Results 3,721-3,740 of 15,268 for speaker:Kathleen Lynch

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: One of the key elements in all of our health service reforms has been the emphasis on keeping the patient, resident or client and their families at the very centre of all decisions and decision making. I would like to reassure the Deputy that all our efforts in health reform will continue to be centred on the people who need health services. The National Quality Standards for Residential...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 282 together. As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 254, inclusive, together. My Department has requested information from the HSE in relation to the number of staff that are employed in the Health Service Executive North East area to deal with issues of suicide and self harm and I will be in contact with the Deputy on its receipt. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Nursing Homes Support Scheme: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: The Minister for Health has agreed to an amendment to the HSE's National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. The amendment was agreed subject to assurances from the HSE that: individuals with complex cases will not be disadvantaged, average processing times for complete applications should not exceed 4-6 weeks, geographical location...

Seanad: Nursing Home Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible or, where not possible, to support access to quality long-term residential care. The facility referred to by the Senators is a new, purpose-built private nursing home. It will replace another 28-bed private nursing home in the vicinity. It will also...

Seanad: Nursing Home Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I cannot give the Senator the answer.

Seanad: Nursing Home Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: Yes. The NTPF is independent in its negotiations. The situation poses difficulties. As I outlined, the winding down of one operation and the starting of another would be a clear separation, although I am not saying that this is justification. I do not dispute the Senator's assertion, but there must be other instances of the like around the country. We do not want to set a precedent by...

Seanad: Nursing Home Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: No. While I am not certain this is the first instance around the country, let us assume it is. However, it will not be the last. I am not opposed to setting precedents, as I believe things are only done when precedents are set. However, we need to be careful. The fair deal scheme is an expensive one, rightly so, as it seeks to provide care for vulnerable older people and because we...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, and I thank the Senator for raising it. I am glad to have an opportunity to outline the current position and speak about the scandalous neglect in this area in the past ten years, particularly at a time when we had more money than we knew what to do with it. The then Government could...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Services (13 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: There is no disagreement about whether the unit is required. The Senator's language is not the type that should be used. I know people with cystic fibrosis and they have enough difficulty in their lives without listening to that sort of negative comment. There is no disagreement about the unit, which must be built, along with the isolation rooms. We all know what needs to happen. There...

Health Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, is strongly committed to supporting services for patients with cystic fibrosis. To this end, he has set out a policy, whereby sufficient inpatient beds must be available to treat all persons with cystic fibrosis when they require hospitalisation. Cork University Hospital has the second largest adult cystic fibrosis centre in Ireland. The centre...

Hospital Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I am grateful to the Deputy for raising this important issue. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, is continuously working across a number of levels to reduce the time patients wait on trolleys in the emergency department. The hospital is currently implementing a two-pronged approach to the management of overcrowding in the emergency department. First, it is working closely with the...

Hospital Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: Dr. Martin Connor has been working with the hospital. The difficulty is sometimes not in the emergency department but at the other end, which is where the blockages occur. Although it will be difficult, this is the type of issue we will have to deal with. It is not always about money, but about processes, how people work, step-down facilities and ensuring people are discharged when they...

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 463 together. The Programme for Government provided for a Comprehensive Expenditure Review which is now well under way. This exercise includes a review of the planned health care capital programme, the outcome of which will determine the health care capital allocations for 2012 and future years. The Deputy may wish to note that Government policy on...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Services: Nursing Home Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 462 together. The nursing home in question was established in 1959. It was originally a Tuberculosis clinic opened in 1935. There are 80 residents currently at the facility. There is also a day centre at the front of the main building providing a service to older persons from the local community. The HSE completed a survey of the physical...

Written Answers — Palliative Care: Palliative Care (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: 'Palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions – A National Policy' was adopted as Government policy on 15 December 2009. This Policy aims to ensure that all children with life-limiting conditions will have the choice and opportunity to be cared for at home. Implementation of Phase 1 of the policy recommended the appointment of 1 Paediatric Palliative Care Consultant, and 8...

Written Answers — Home Help Services: Home Help Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: Government policy is to support older people to live at home and in their communities for as long as possible. This is realised through a range of community based supports provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE), including home help, home care packages, meals-on-wheels, and day / respite care. There has been no reduction in the overall funding to the Executive for the home help service...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (18 Oct 2011)

Kathleen Lynch: As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for this question to be transferred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.