Results 28,001-28,020 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I have no difficulty whatsoever in making that information available. The work we have been undertaking, which has been welcomed by patient advocates, doctors, cancer groups and others, is to now try to have a really intensive focus on the backlog. The Deputy has not said it, but it is not true to suggest that everybody has been waiting a very long time. Far too many, however, are waiting...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I very much appreciate the points he made, as a medic and a public representative, in regard to reminding this House that screening is not a diagnostic test and that there will, therefore, always be false positives and false negatives in any screening service in any country. While the HPV test, when introduced, will lower the numbers of false positives...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes. The commercial negotiations are very much nearing conclusion.

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes, it is the case but they are being stored safely and will be processed. I cannot go further than that. I know the Deputy would not want me to jeopardise what is going on at the moment but I assure the House that additional capacity is coming on stream, which will ensure the slides are processed safely. I can give women that reassurance.

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: It is the case that the finalisation of the commercial arrangements in regard to the additional capacity is ongoing. The process is very much nearing completion. This will provide the additional capacity to ensure our screening programme operates at 100% capacity and can address the backlog. There will also be other significant benefits to the screening programme, which I would be more...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Yes.

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to take up the time of the House unnecessarily other than to emphasise again that a significant body of work is ongoing in regard to CervicalCheck. I sincerely acknowledge the positive and constructive role the health committee is playing in overseeing this and in continuing to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. I assure Deputy Harty of the ongoing co-operation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Services (9 May 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 hold a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Issues (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The provision of radiotherapy services to cancer patients from County Donegal at the North West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry, is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Service Level Agreement (SLA). A Steering Group, to provide strategic oversight of the service, and a Monitoring Group, to review performance information and to monitor the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (9 May 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: Health Services Provision (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 to utilise some €110 million in cash contributions from religious congregations to help meet the needs of persons who as children suffered abuse in residential institutions. I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, that Caranua ceased to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (9 May 2019)

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: Ministerial Meetings (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I can confirm my private office received this meeting request and is processing it in the normal way. A response will issue directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (9 May 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Reports (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive continues to produce its monthly performance profiles (PP) and management data reports (MDR). However, publication of the October-December 2018 PP and the MDRs for those months were delayed due to some outstanding financial issues. They are now due to published. In the meantime, the monthly performance cycle continues with the next DoH-HSE performance review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: With regard to difficulties in the recruitment and retention of Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) being reported by the voluntary and private nursing home sector, officials from my Department and from the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) met with representatives from the sector on this matter last year, and in particular to work through a business case submitted by them....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I am aware of the shortcomings with the current mortuary and it is a priority to replace it. Interim arrangements have been made to expand the refrigeration capacity at the mortuary and they will be in place this week. I have acknowledged the requirement for a review of processes and management arrangements at the mortuary and expect details of it to be finalised in the coming days.