Results 30,541-30,560 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining 250 projects to be progressed over the three-year period. The Capital Plan provides for €220m capital funding to the Community Nursing Unit programme over the period 2019 to 2021 and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including new CNU in Ballyshannon, Co....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: In May 2018, Government agreed to establish a Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme. The Scoping Inquiry was led by Dr Gabriel Scally, under Terms of Reference which are published on the website of my Department. The Scoping Inquiry produced a First, Final and Supplementary Report. In total these reports set out 58 recommendations for improvements in our screening...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made in clearing the backlog of smear tests and reducing turnaround times. Medlab Pathology, which reported a backlog of 55,000 smear tests in May 2019, completed the processing of these tests in August this year, having ceased accepting new tests from 1 May. This marks a welcome milestone for the programme. All smear tests are now being read at two laboratories,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: There is currently no external investigation underway into the NMBI. The Deputy may be referring to an independent investigation arising from a particular Protected Disclosure received by my Department in relation to the NMBI. Given the fact that this is an ongoing case and that it relates to a Protected Disclosure, I am constrained in what I can say. However, following a tender...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (26 Sep 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 Reimbursement (26 Sep 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: Disability Services Funding (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (26 Sep 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 Reimbursement (26 Sep 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: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: I understand the Deputy's question as referring to the use by out-of-hour GP co-operatives of local landline numbers rather than potentially more expensive to use Lo-Call numbers such as 1890 numbers. Lo-Call numbers were introduced before there was major competition in the telephone market in Ireland. Initially a call to a 1890 number would have cost the same as calling a local...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (26 Sep 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: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 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." The GMS contract stipulates that fees for medical and GP visit card...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Long Term Illness Scheme (LTI) 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;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Services Provision (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE operates the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) in Ireland. Patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA member state, including Northern Ireland, for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient may access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the EU/EEA member state they choose to receive the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Diseases Strategy (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: In line with the recommendations of the National Rare Diseases Plan 2014-2018, the HSE established a Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) in 2018. The Committee considers Orphan Medicinal Products that are referred to it from the HSE Drugs Group, particularly where there are issues relating to access to drugs for rare diseases. The RDTRC is responsible for: - reviewing proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Diseases Strategy (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: In line with the recommendations of the National Rare Diseases Plan 2014-2018, the HSE established the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) in 2018. The Committee provides additional support for the HSE in its decisions around the reimbursement of drugs for rare diseases. The RDTRC is responsible for: - reviewing proposals received from industry or expert groups in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made a recommendation that the HPV vaccine should be given to boys. On foot of NIAC’s recommendation, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the current immunisation programme, which offers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (26 Sep 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Contracts (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. A core element of improved productivity and potential savings to be achieved is the new enhanced nurse/midwife role. In that context, the HSE has issued a circular opening the Enhanced Practice role to eligible applicants on 23rd August 2019. It is important to allow time for eligible applicants to consider the circular and for the new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (26 Sep 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate. Details of properties which have been vacated or are due to be vacated are captured as part of the annual service planning strategy. These properties are reviewed for future use and suitability. They may be refurbished immediately, retained for future use or sold if deemed surplus...