Results 26,521-26,540 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (2 Mar 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (2 Mar 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas. We are working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. Recent developments in relation to general practice, in particular the 2019...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There are several pieces to this. The first was to remove the ban on non-EU doctors training as specialists, and that was received well by those doctors. We are looking at the stamp 4 matter, as the Deputy outlined, and it takes in the Departments dealing with health, justice and perhaps foreign affairs. I want to see this moved quickly. The Deputy has correctly point out that we have...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate we are out of time but my understanding is the matter is almost resolved. We are nearly there on it and it is something of which we are very aware. We want to get it sorted. I will provide the committee with a note on it. The advice I have is we are almost there.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I will get an update for the Deputy. The last advice I had on this was that the process was progressing well and, critically, these 24 posts are to provide national cover for the first time. I have visited some of the clinics and met some of the lactation consultants and women using the service. They are certainly saying very positive things about it. I will get the Deputy a detailed note...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Deputy's first point concerned the elective hospital strategy and, as he said, that is a plan for three very large elective hospitals covering approximately 500 procedures. It takes in Cork, Galway and Dublin. There was a significant change made recently and we got a Government decision on it. The proposal that came to me was that the elective hospitals would take day cases only and...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: -----for hospital care for the region. That is very clear to me. I was in the emergency department, as the Deputy will be aware, around midnight. I was back in the emergency department the next morning. The staff are incredible, but too much is being asked of them and far too many patients are not getting access to ward beds when they need them. It is not a sustainable or acceptable...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: That was a group that did a piece of work and has now disbanded. It was brought together to do that single piece of work, which it has done. However, the Department is looking at this. Officials are looking at capacity deficits across the country. For example, there will be a new elective hospital in Cork but that is not enough. There is a significant deficit in beds that needs to be...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I know the HSE is engaged on a proposal from UPMC. I know St. John's is interested.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Sorry, go ahead.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: If there are specific areas and services the Deputy would like me to look into within the region, be it dental services in a particular primary care centre or, indeed, anything else, he should let me know and we will engage with the HSE on it. With regards to where the management are working, I am not familiar with exactly who is working where and why. Maybe they have plans to come back....

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It was a little more than €19 million. My sense is this will increase through the year. That is the initial amount but there are-----

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is all budgeted for either within increases in core funding to Children's Health Ireland, CHI, or through the waiting list fund.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I would need to see the list but some of it is.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is one of the most important questions. We have plenty of plans. We have programmes for Government. We have clinical strategies. We have a load of these things but they do not mean anything unless we can actually deliver for patients. I believe we can deliver and are delivering. The committee has acknowledged, for which I thank it, the work the health service and the Department...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I will get the Deputy a detailed note but, from memory, approximately €3.4 million relates to a new ask from Cappagh hospital. He will have heard and will be aware of some of the representations made in that regard. Some of it is funded through increases in the budget. That is important because it is recurring funding. This relates to, for example, MRI beds and so forth. Some of...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I will get the Deputy a full breakdown as to what exactly is core funding, what is one-off funding and what may have already been committed.

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 38 - Health (Revised) (24 Feb 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes. For example, the €3.4 million for Cappagh hospital is being provided through the access to care fund. This fund is, by its nature, single year funding. However, Cappagh hospital has made the point that, from its perspective, that €3.4 million needs to become recurring funding so that it can continue this work. I am certainly very positively disposed to that view....