Results 23,921-23,940 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Health Service Investigations (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I welcome the Hayes report into the management of radiology and GP referral letters at Tallaght hospital, which was published on 4 November. The report is thorough and clear in its conclusions. The Tallaght hospital review identified serious concerns about the robustness of the governance structures at board and management level within the hospital. The particular problems with the board...
- Health Service Investigations (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: It is clear that when next year's reductions are being made, the priority will be to maintain services for patients. I will deal with that in my discussions with the HSE when I am aware of what the exact figure will be.
- Health Service Investigations (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The HSE procures â¬3.2 billion worth of goods and services each year. I want that figure to be reduced in line with what is happening in the economy. In addition, almost â¬2 billion is spent on drugs. A further â¬1 billion is spent on non-core pay, such as premium, overtime and on-call pay. The bulk of the reductions need to be found in that basket so that services to the public are...
- Health Service Investigations (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I am not an expert in this area. It seems from the various reflections and reports we have been given since Tallaght Hospital was established, particularly the Hayes report, that insufficient homework was done in advance of the merging into one big entity of three small hospitals that had very different perspectives. When one goes into Tallaght Hospital, one will see evidence of the...
- Health Service Investigations (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: In the first instance, I have spoken to Dr. Hayes. I have read his report. It is always important to speak to the authors of these reports. I did not meet him until he completed his report because I did not think it would be appropriate for me to do so. He did not ask to meet me. I had a long meeting with him on Monday. I got his insights, in addition to what he had said in the report....
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: Approximately 77 million laboratory tests are undertaken across 44 public hospitals each year. The HSE announced plans last year to modernise laboratory services and achieve significant efficiencies in the configuration and operation of such services. As part of this initiative, the HSE is in discussions with the National Development Finance Agency about the capital financing of a small...
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I said in my reply that there is good engagement on this issue, through the Croke Park agreement, between the staff representatives and the HSE. There has been some rationalisation and reconfiguration in this area since the Teamwork report was published. Work practices have changed and more laboratories have been accredited. That is the good news. We need to achieve efficiencies in this...
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: Those discussions are taking place with the staff representatives but my understanding is they will start in December on a number of key sites. The sites chosen are St. James's, Beaumont, Waterford, Galway and Cork. They are having discussions with staff representatives regarding those sites and I understand they are at an advanced stage.
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: There will be a huge need for highly qualified medical scientists in Ireland. This is about how we organise the service and whether we continue to provide it all in house or whether we outsource it or combine the public and private sectors. Above all, we have to ensure quality in as efficient a way as possible. That is what will guide the response of the HSE and the Government in this...
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I do not have all the detail but it is generally about providing the service in a more cost-effective fashion.
- Hospital Laboratories (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: We would never outsource everything outside the country. One cannot run a hospital system without a laboratory system and, therefore, there is no question of that. Clearly, we have to provide these quality services in the most cost-effective way we can for all our patients and that is what will happen.
- Written Answers — Health Service Funding: Health Service Funding (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Question Nos. 11, 16 and 28 together. The Revised Estimates for 2010 allocated â¬14.6 billion for the HSE. Government expenditure for 2010 was determined in the context of very challenging economic circumstances. At the end of September the HSE is reporting a deficit of â¬102m in the hospital sector along with a â¬27m deficit in community services. This is an...
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The HSE continues to focus on a system wide approach to improving access to hospital. Each day, approximately 30% of the people who visit an Emergency Department will require an admission into hospital. However, it is equally important to note that the majority of patients do not require admission to the hospital as a result of their visit. Of this group, 94% are seen, treated and discharged...
- Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: It is important to use caution when comparing staffing levels of hospitals. Different criteria must also be considered in making any such comparisons, including the catchment area served, the population and number of patients attending and the availability of other radiological services to patients locally. There are currently 5.54 adult consultant radiologists and 2 paediatric consultant...
- Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The Public Capital Programme 2010 - 2016 announced by Government in July provides a total of â¬2,891 million over the period 2010 -2016 for the Health Group of Votes. This represents an increase of approximately â¬35m on the previous capital envelope for the period to 2013. It also confirms that the annual capital funding allocation of â¬400m for health will continue to 2016. The Health...
- Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The HPV vaccination programme commenced in twenty one secondary schools in May 2010. The vaccination schedule requires that three doses of the vaccine be provided at intervals over a period of six months. From this initial phase 1,581 first year girls were eligible for the free vaccination of which 1,299 received the vaccine. This gives an uptake rate of 82% for the first dose. In July, of...
- Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector is being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2011 which is currently underway. Deliberations by the Government on the expenditure allocations for next year are likely to continue up until Budget time and it would not be appropriate for me to comment...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The Health Act 2004 provided for the establishment of the Health Service Executive with its own Vote and Accounting Officer with effect from 1 January 2005. The HSE is providing thousands of services to young and old, in hospitals, health facilities and in communities across the country. These services range from public health nurses treating older people in the community to caring for...
- Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: The HSE uses taxis where it deems this appropriate to help clients, sometimes with accompanying staff, to access health and personal social services. This enables HSE ambulance vehicles and their staff to be used for emergency or other front-line duties. It is also more cost effective than purchasing and operating a fleet of HSE owned vehicles. My Department has asked the HSE to develop a...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (11 Nov 2010)
Mary Harney: I am advised that overall absenteeism levels in the public health service have reduced from 5.76% in 2008 to 5.03% in 2009 and to 4.76% for the year to August. The HSE has set absenteeism as a key results area (KRA) and effective attendance management is central to cost containment planning and people management throughout the sector. The HSE actively manages absenteeism on a local basis and...