the year ended 31 December 2016.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: That would allow us see the comparisons and sort out the problem in terms of determining whether the figures are accurate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The problem for the past 25 year is that very little has been set aside in the capital budget. In real terms it is a case of developing services in a piecemeal way because not enough moneys have been put into capital funding. To take the example of the three maternity units in Dublin, they are all more than 150 years old and we are now talking about dealing with those over a short...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: Can I ask a question on that, Chairman? Mr. Woods talks about the appointment of strong clinical leadership. Where all the clinicians in a particular facility agree there should be an independent review, however, someone in administration - who has neither hand, act nor part in the facility - can overrule their decision and 18 months later no review report has been completed. If that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: It was an adverse outcome. A decision was taken that a clinical review would be carried out by an independent person outside the particular facility. All the clinicians agreed on who should be appointed. They were overruled, however, by someone in administration who had no physical contact with the unit, but who just drew a line across the person who was appointed. Some 18 months later,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: That is causing problems within the maternity services, which leads to litigation as a result.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: If one operated the theatre in Cork University Hospital for five days a week one would have a problem with beds and other problems caused by a lack of staff. The consultants have suggested that they could get space in another facility, and get the beds, and backup support staff thus taking many people off the list in a faster time. Let us remember that it will take time to recruit people....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I agree with my colleague that the four Sinn Féin Members should take their seats in the House of Commons and have issued a press release to that effect. The party would have four crucial votes in debating Brexit as it would affect Northern Ireland. It is important that they exercise their right and make the interests of the people of Northern Ireland their first priority. That is...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (24 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I pay tribute to all the Senators who have contributed on the matter, in particular Senator Boyhan. It is something he obviously feels very strongly about. I welcome the legislation which is very comprehensive and long overdue. In the referendum, we amended the Constitution, Article 42A of which now provides for this Bill. It is important to progress...

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The health committee meeting is starting at 1.30 p.m. and as we are under pressure to attend that meeting it is unfortunate it is clashing with this debate. However, I appreciate the Minister coming in to the House to attend the debate. It is interesting to look at the figures relating to accident and emergency medicine. As I understand it, last year there was approximately 1.3 million...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Emergency Department Overcrowding: Discussion (25 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their detailed presentations. On the basis of the presentations made, it would appear there are around 26,900 people per week attending accident and emergency departments, or around 3,800 per day. If there is a 20% increase in that there is huge pressure on the system, and a sudden 20% increase would not be unusual. On the 29 units, it was said that some of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Emergency Department Overcrowding: Discussion (25 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Woods for his presentation and apologise to him for the lengthy delay in commencing our discussion. On accident and emergency department overcrowding and hospital overcrowding in general, Nursing Homes Ireland today issued a statement in which it indicated it had understood since July 2016 that the Health Service Executive would engage with the organisation on planning for the...