Results 30,641-30,660 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. The Long Term Illness (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;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: 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 and effective provision of mesh procedures in urogynaecology...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Discharges (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Delayed transfers of care (previously referred to as delayed discharges) occur when patients have been deemed clinically fit for discharge from an acute bed but whose discharge is delayed because they are waiting for some form of on-going support or care following their discharge. There are many reasons for this, such as a patient undertaking the application process for NHSS, awaiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (1 Oct 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: Hospital Services (1 Oct 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: Hospital Staff (1 Oct 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: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Oct 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (1 Oct 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: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Planning (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As previously outlined, the Capital Plan provides for €220m capital funding to the Community Nursing Unit programme over the period 2019 to 2021. The CNU programme provides for the retention of services and upgrade of both St. Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar and Ramelton Community Hospital. It is important to recognise that all capital development proposals must progress...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Infrastructure Provision (2 Oct 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 development at the Sacred...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (2 Oct 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: Cancer Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme, was introduced in 2008 and offers free smear tests to women aged 25-60. Women under the age of 25 are not invited for screening. The HSE advises that this is because there is no evidence that screening would be of any benefit to them. At this stage in life, normal cell changes in the cervix can look very like abnormal cells. If...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: A response will issue to the individual in relation to this issue which will outline recent developments in relation to Newborn Screening.    Currently all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) through their parents/guardians for eight very rare conditions that are treatable if...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 193 together. Currently all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) through their parents/guardians for eight very rare conditions that are treatable if detected early in life. A National Screening Committee is being established and will hold its...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Ireland has a well-established newborn screening programme. Newborn screening, more commonly known as the heel-prick test, is offered in respect of all newborn babies in Ireland through their parents or legal guardians when they are between three and five days old. We have expanded the programme in recent years. Up to December 2018, we were screening for six conditions. Since then, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 166, inclusive, together. The level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2020 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (2 Oct 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 (2 Oct 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: Emergency Departments Data (2 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: This is a very busy period for our health services, with many hospitals reporting significant numbers of patient attendances. For the first eight months of 2019, the number of patients attending hospital EDs increased by 2.9%, and the number of ED admissions increased by 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Trolley numbers for the year to date from January to August were 71,532, a 3%...