Results 29,321-29,340 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Industrial Relations (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes, hopefully through the WRC and then, if necessary, through the Labour Court, we can find a resolution to this that works for everybody. Deputy Naughten made a very salient point in yesterday's debate when he said that we need to respect, grow and develop this workforce because as science and technology become more advanced and linked into care through genetics and so forth, and as we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In 2019, the HSE recognised the need for increased awareness surrounding the correct identification and diagnosis of fatal foetal anomalies. The clinical review of termination services, as provided under section 11 of the Health (Regulation of Termination Pregnancy) Act 2018, was commissioned by the chief clinical officer of the HSE. From...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I will engage this morning with the HSE and the Department to make sure they have full sight of this. The HSE has acknowledged that this has taken a long time to put together. A very eminent chair, Dame Lesley Regan, has been appointed to this work. She is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Imperial College London. She was identified as suitably qualified to lead the review and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I will ask the Department to revert to the Deputy with a note on the current oversight situation. She should feel free to get in contact with me to discuss the matter when she has received that note. Two additional things are happening that are relevant. First, in this year's budget I have allocated €1.5 million specifically to perinatal genetic services. We know more needs to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reviews (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am sure he would.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 20 and 21 together. I hope the Deputy will accept my bona fides when I say I want to let all sides engage without interference from the Government, Ministers or whatever it may be. What happened yesterday was welcome and I commend the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association, MLSA, on agreeing to suspend the industrial action because it was having a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: To the first claim, about the hands-off approach, our approach is quite the opposite. Officials from my Department were in the Labour Court yesterday, along with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The people involved in these negotiations comprise officials from the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and the MLSA, so I am not for a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There are five grades at the moment for medical scientists, namely, basic scientist, senior scientist, chief scientist, specialist scientist and laboratory manager, ranging from €34,429 to €95,320. There is an anomaly, as we discussed yesterday, although it applies only in the first year. The grade of medical laboratory aide was moved up at a time when that of medical...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dental Services (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government and I have been concerned for some time that medical card patients in some parts of the country have been experiencing problems in accessing dental services. The problem became particularly acute over the last couple of years as a significant number of contracted dentists chose to opt out of the DTSS. I secured an additional €10 million in budget 2022 to invest in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dental Services (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There are dentists employed directly by the State in community health centres across the country. I brought my child to one quite recently. It is an interesting proposal. Should we look at substantially increasing that with more directly employed dentists? It is certainly something I would not rule out and it could be examined. In the meantime, however, the vast majority of care is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dental Services (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There is no doubt that more is needed. We have this short-term measure and we have the review, but more needs to be done. We are also looking at training and retention of dental graduates. We are looking at both the numbers graduating and the mix between EU and non-EU graduates who are coming in and training. That has to be looked at. We are looking at that for medical students as well,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Inspections (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: If we cannot conclude, if we run out of time, I will make sure the Deputy gets a detailed note.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Hospital Inspections (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I have been advised by the HSE that the HSA conducted the unannounced inspection in University Hospital Galway, UHG, on 21 October of last year. I understand the issues that were raised during the inspection were immediately addressed by the hospitals and that any obstructions, for example blocking the fire exits, were actioned to ensure continuous on-site safety. Following subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Government recently made the significant decision on the long-term solution to replacing Holles street. This will be a platform for the much-needed change on how we will provide care to women in Ireland. There are infrastructural challenges with facilities at Holles St. It’s not in keeping with our National Maternity Strategy. I want to thank and acknowledge all the wonderful staff at...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 27, 100 and 340 together. In December 2021, the Government agreed a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged and ensure greater capacity in the future. It will also help to address waiting lists on a national level...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I would like to thank the Deputy for this important question. Therapists play a crucial role in service delivery, often to the most vulnerable in society. Ensuring that therapists who have qualified outside the State can practise is a priority for me, and the Government. Consequently, this year I increased CORU’s funding to €5m, a rise of 60% on 2017’s. CORU has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: International Agreements (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for this question. I agree with him that the World Health Organisation plays a vital role in public health and that we need to address any confusion here. Let me be clear, what is being looked at is an international agreement or instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The aim of such an instrument is to protect public health and to help...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I would like to thank Deputy Stanton for raising this question and to acknowledge the importance of Community Nursing Units (CNUs) throughout the country. In 2016, a Capital Programme for Older Persons Residential Centres was developed to replace, upgrade and refurbish care facilities. This was in response to the introduction of HIQA’s National Residential Care Standards for Older...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The HSE has advised that a proposal for a project to develop additional capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh is currently being considered. This proposal involves the provision of an additional 10 bed High Dependency Unit, 76 bed ward, 3 theatres & radiology refurbishments, allowing Cappagh to further increase its surgical throughput. The proposal has been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The MIU (Minor Injuries Unit) was established in January 2007 and is located on the grounds of Our Lady's Hospital Campus, Cashel. It is approximately 15 miles from the nearest Emergency Department in South Tipperary University Hospital. The MIU is open for the treatment of minor injuries or ailments. There is a predefined treatment list, including the treatment of such incidents as stitches,...