Results 6,101-6,120 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Hospital Visiting Policy: Hospital Visiting Policy (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I am advised that the HSE is currently considering the introduction of a national visiting policy for acute hospitals. A draft policy has been developed and relevant stakeholders are being consulted. The aims of the policy will be to provide a safe, secure and comfortable environment for patients and staff, to enhance patient privacy and to facilitate optimal treatment and care.

Written Answers — Health Service Advisers: Health Service Advisers (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: Section 24 of the Health Act 2004 empowers the HSE to engage such advisers as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions. Any fees due to an adviser so engaged are payable by the HSE out of funds at its disposal. As part of the arrangements for the appointment of Professor Brendan Drumm as chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive, the board of the HSE agreed...

Written Answers — Child Health Care: Child Health Care (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The best health for children programme provides a core surveillance programme for all children in the 0-12 age group and covers both pre-school developmental examinations as well as the school health service. The best health for children programme first introduced national recommendations on child health screening and surveillance in 1999 and these were further revised in 2004. The...

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: In November 2005, a sub-committee of the HSE's National Primary and Community Care Reform Working Group was established to review the current status of GP access to diagnostics; to explore current and potential capacity; and make short, medium and long-term recommendations. I am advised that work is being undertaken at present to progress two specific initiatives. One is the development of a...

Written Answers — Hospital Inspectorate: Hospital Inspectorate (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: A public consultation exercise is under way on the legislative proposals to provide for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. It is envisaged that HIQA will set standards on safety and quality of services, including hospital services, provided by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive, HSE. It will monitor and advise the Minister and the HSE on the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: Last July I announced the Government's plan for a national network of radiation oncology services to be put in place by 2011, commencing in 2008. The network will consist of four large centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway and two integrated satellite centres at Waterford Regional Hospital and Limerick Regional Hospital. The Health Service Executive in association with the National Development...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I have received a strategy for cancer control in Ireland from the National Cancer Forum. My Department is currently examining the strategy with a view to bringing proposals to Government shortly. I will publish the strategy shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Health Service Systems: Health Service Systems (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The response from the HSE in this respect is as follows. The board of the HSE, at its meeting on 6 April, discussed a report submitted by the HSE management team. This report set out a high level strategic roadmap in relation to the future direction of PPARS. The HSE board has requested further work to be undertaken by the management team before any decisions could be taken by it. The HSE...

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The primary care strategy is the roadmap for the future development of primary care services in Ireland over a period of some ten years, both as the appropriate service for the delivery of the majority of people's health and social care needs and to complement the services provided by acute hospitals. At the heart of the strategy is the aim of developing services in the community to give...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I have received a strategy for cancer control in Ireland from the National Cancer Forum. The strategy makes recommendations in relation to organisation, governance, quality assurance and accreditation across the continuum of cancer care from prevention and health promotion through to treatment services, palliative care and research. There is a strong emphasis in the strategy on health...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The new contract will set out in detail formal employment arrangements for consultants practising exclusively in the public sector. Its key features can be summarised as follows. It provides for a consultant-provided service — a service delivered by teams of consultants, where the consultants have a substantial and direct involvement in the diagnosis, delivery of care and overall management...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I am aware of the concerns regarding the sale of medicinal products via the Internet. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, previously met a number of interested parties, including the Irish Medicines Board, officers of the Customs drugs law enforcement unit and An Post to discuss this matter. The sale of prescription only medicinal products via the Internet is a source of...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: Fluoridation of public water supplies as a public health measure is accepted as being one of the most effective methods of ensuring against tooth decay. The World Health Organisation, WHO, recommends fluoridation of public water supplies and has stated that "fluoridation of water supplies, where possible, is the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay". The WHO...

Written Answers — Hospital Hygiene Audits: Hospital Hygiene Audits (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has informed my Department that all acute hospitals were notified that the second national hygiene audit was being carried out between February and April 2006. Visits to hospitals were again random and unannounced with hospitals unaware of their audit date. The audit tool being used for both audits is the Infection Control Nurses Association Audit Tool. This audit...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: Following discussions between the Health Services Executive, HSE, and my Department, it has been decided to carry out a review of our acute hospital bed requirements up to the year 2020. A steering group has been established under the chairmanship of Mr. John O'Brien, temporary national director of the National Hospitals Office. The group includes representatives of the HSE, my Department,...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 186 together. As the Deputy is aware, talks on a new consultant contract commenced on 24 November 2005 under the independent chairmanship of Mr. Mark Connaughton SC. At that meeting, and a further plenary meeting in December, both the IHCA and the IMO indicated that they required a number of issues to be addressed before they could engage in substantive...

Written Answers — Pharmacy Regulations: Pharmacy Regulations (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 142 and 149 together. The practice of pharmacy is governed by the Pharmacy Acts 1875 to 1962. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland is the regulatory body for the pharmacy profession. It works closely with pharmacists and other relevant authorities, such as the Health Service Executive, to ensure the safeguards under pharmacy and medicines legislation...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (26 Apr 2006)

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. Pre-hospital emergency care services in the greater Dublin area are provided by both the executive and Dublin City Council through Dublin Fire Brigade. The executive has advised that the review of command...

Written Answers — Hospital Hygiene Audits: Hospital Hygiene Audits (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: The Department of Health and Children has been informed by the Health Service Executive that the second national hygiene audit of acute hospitals, which commenced in February 2006, will be completed shortly. The audit will assess the extent of the improvements made at hospital level since the publication of the first audit report. Work will begin on collecting the findings and preparing a...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (26 Apr 2006)

Mary Harney: In line with information and evidence available internationally, the Department of Health and Children has consistently stated that a human influenza pandemic would have serious consequences. A global pandemic will affect all countries and will cause widespread disease, death and disruption to the health services and to society. Pandemic preparedness planning is, therefore, a high priority...