Results 37,161-37,180 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: How could we with the advocacy going on? If the committee wants, Mr. Tierney can provide an update on what we are doing in changes to working practice. It is entirely up to the Chair and the committee - I know we are out of time. Dr. Henry indicated he would be happy to give an update on changes to processes within emergency departments, if that is of value to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There is no divergence or change in policy, but I fully share the Deputy’s frustrations. It takes years longer than it should to build new hospitals in this country. Mr. Tierney is leading the work. If the Deputy wants, he can give her some detail, if that is of use. I know it does not feel like this, but I can assure the Deputy that the Department is moving through the public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Recently, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to his great credit, has agreed to bring it from €100 million to €200 million when it kicks in. He is reducing the approval gates, I think from five to three. Mr. Tierney will have more detail on it. I fully share the Deputy’s frustration. To be honest, it is why I wanted to push forward on the surgical hubs. We can do them in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There was additional work required. The original review that came back recommended three sites. We went with the Cork and Limerick sites. We did not agree that the Dublin site was the right one to go for. I am not sure how much I can say but I will say it anyway. The proposal for Dublin was a private site that could have taken a long time to get and would have cost a lot of money. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: We have not selected any sites for Dublin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I cannot comment on the sites that are being assessed at the moment. What I will say is that I will have a proposal on my desk very shortly in terms of the two sites – or one site.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: We are in agreement on that, which is why, when the private site was recommended, we did not go for it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: That is a matter for the team that did it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Pretty soon. I will have a recommendation on my desk pretty soon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: There is much work that the HSE does. Dr. Henry might be in a position to speak to that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy. It is a very timely question and I could not agree with her more. We had a meeting with Mr. Bernard Gloster, Mr. McCallion, Dr. Henry and the full senior Department team also about the waiting list plan on Monday. This is one of the topics I raised. The answer is categorically yes and I would expand it further, as I am sure Deputy Shortall would.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I am agreeing, the Deputy is asking if a patient should-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: No, it is not. What is now happening in a small number of cases is the GPs can only refer into say urology - they cannot refer to a consultant - and the hospital manages the workload within the hospital, which is how it should happen. I asked the HSE on Monday how quickly we can bring in what is exactly the Deputy's proposal as a national policy. There are some individual specialties...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes, we have that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: That is a fair question. It is for historic reasons and the answer to that probably goes back quite a long way in terms of reconfiguration of hospitals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: A level three, yes. I hear the Deputy and it is a fair question. I do not think that is something that would ever be ruled out but based on what I have seen the solution is based on the current configuration. With a lot more capacity and some important reform the solutions are there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not have a detailed update as to how the negotiations are going but as the Deputy will be aware there are ongoing talks between the HSE, the National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, Dublin City Council and the Department of Health to try to resolve the situation in Dublin. The current situation in Dublin is not sustainable. It is the only part of the country where we cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: We may but I do not have the timeline here with me this morning so I will ask the officials to put a brief together. I have been informed that good progress is being made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Challenges in Hospitals: Minister for Health (26 Apr 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Yes, that is no problem.