Results 22,761-22,780 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Charges (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Scanlon and Curran for the question. Significant progress has been made over a number of years and over the lifetime of successive Governments in dealing with cancer treatment, with significantly improving survival rates in our country. The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 aims to build on the progress already made, with improved cancer prevention, diagnostics, treatment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Charges (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I accept there were a number of issues on which the Irish Cancer Society campaigned in advance of the budget. I recognise it welcomed some of the measures in the budget. It welcomed the fact we heard their call regarding a rise in the price of cigarettes, which was supported throughout the House. It also welcomed the extension of the HPV vaccine to boys and the reduction in medication...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Charges (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Deputy Curran and I are not going to disagree on this. There is no doubt there are extra costs when somebody has an illness, particularly one that can last a sustained period of time, such as cancer. It is not just a cost to the person but also to their entire family. We all have to work to try to reduce that cost burden. I am committed to doing that. The Deputy referenced the issue of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question. As she is aware, preparations for the implementation of the termination of pregnancy services are at an advanced stage. I welcome that the House passed the Bill through Second Stage, which is crucial, as is ensuring that the services will be ready to be put into operation. As the Deputy is aware, it is envisaged that most terminations up to nine weeks...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: We are providing for extra GP training places. It is not good enough just to train more GPs; we must work to ensure that general practice is and will be a sustainable career for those studying to become a GP. That is why we are providing a programme of investment as well as extra training places. Talks on that general programme of investment are to take place tomorrow with the IMO, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: General Practitioner Services (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I have addressed the issues of FEMPI cuts and investment in general practice by outlining the process we intend to undertake and on which there will be further engagement with the IMO tomorrow. I will save my comments on how the service will operate in terms of the three-day period for Committee Stage of the Bill, when there will be an opportunity to engage on such issues. My basic...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Treatment Purchase Fund (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his important question. Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures remains a key priority. As the Deputy correctly stated, in budget 2019 we further increased investment in this area, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to increase from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019, an overall increase of 150...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Treatment Purchase Fund (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not want to play politics with this either because I accept Deputy Curran's bona fides on this. I would just make the point that the confidence and supply agreement did commit to €15 million so in fairness to Deputy Curran's party and the Government, I think we are doing more than we said we would do together through confidence and supply. I would make the point, which the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Treatment Purchase Fund (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Like Deputy Curran, I do not approach this from an ideological viewpoint. I very much see the NTPF as an agency that should be seen as an access fund and a way of making sure we can have ring-fenced budgets to ensure our patients can get more timely access to treatment, be it inpatient or outpatient. I am ambitious when it comes to seeing the NTPF extend its remit to outpatients. We need...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to children who have the greatest level of need and who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. The HSE aims to commence treatment for the majority of patients within two years of assessment with patients with greatest clinical need being prioritised for treatment. I am aware that there are particular challenges at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge Deputy Browne's point and I will raise it with the HSE in the context of the preparation of the service plan for 2019 and the NTPF in the context of its work on waiting list initiatives. It is fair to say there is a particular issue in the south east, particularly in the Deputy's county with that vacant orthodontist post. In fairness, the HSE has tried to fill it but it was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I will do so. I will keep in contact with Deputy Browne in respect of this matter and will ask that the HSE comes back to him after 14 November with regard to how successful it has been in filling that vacant post.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy MacSharry for raising this matter. As he is aware, in budget 2019, we have prioritised improving access and reducing waiting times for patients with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. I am pleased to say this increase in funding will allow us to target 40,000 outpatient appointments. The Deputy has raised with me...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: When I read the outpatient waiting list figures for the Deputy's hospital – if I may call it that, although I accept it is very much a regional hospital that serves several counties – and consider the specialties, the ENT specialty is indeed accounting for the largest proportion of people waiting for an outpatient appointment in Sligo University Hospital. Therefore, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: As I outlined to Deputy MacSharry and his colleague, Deputy Curran, with the additional funding for the NTPF in 2019, we will be able to see a significant increase in the number of outpatient appointments. The Deputy's party has acknowledged the progress made in inpatient day cases where there has been a very significant reduction of 16% from the peak in the number of people waiting for a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lahart for this question. As I already said to his colleagues, Deputies MacSharry and Curran, reducing the outpatient waiting list and reducing waiting times in general is a priority and must remain a priority for Government, for all of us in this House and for the health service. That is why we have in working with the Deputy's party increased the level of funding for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's supplementary question takes us in a slightly different direction but I am very happy to engage on it. I always find this point quite bizarre because if Deputy Lahart had been the Minister for Health in 2011 and had gone into the Department of Health in Hawkins House, he would have needed good luck to find money to put into any initiative because of the state Fianna Fáil...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: He definitely is.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: What the Deputy can say to them is that I am very pleased that we have now hired new consultants in neurology in Tallaght. As he rightly said, many of my constituents also go to that hospital so I firmly accept the need for that. Here is my big idea on health. My big idea was not to be the Minister who decided to come up with a big bright plan that would last for my tenure, but instead...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Following extensive mediation discussions, agreement was reached between the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on the relocation of the NMH to the Elm Park campus. The terms of this agreement provides for the establishment of a new company which will have clinical and operational, as well as financial and budgetary independence in the provision of...