Results 30,741-30,760 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (7 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: A new five-year NAS strategic plan is currently being finalised by the HSE. This plan will facilitate a strategic organisational re-design and continued focus on key priorities including alternative care pathways, specialist paramedic roles, and progress towards meeting capacity requirements and performance targets. It is being informed in part by an independently conducted NAS-commissioned...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services (7 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters we have asked the HSE to address the question.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund (7 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Improving access to Scheduled Care and reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. The year-on-year increases to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since Budget 2017 reflect this priority and Budget 2022 provided a total allocation to the NTPF of €150 million. The NTPF procures capacity for high-volume procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period. While my Department does not comment on individual cases, on January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I pay tribute to our healthcare workers all over the country. One would be forgiven when listening to the relentless negativity from Sinn Féin for not knowing that our men and women in healthcare around this country will deliver care to tens of thousands of men, women and children today. They will deliver care to millions of our countrymen and countrywomen this year. Sinn Féin...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: We will continue to add beds. We will continue to add record numbers. We will make sure that people have access to the best quality care in this country when they need it.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I am delighted to be here. It is a good day in terms of legislation, women's healthcare and the cost of living as it relates to healthcare. The Bill's core purposes have been expanded. Originally the Bill had one aim, namely to abolish inpatient charges for children in hospitals. That is a really important step in the right direction. It is now being amended to encompass provisions to...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I think we can do what Senator Lombard stated in a shorter period than that. It is off topic, but I was asked about safe access zones. With the Acting Chairperson's permission, I will address the issue briefly.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: There is draft legislation to deliver what we all want to see happen. I want to acknowledge the very constructive debates we have had in the Seanad on the issue. A Private Members' Bill on safe access to termination of pregnancy services was brought forward previously. I acknowledge the significant work put into that Bill by the Members concerned. At the time, I committed to bringing...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The reason that charges were removed for inpatients aged under 16 is that the children's hospitals take patients up to the age of 15. In terms of medical consent, a patient becomes an adult at the age of 16.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: It is not that we do not want to go further. I would love to go further.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Earlier in the year I talked about the idea of removing inpatient hospital charges for adults. We do not have agreement on the issue or the funding required currently. However, we want to expand the removal of charges. In response to Senator Conway's question on whether I see it being expanded to include adults, I do. We are looking at how that might work.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As of last Friday, approximately 90,000 eligible HSE and section 38 staff have received the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment. We estimate that is approximately nine in every ten people who are eligible for the payment, as public sector healthcare or section 38 staff. This payment recognises the extraordinary contribution and efforts made...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform introduced the temporary special leave with pay scheme for Covid at the start of the pandemic. It was there to assist in preventing Covid spread in workplaces. Since 1 July this pay continues to cover Covid-related illnesses for the duration of the self-isolation period. Any period of illness extending beyond the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. The first ask made was that the scheme be extended and it was something I committed to advocating for. It is not a Department of Health scheme but it is something I committed to and we have secured an extension for a year, and that is very welcome. Any employee who is eligible for the payment receives his or her full rate of basic pay. Such employees receive the fixed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Health Services Staff (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: -----premium payments as well. The Deputy has raised various issues on which I am in conversations with the Department of Health and on which the officials are talking to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I again acknowledge that not everything the representative bodies have sought is included. There is an ongoing conversation but critically, what was important was we got...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge his ongoing advocacy work on this area and indeed on the MCAP. The programme was initiated following a ministerially commissioned expert report some time back on cannabis for medical use. Access to cannabis for medical purposes for the treatment of three specified conditions was the recommendation, when all other treatments had failed. The programme...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I think the question he is posing is whether we can extend the programme to different conditions. As we were discussing, the original report recommended its use for three conditions once other treatments were no longer deemed viable. The question is whether we can broaden that. The Department of Health has now commissioned an evidence review. This is examining the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: Let us see what the research comes back with. I acknowledge the Deputy's position and I know there are others here and around the world who share his view. I want to see what the evidence comes back with and we can then look at clinical recommendations about expanding the conditions. Part of why it might be more limited than would have been expected is good news. Approximately 85% of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Departments (12 Jul 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. I agree that the time patients are having to wait in emergency departments is not acceptable. Much of that is due to Covid and it is frustrating for everyone, including the patients, our healthcare professionals and all of us, because there is a level of capacity in the system now that has never been there before. There are more hospital beds, doctors, nurses and...