Results 27,581-27,600 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Data Protection (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Following a complaint made to the Data Protection Commissioner in 2009, the State was found to be in breach of both EU and national data protection legislation in relation to the retention of newborn screening cards without consent. A policy was developed to review and address the legal and ethical requirements arising for the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. This came...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.  Limerick was identified as one of the 9 sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full system, patient focused response....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I am in regular contact and have regularly scheduled meetings with the HSE on all matters related to Emergency Departments, including University Hospital Limerick. I discussed UHL specifically with the HSE at a very recent meeting. The Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Negligence Claims (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Government agreed in June this year to the establishment of an Expert Group to review the law of torts and the current systems for the management of clinical negligence claims. They agreed that High Court Justice Charles Meenan would chair the Group which would advise on whether there are alternative mechanisms to the current court process for resolving clinical negligence and personal injury...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Administration (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The process for appointing the Chairperson and members to the Board of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is set out in the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order 2007.  In order to better reflect the competency requirements for the Board for the next phase of the project, the Establishment Order was amended by the Children’s Health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 389 together. As Minister for Health, I requested Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to draft a report on the use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women. The report covers the clinical and technical issues involved in ensuring both: 1. the safe...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with  ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess." There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (16 Apr 2019)

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: Long-Term Illness Scheme (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Regulation (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The ‘Safety Features’ Delegated Regulation introduced new rules for the supply of medicines from 9 February 2019. These safety features include a form of an anti-tamper device and unique identifiers embedded in a 2D barcode on the pack. The purpose of the Regulation is to benefit patient safety and maintain confidence in the safety of medicines supplied to them. S.I. No. 36 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of healthcare equipment, ambulances and infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement, 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.  The Minister for Health has no role or powers in relation to such matters.  Following detailed consideration of an application for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health and Social Care Professionals (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Currently, there is EU legislation, Directive 2005/36/EC, which provides an EEA-wide system for the recognition of professional qualifications and under which Irish and UK citizens have professional qualifications, including those in nursing recognised, should they wish to work in another member state. The continued recognition of professional qualifications is an issue of critical importance...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: All babies (between 3 and 5 days old) born in Ireland are currently screened for 8 rare but serious medical conditions as part of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. Metachromatic leukodystrophy currently is not part of the newborn bloodspot screening. As recommended in the Scally Review (2019), a National Screening Committee will be established and become operational...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: Currently all babies (between 3 and 5 days old) born in Ireland are screened for 8 rare but serious medical conditions as part of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme. These include: - cystic fibrosis - congenital hypothyroidism - phenylketonuria - classical galactosaemia - MCADD (medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) - homocystinuria - maple syrup urine disease -...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (16 Apr 2019)

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: Ministerial Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that a meeting with the group to whom she refers, has been scheduled.