Results 6,161-6,180 of 45,539 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: A key challenge for our health system is ensuring timely access to health services. This Government recognises that a sustained commitment to improving waiting times is required, with a particular focus on those waiting longest. While waiting list numbers have increased nationally in the first half of the year, this must be seen in the context of increased demand for care in our health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reports (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 114 together. The Second annual National Healthcare Quality Reporting System (NHQRS) Report was published on Thursday 16 June 2016, and included data on a wide range of indicators. The purpose of the annual NHQRS Report is to use easily accessible information to develop a better understanding of whole health system performance. The mechanism was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Governance (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: While I recognise that continually strengthening accountability and good governance within the HSE is of critical importance, I have no plans to introduce a legislative based accountability framework for the HSE. My Department has, however, engaged intensively with both the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform over recent weeks with a view to considerably strengthening the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 43 together. OECD statistics serve as a useful metric to compare expenditure in medicines and other areas. However, per capita figures represent one of a number of metrics that can be used to develop a view of drugs spending in Ireland. For example, aggregate spending on the GMS, Drugs Payment Scheme, and Long Term Illness scheme has reduced since...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 82 and 552 together. There have been significant developments in the general practice service recently, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional support provided by the HSE. Under a Framework Agreement, signed in 2014, the HSE, Department of Health and IMO are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the GMS and other...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: Significant investment has been made to improve radiology services at South Tipperary General Hospital. I understand that building work, to extend current facilities, commenced in November 2015 and is expected to be substantially completed by September 2016.A new CT Unit has been purchased and is in storage pending completion of the building works. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Electronic Health Records (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 45, 50, 81, 90 and 110 together. The importance of and the opportunity for eHealth or digital health to support health care reform and the delivery of a modern health care system has been recognised for quite some time. In 2013, the Government approved and published a strategy for developing eHealth capability in the Irish health system called the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 521 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to examine opportunities for leveraging purchasing power either through national or European initiatives and for making greater use of effective but less costly medicines. It also commits to considering a reduction in the prescription charge, having regard to the funding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: A key challenge for our health system is to ensure timely access to health services. This Government recognises that a sustained commitment to improving waiting times is required with a particular focus on those waiting longest. While waiting list numbers nationally have increased in the first half of the year, this must be seen in the context of increased demand for care in our health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: The Capacity Review was published in May along with a comprehensive action plan which incorporates the recommendations of both the Capacity Review and the 2014 HIQA Report on the National Ambulance Service (NAS). As the Action Plan will be implemented over a number of years, a phased investment in a multi annual programme involving manpower, vehicles and technology will be required. To that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I would like to inform the Deputy that a review of all Section 38 providers being conducted by external consultants, is already underway. The purpose of these reviews is to establish the standard of governance in place in these organisations and to confirm independently that the governance practices and procedures accord with those set out in their respective Annual Compliance Statements....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: 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 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 103 together. I acknowledge to the Deputies that waiting lists for speech and language therapy have been very difficult for families and it is an issue about which I am very concerned. In this regard, I am happy to advise the Deputies that my Department approved an initiative developed by the HSE to appoint new recurring posts in primary care to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: There have been significant developments in the general practice service recently, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional support provided by the HSE. Under a Framework Agreement, signed in 2014, the HSE, the Department of Health, and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the General Medical Services (GMS) and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: Paediatric ultrasounds can be used to examine the causes of abdominal pain, to investigate a mass of tissue or lump, to assess normal cranial development and for diagnosis of joint problems, particularly developmental dysplasia of the hip joint, if indicated during the 6-8 week post-natal examination. Kidney and or urogenital ultrasounds are often performed where there is a history of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: On foot of the Keane Report, Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility, the HSE established a Clinical Advisory Group to develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. Its establishment followed the completion of the work of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility. The 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: A key challenge for our health system is ensuring timely access to health services. This Government recognises that a sustained commitment to improving waiting times is required, with a particular focus on those waiting longest. While waiting list numbers have increased nationally in the first half of the year, this must be seen in the context of increased demand for care in our health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Jul 2016)

Simon Harris: A key challenge for our health system is ensuring timely access to health services. This Government recognises that a sustained commitment to improving waiting times is required, with a particular focus on those waiting longest. While waiting list numbers nationally have increased in the first half of the year, this must be seen in the context of increased demand for care in our health...