Results 5,381-5,400 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Last month at my request, the HSE published the National Ambulance Service Capacity Review together with an action plan for implementation which incorporates the recommendations of both the Capacity Review and the 2014 HIQA Report on the National Ambulance Service. The Capacity Review makes it clear that we need a very significant programme of investment in our ambulance services. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Responsibilities (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Finian McGrath TD has been appointed as Minister of State for Disabilities at my Department, with responsibility for all legislation, policy and funding relating to the provision of specialist health and personal social services to persons with a disability. Catherine Byrne TD has been appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Communities and the National Drugs Strategy which...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has responsibility under the Health Acts for the training of NCHDs. It has advised that details relating to training positions are contained in its most recent report 'Annual Assessment of NCHD Posts'. This report outlines all of the training positions by specialties and can be found within the Staff and Career section of its website.Detailed information regarding trainees by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. On 4 May 2016, there were 172 patients on the waiting list at Crumlin. In order to address waiting lists at Crumlin, over €1m was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts and support staff, and 10 additional WTE staff are now in place including a consultant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Budgets (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Significant additional resources have been made available to the HSE in 2016. Despite this, the health sector is facing challenges in managing expenditure within budget in some areas. The HSE's financial information for March, the latest available, shows net expenditure of €3,284 million against a €3,164 million profile, resulting in an overspend of €120 million for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Pressures on Emergency Departments have been rising, given our ageing and growing population. ED attendances have been significantly higher this year, particularly in Quarter 1. To date, the HSE has reported an average increase in attendances of nearly 6% compared with the same period last year. Despite attendance increases, TrolleyGar numbers in Quarter 1 2016 are similar to those for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Management Structures (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I welcome the establishment of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare which is a key commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. It is envisaged that the Committee will be established in the coming weeks and will devise a single long-term vision for health care and the direction of health policy in Ireland. The staffing and resourcing of the Committee is entirely a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I am committed to securing and further developing the role of Portlaoise Hospital as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Patient safety and outcomes must come first. There have been a number of reports on Portlaoise Hospital in recent years. These reports pointed to the need for reconfiguration of some services to ensure that patients are treated in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Currently, in accordance with Reg 4(1) of the NTPF Board (Establishment) Order 2004, the NTPF is directed to carry out activities in respect of data and analytics, audit and quality assurance of waiting lists and pricing under the Nursing Home Support Scheme. The NTPF supports the management of in-patient, day-case and outpatient waiting lists, by working with the HSE to assist hospitals in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Regulation (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the regulatory body charged with protecting and enhancing public health by regulating medicines, medical devices and other health products. The HPRA grants licences for medicines following a review of their safety, quality and effectiveness. Medicines licensed by the EU's European Medicines Agency can be marketed across the EU; decisions to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Transfers (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The numbers of patients on waiting lists must be considered in the context of overall demand. Every year there are 3.2m outpatient attendances at our hospitals. 100,000 patients have elective inpatient procedures and 800,000 have planned day case procedures. In 2015 my predecessor introduced a maximum waiting time of 15 months to be attained by the end of December 2015, focussing on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Groups (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Seven Hospital Groups have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis. Pending the enactment of legislation, Hospital Groups will continue to operate within existing legislative frameworks governing the health services and the policy and accountability frameworks of the Department of Health and the HSE. The implementation of Hospital Groups will progress in a phased manner,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: In February 2016, the Taskforce on Staffing and Skill Mix for Nursing, developed an Interim Report and Recommendations for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in general and specialist surgical care settings in adult hospitals in Ireland. One of the reports’ key recommendations was the necessity to undertake a pilot test of the framework in 2016. In February 2016, a Taskforce Pilot...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: At the outset, I would like to say that the delay in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NBMI) responding to your previous question of 21 April 2016 is regretted. This reply encompasses both this question and your previous question of 21 April 2016. As of 31 May, 2016, a total of 803 nurses and midwives have been registered by the NMBI since 1 January 2016. In addition, 681...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: A Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Diabetes has been recognised as a priority post for Galway University Hospital. The post was approved, recruited and a Consultant has been appointed to GUH. Due to previous work commitments, the successful candidate will take up their post in March 2017. The current arrangement, whereby all infants and children under 5 years of age...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.