Results 25,721-25,740 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Procedures (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: That is okay. I want to acknowledge that this is a huge inconvenience and cause of distress for patients and for their families, in spite of an incredible team in Beaumont Hospital which is really doing everything that it can. They have made every effort to avoid cancellation and postponement, but Beaumont Hospital has been impacted by the operational challenges that Covid brings. Beaumont...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Procedures (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I heard that testimony and it was so difficult to hear. It is just heartbreaking for Daire and for his family. He and children all over the country need access to the specialised orthopaedic surgeons and treatment in CHI at Temple Street, in CHI at Crumlin, in the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh, aided by some of the other hospitals. We are putting in place an ambitious plan. We are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Procedures (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: We owe it to these children and to their parents. I met with the three hospitals last Monday. I went out to the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh on Friday and I had further meetings today. This is the top priority. We will fund and prioritise this. We will get these children the care they need. We will give the supports to our incredible clinical teams, so that they can do the job...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am aware that the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system makes a real difference to patients living with type 1 diabetes by enabling needle-free monitoring of blood sugars. Currently, access to the Freestyle Libre glucose monitoring system is available to children and young adults, aged 4 - 21 years. However, I want to ensure that the device is made available to all patients. Age...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Programme for Government set out the pathway for expanded access to health care in keeping with the vision and ideals of Sláintecare. We promised to expand universal access to healthcare in a manner that is fair and affordable. We have delivered and are continuing to deliver on that commitment. The funding allocated to Health in Budget 2022 is the biggest ever investment package in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: COVID-19 is a new disease so information on it, its features, incidence and course are still emerging. My Department, and the HSE, continue to review new evidence, research and data as it emerges, internationally and nationally, to ensure care is in place for all adults and children who need it. As of midnight 8th Feb, 1,745 children with a confirmed case of COVID19 have been recorded on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Thalidomide Victims Compensation (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There are a number of cases concerning thalidomide before the High Court at present and it is not possible to comment on matters that are sub judice. However, the Government recognises that thalidomide survivors face challenges in everyday life related to their injuries. I am anxious to assure thalidomide survivors of the Government’s ongoing commitment to provide them with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: NTPF data shows that Orthopaedics is the speciality with the largest number of patients waiting for in-patient/day case treatment. I have always advocated that Cappagh can be part of the solution to tackle waiting lists for adults and paediatrics. The HSE has advised that a proposal for a project to develop additional capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question about workers, including those who work in childcare, who supported the national effort over the past two years to meet the challenges of COVID-19. In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The National Independent Review Panel, NIRP, which is fully operational since 2018, is managed and directed by an independent chairperson and consists of independent panel members who have been appointed through a public appointment process. The NIRP has been established to enable the HSE to undertake independent reviews when things go seriously wrong involving people within the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this question and to acknowledge the tremendous work of staff in the provision of services in these hospitals over the years. The HSE Capital Plan 2022 is based on funding of €1.02bn, an increase of 4% on 2021. The plan provides for progression of projects across sector and across the country. In developing the Plan, the number of projects...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I fully appreciate that hyperemesis, or severe sickness during pregnancy, is a debilitating condition for some women, and I am anxious that our health service should support women with this condition in every way possible. Improving women’s health outcomes is a key priority for me and this Government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is imperative that general practice has the capacity necessary to deliver GP services, particularly as we move towards the provision of more care within the community. In that regard, I note that the number of GPs contracted to provide services to GMS patients has increased in the past 10 years from 2,258 to 2,539, an increase of 12%. Nonetheless, I am very aware of the workforce...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I have recently approved the 2022 National Service Plan, subject to a number of amendments on the 26th January 2022. Following submission by the HSE of the amended National Service 2022 on the 10th February 2022, I am currently giving consideration to this amended Plan and intend to revert to the HSE promptly. Following this, the National Service Plan will be laid before the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: In return for GPs’ cooperation with the service developments and reforms outlined in the 2019 Agreement on a reformed GP contract, the Government committed to increasing investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. To date, €206.6 million of this funding has been allocated: €27.3 million in 2019; €53.2 million in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I acknowledge that waiting times for many hospital procedures and appointments are unacceptably long. It is of particular regret that children can experience long waiting times for treatment, especially for time sensitive procedures, and I remain acutely aware of the impact that this has on children and their families. I remain committed to working to reduce waiting times for patients. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to delivering a high quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system. Finglas Primary Care centre has been identified as a high priority location for the development of a Primary Care Centre.In 2012, a HSE direct-build Primary Care Centre was approved, and the Dublin City Council owned property on Mellowes Road...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 114 together. The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The management of cases taken by persons who allege they developed Narcolepsy and/or Cataplexy as a result of receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, is delegated to SCA...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has submitted the Business Case for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to my Department for consideration and review, and this is ongoing. As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) planned for the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus. The Government is also aware of the concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (15 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Department is currently preparing a Memo for Government for approval-in-principal of a Health Information Bill, to improve the care people receive, their outcomes and the well-being of the population by ensuring high quality information is available to the public, health and social care professional, researchers and policymakers. Included in the design of this Bill is a provision to...