Results 22,301-22,320 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask Ms Magahy to come in on the matter of workforce planning in a moment. On the overspend, as my colleague, the Minister for Finance and for Public Expenditure said, possibly at a Committee on Budgetary Oversight meeting last week, he and I are actively engaging in addressing what will be a requirement for supplementary funding for the health service this year. I am very confident...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I take that point. I would point out, however, that there were extra occupational therapy posts this year, extra speech and language therapy posts recently, and more than 140 assistant psychology posts. I will ask Ms Magahy to do some work on that. I also ask her to speak about how we will plan for the workforce for the delivery of Sláintecare.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: This is something I and Ms Magahy have discussed in recent days. I agree with Deputy O'Reilly on the word "entitlement" rather than eligibility and we will revert to using entitlement. The idea is that every citizen in this country should be entitled to access care in their community. We want universal entitlement and universal access to primary care. The second thing is important, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I hope that I am right, but we will legislate. I will come back with the specific number in one moment. However, I do want to legislate for waiting times. I spoke to the Scottish health minister about this last Friday. I want to do it and make sure that we can deliver them. The elective-only model was how they did it in Scotland. We have given a commitment to picking three sites next...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Each year we will have to say what we are doing the following year and show how much it will cost and how we will deliver it, so yes that is the position about annual plans.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Before Deputy O'Reilly leaves, the particular action is 5.1.6. I apologise to Deputy Kelly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: University Hospital Limerick has one of the most acute situations in terms of a lack of bed capacity. The Deputy has highlighted it here many times. They are working very hard at hospital level to develop and deliver on a modular proposal. My understanding is that they sought planning permission and that there may be a further appeal there. That information is subject to correction; I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: It depends on the completion of the planning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: We will be ready to go as soon as they are ready to go in terms of progressing it. I want to thank the hospital group CEO. She put a lot of work into it and ploughed on with it as well, which was very important for being ready. In Clonmel, the 40-bed modular is progressing. My understanding is that it is due to open very early in the new year. I will confirm that with the Deputy. I hope...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I would be happy to discuss that with Deputies Murphy O'Mahony and Kelly. A population-based approach ensures we design the structures based on where our population is, rather than designing the structures and then hoping the population finds or makes its way to them. We will look at a map of Ireland not just in a geographical sense but in terms of where our citizens live and what needs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Durkan for affording me the time to reply within the seven minutes. I do not disagree with the Deputy at all that the current construct of the HSE is not fit for purpose. That is not just my view but it is the view of the HSE. The former director general of the HSE said that at this committee, calling it an "amorphous blob", as reported in the national media. The HSE, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree that bricks and mortar cannot be, and is not, all there is to primary care. The buildings can be enablers for change, integrated care and multidisciplinary working. I opened one in Grangegorman only a few weeks ago and, as the Senator knows, it brought together many healthcare professionals who for the first time were working together under one roof, providing integrated care for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Senator. Much of the cost relating to many such facilities is in the capital space. I am pleased that our capital budget has increased significantly which will enable us to have those conversations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The bona fides of the Chairman in regard to healthcare are beyond question. I hear his frustration and know that it is genuine. As I stated, some of the timelines in the Sláintecare report were unworkable. It would be incorrect to contend otherwise. Although I do not wish to end on a sour note, I must point out that the report was produced in May and suggested that an executive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: It did, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: That is what the report stated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: That is correct. I am not here to be negative and I want to get on with this. However, the timelines were somewhat contradictory in this regard because while the Chairman is correct that the report recommends increasing capacity, it also states that we must ensure that eligibility is extended in a very short period of time. That would not have worked. I want the committee to know that I,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I accept that we can make progress on waiting lists in advance of Sláintecare, and aside from it. I believe - I am not being pedantic - the policy shift that Sláintecare represents will help improve waiting lists. If we did not have Sláintecare, it would lessen the pace of progress. I think that is a fair comment. For the benefit of those watching the proceedings, I want to...