Results 41,101-41,120 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Waiting Lists (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Following the announcement of the budget allocation for my Department, I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024. It is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of ELS expenditure will be available for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I am aware of the concerns raised regarding new guidance to be issued shortly by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income. Officials from my Department and the HSE have engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Complaints Procedures (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy is aware, in my capacity as Minister for Health, I deal primarily with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, corporate governance and public relations. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The payment known as the District Medical Officer salary is an allowance paid to a small number of GPs to support them in the delivery of services in areas with reduced GMS populations. Although usually referred to as a 'salary', it is not in fact a salary and the DMOs concerned are not employees of the HSE. My Department has received a request in relation to increasing the rate of payment...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: My Department has been advised by the University of Limerick Hospital Group (ULHG) that they have not announced an opening date nor a delay for the 96-bed block currently under construction at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), and that they wish to clarify this matter. Work commenced on the first 96-bed ward block at UHL in September 2022. As outlined from the outset, the construction...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: In relation to the particular query raised, the Deputy has advised that the person (details supplied) is a private patient. Private health care providers are independent organisations and the range of services available, and the criteria for access to those services does not fall under the remit of the Department of Health. Referral to the most appropriate private healthcare facility should...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (8 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: GP services are provided free of charge to people who hold a medical card or GP visit card. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Promoting awareness and early recognition of sepsis are key elements of the HSE’s National Sepsis Programme. While the initial priority of the Programme was raising awareness among healthcare staff, the focus has since moved the community. To support this, the Programme developed several patient focused resources, along with educational and clinical management resources for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Care (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Following the announcement of the budget allocation for my Department, I will shortly be issuing a Letter of Determination to the HSE outlining my priorities and funding levels for 2024. This will be the basis on which the HSE will draw up its National Service Plan (NSP) for 2024. It is not until the conclusion of this process that a detailed breakdown of New Developments expenditure will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Care (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Since the July 2023 review of HSE Injury Units (July 2023), 12 units under acute governance operate on a 7 day per week basis, including Monaghan Hospital which expanded to a 7-day basis since July 2023. A new injury unit was opened in Mullingar in December 2022 and by this August there were approximately 600 presentations per month. Between January and August this year, over 110,000 patients...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare, life-long genetic condition which causes fragile, blistering skin. I fully recognise and appreciate the difficulties experienced by patients suffering from this painful condition. There are approximately 300 patients in Ireland with EB, with around 60 new patients annually. Children with EB are cared for at the multidisciplinary clinic in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Cancer services are a top priority for this Government, and this is shown by the unprecedented funding allocated to the National Cancer Strategy in recent years. Over 2021 and 2022 I secured €40 million in funding for the Strategy, supporting the recruitment of approximately 360 staff to date in cancer services, and €30 million in funding for new cancer drugs. What this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Monaghan Hospital and Cavan General Hospital operate as a single entity, with an integrated managerial and clinical governance system, care pathways and support functions. Monaghan Hospital is focused on elective care and the streaming of appropriate patients to the Minor Injuries Unit. The HSE advises that Cavan & Monaghan Hospital has two operating CT scanners and one MRI...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 26 together. Urgent and Emergency Care pressures are no longer just experienced during winter periods and prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion are now being experienced throughout the year. While significant investment has been driven through Winter Planning and National Service Plans over the past three years, a new approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: A central objective of the Programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated health care, with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services to enable a “home first” approach. Primary Care Centres play an essential role in the delivery of that objective and significant progress has been made in the delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: The Virtual Ward is a flexible and integrated model of care provision, clinically led through a blend of medical and advanced nurse practice governance. The care is enabled by remote monitoring technology, clear patient care pathways and robust escalation protocols. Following successful proof of concept tests in Beaumont Hospital and CHO Dublin North City and County, and more recently in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: Under the GMS scheme, GP services are provided without charge to GMS patients, people who hold a medical card or GP visit card. The terms of the GMS contract set out that GPs are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment" that is usually undertaken by a GP and which does not require specialist skill or experience that the GP cannot reasonably be expected...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (9 Nov 2023)

Stephen Donnelly: I wish to thank the Deputy for allowing me the opportunity to discuss the progress being made on expanding our primary care infrastructure nationally and, indeed in County Carlow. A central objective of the Programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated health care with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services...