Results 3,141-3,160 of 3,998 for speaker:Michael Harty

Vulture Funds: Motion [Private Members] (28 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Whatever arrangement vulture funds are allowed to enter into, the net effect should not result in the loss of a family home or families becoming homeless. Fine Gael should not allow vulture funds to say to distressed mortgage holders, "nothing personal, it's just business" I remind the Minister of the maxim, “what you permit, you promote or condone." What will the Government do to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Transport (28 May 2019)

Michael Harty: 279. To ask the Minister for Health the provision that can be made to refund taxi transport for patients attending hospital appointments who have no access to transport especially patients with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22661/19]

Development of Primary Care: Statements (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, for taking the debate. I am sure he is familiar with the difficulties which primary care has suffered for several years. I am also sure he is familiar with the Sláintecare report. The Sláintecare strategy and implementation plan, published in March, is an extremely important document which provides a beacon of hope for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: The purpose of this morning's meeting is to meet Mental Health Reform and the Inspector of Mental Health Services regarding developments in the area of mental health services. On behalf of the committee I welcome the representatives of the Mental Health Commission: Ms Kate Frowein, senior regulatory manager; Dr. Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Services; and Ms Rosemary Smyth,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I thank Dr. Finnerty and invite Dr. McDaid to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Thank you, Dr. McDaid. Our first contributor is Deputy Murphy O'Mahony.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I call Senator Colm Burke - sorry, Deputy Durkan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I thank Dr. Finnerty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: As Deputy O'Connell was not here earlier, I remind her that we will have a pre-legislative scrutiny meeting with representatives of the Department at 12.30 p.m.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Has Dr. Finnerty recovered?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Before we conclude I have a few questions on compliance for Dr. Finnerty, and Ms Frowein might like to comment. Reference was made to regulatory compliance improving by some small percentage points year on year. What are the areas with non-compliance?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Perhaps they are not Nightingale wards anymore, or perhaps they still are, but what are the regulations to govern accommodation that is shared by patients? We have very strict regulations around housing in the housing sector, but are there regulations for accommodation in hospitals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: On recruitment and retention, during the hearings of the Committee on Future of Mental Health Care, we learned that to recruit a nurse, the service has to go through 25 steps between deciding that a nurse is needed and actually having approval for the nurse. If there is any gap in those 25 steps the approval may be delayed and it could be up to 18 months before a service could recruit a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I am aware of community psychiatric teams that are very poorly populated, not just in CAMHS, and that do not have a psychiatrist, perhaps have not had a psychologist for several years and have half a social worker and half an occupational therapist. This leads to a reduction in services, prolonged waiting lists and poor outcomes for patients, unfortunately. Senator Colm Burke spoke about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I am aware that when teams are poorly populated, those team members who are left standing burn out much quicker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: As a result it is almost like a spiral. That team disintegrates quicker due to the lack of support. Staff who work in psychiatry, and in other areas of medicine, do not have adequate support from the HSE to allow them to work effectively and efficiently. They burn out much more quickly. Are there any moves within the HSE to put in additional supports to support staff? A member of staff is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: I have come across many children who are in distress for many reasons. However, they do not necessarily need the services of CAMHS. They do not need a psychiatric service; they need a much more supportive service. However, CAMHS tends to be the catch-all for everyone in distress, which then blocks appointments and places for people who are in genuine need. Is there a way to direct people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Dr. McDaid mentioned the urgent need for the 2001 Act to be updated. What areas are most important and need to be dealt with most urgently?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: As our health system improves and as the population ages, dementia is a growing problem. Given the need to deal with patients with dementia who can no longer live at home, are there plans to develop specific dementia services within our health services? People with chronic psychiatric illness are often housed or accommodated along with people with dementing illness. There can often be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Developments in Mental Health Services: Discussion (29 May 2019)

Michael Harty: Is that being specifically funded?