Results 23,601-23,620 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Accepting a cross-party vision on healthcare means doing some things differently from how one planned. Legislating for hospital groups now would ignore the fact that the Sláintecare committee rightly stated that it would be better to legislate for regional structures that include community health organisations in one entity while avoiding silos. That is the direction I intend to take....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: It is an important point. I am confident that the NTPF focuses on ensuring the work for which it is paying is above and beyond what was due to be done by the HSE. We publish annual integrated waiting list plans detailing what will be done by the HSE and NTPF. I will ask the CEO of the NTPF to respond directly to the Deputy's question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The Senator is correct to suggest that there are learnings for the public service beyond An Garda Síochána in terms of how it responds to whistleblowers and people trying to highlight areas of wrongdoing or public concern. That was vividly depicted in the excellent documentary by Katie Hannon on Maurice and Lorraine McCabe. I would very simply say to anybody working in the health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I assure them that the law will be complied with in terms of the protection afforded to whistleblowers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not fully understand the question. There is no redress scheme in------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Sorry, the word "redress" threw me. We made an allocation for the State Claims Agency for 2019. I ask Mr. Mulvany to locate the exact figure. That does not relate solely to misdiagnoses but, rather, to any action taken by a citizen against the State. The power for dealing with such complaints is delegated by the HSE to the agency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I will not adjudicate on the case referred to by the Senator. I do not question her bona fides. Her fundamental question regards whether a person can get his or her basic medical information from a hospital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The file should be received within 28 to 30 days.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask Dr. Henry to follow this up in a moment. The Senator referred to the written answer. If anybody is watching these proceedings they do not have the benefit of that. There are a number of work streams under way on the issue of valproate. I had an excellent meeting with representatives from the FACS forum where they outlined the very devastating consequences of this on their own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: -----on patient leaflets, which is good. The Senator is correct that it took a lot of work. That information is being shared with representatives of the FACS forum. We also have the valproate response project that is studying the numbers of those who have been affected by foetal anti-convulsant syndrome, which is the point being made by the Senator. There is also the development of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes. I am very much aware of this case. It is a matter for the HSE to follow its own reimbursement processes legally in this respect. I met the HSE on a number of issues recently and this was one issue that I raised specifically. It is important that there is real and meaningful engagement with the drugs company and with the HSE. The technology review group on rare diseases is currently...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: They are there to assess the drug and the impact of the drug. That group was established specifically recognising that there are rare diseases that require greater consideration perhaps than a drug that can benefit a larger cohort of the population. There are more and more rare diseases in Ireland for which new drugs are coming on stream. I want to make the point, strongly, that it takes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (14 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask Ms Anne O'Connor to respond, outlining it from the HSE's perspective. I had an excellent meeting recently in Government Buildings with some of the parents whose children had been impacted. The chief officer of Community Healthcare West, Mr. Tony Canavan, was present from the HSE as was a senior official from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. A number of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (15 Nov 2018)

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: HSE Staff Data (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for this matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 contain provisions relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. In line with the 2013 Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Payments (15 Nov 2018)

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: Dental Services Provision (15 Nov 2018)

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