Results 4,121-4,140 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Reports: Health Reports (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Report of the National Task Force on Medical Staffing, the Hanly report, made a series of important recommendations about the development of hospital services. These covered issues such as: the changes needed in NCHD work patterns; reform of medical education and training; the need for a significantly revised contract for medical consultants and an increase in the number of consultants;...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 132, 145, 161 and 197 together. The Health Service Executive is currently considering a proposal to put in place, as part of the National Hospitals Office, four administrative regions for hospital services, namely, the western region, Dublin-north east region, southern region and Dublin-mid-Leinster region. My understanding is that this proposal, if...

Written Answers — Hospital Hygiene: Hospital Hygiene (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is now a matter for the Health Service Executive. This includes responsibility for acute hospital services. The HSE has reported that the results of the national hygiene audit showed that good or bad hygiene was not dependent of whether the cleaning was carried out by staff in-house or by contract...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 159 and 190 together. The Deputies' questions relate to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. My Department is advised by the HSE that there are 12 MRI scanners in the public hospital service around the country. Each hospital network has...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Hygiene: Hospital Hygiene (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 166 together. The Deputies will be aware that responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is now a matter for the Health Service Executive. This includes responsibility for acute hospital services. The results of the national hygiene audit will form the basis for the changes that are required in both work environments and work...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 308 together. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, is one of the most well known antimicrobial infections, which are present in hospitals here and internationally. It is also increasingly seen in community health care units such as nursing homes. MRSA can exist without affecting people's health and information on the prevalence of such...

Written Answers — Private Health Care: Private Health Care (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 186 together. Private health care is a long established feature of the system of health care provision in Ireland and acts as a strong complement to the publically funded system. Private health care provision spans from general practitioner services through private beds in public hospitals and private hospitals to private nursing homes. The Government...

Written Answers — Health Service Executive: Health Service Executive (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 300. Prior to the establishment of the Health Service Executive, parliamentary questions concerning access to services, by individuals or in specific geographic areas, were referred to the chief executive officer of the relevant health board ERHA for direct reply. Pursuant to the Health Act 2004, the functions of the health boards-ERHA were transferred...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: There is a significant responsibility on our health services to ensure that patients, particularly cancer patients, are adequately supported clinically and, where necessary, in relation to proper transport arrangements. As I have previously indicated, I consider that appropriate transport arrangements for oncology patients should be made available, where necessary, by the Health Service...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: Employment information for the health service is collected on a quarterly basis and the latest available verified data is in respect of end-June 2005, when employment levels stood at 100,934 personnel in whole-time equivalent terms. Employment information in respect of year-end 2002 to end-June 2005 is as set out in the following table. The Deputy may wish to note that there has been no...

Written Answers — Organ Retention: Organ Retention (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: On 3 May 2005, the Government decided to appoint Dr. Deirdre Madden, BL, to prepare a report on key issues relating to post mortem practice and procedures and to present her report to me by 21 December 2005. Dr. Madden's terms of reference reflect the practicability of her completing her report by that date. Under her terms of reference, Dr. Madden's report will deal with children under 12...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: Work on the drafting of the new Medical Practitioners Bill is ongoing. Consultations are taking place between my Department and the Medical Council on a number of issues to be incorporated in the new Bill. Following these consultations, it is envisaged that the heads of Bill will be prepared by early next year.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Deputy will be aware that the Health Service Executive has commissioned an external review into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Mr. Walsh. I met the family of the deceased on 25 October last, following which the executive consulted the family on a number of issues that were raised regarding the review. My Department is advised by the executive that the terms of reference...

Written Answers — Statutory Retirement Age: Statutory Retirement Age (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I am aware of the OECD recommendations on retirement ages. My Department will take into consideration recommendations on all aspects of pensions policy. The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 removed the compulsory retirement age provision for new entrants to the public sector. However, with regard to existing public health sector staff, not covered by the 2004...

Written Answers — General Practitioner Co-operatives: General Practitioner Co-operatives (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: There has historically been a mix of private and public facilities provision in general practice. In many cases general practitioners fund their own practice premises, while in others they practise from State-owned health centres, from which other health professionals also provide services. The strategy Primary Care: A New Direction recognises that the provision of modern, well-equipped,...

Written Answers — Pharmacy Regulations: Pharmacy Regulations (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 188 together. The opening or establishment of all new pharmacies is governed by the Pharmacy Acts, subject to restrictions imposed by non-pharmacy legislation such as the Planning Act. There is no statutory prohibition on the provision of pharmacy and general practitioner services from collocated facilities. However, a community pharmacy contract may...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: The Health Amendment (No. 3) Act 1996 enabled the former health boards to acquire or dispose of assets without the consent of the Minister for Heath and Children, which was not previously the case. This situation continued until the latter part of 2004 when, in the context of preparatory arrangements for the establishment of the Health Service Executive, boards were required to obtain...