Results 641-660 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: A medical card holder is entitled to consultations and a range of agreed services free of charge from his or her designated general practitioner. This is the situation whether the services are provided in the surgery during normal surgery hours, in the patient's home or elsewhere provided by that general practitioner or a locum or deputy acting in his or her place at any time. Clinical...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position with regard to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: The Government is fully committed to the extension of medical card coverage, as set out in the health strategy. This will focus on people on low incomes. The timing of the introduction of the extension will be decided having regard to the prevailing budgetary position. Income guidelines are drawn up each year by the health board or authority chief executive officers to assist in the...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, the provision of health services in south County Dublin is, in the first instance, a matter for the East Coast Area Health Board under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has been informed by the East Coast Area Health Board that St. Joseph's Centre is owned and operated by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God and that services...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in County Cork rests with the Southern Health Board in the first instance. The board has advised my Department that it purchased a site from Cork City Council for the construction of a new day care centre for older people and a family resource centre. My Department has received stage two documentation from the board...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: Responsibility for the provision of services at Letterkenny General Hospital rests with the North Western Health Board. In July 2003, approval was given to the board to proceed with the planning of an extension to the accident and emergency department at the hospital. The board appointed a design team to carry out an option appraisal and feasibility study to determine the preferred location...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: Through their national reimbursement schemes, EU member states are the main purchasers of medicines in their domestic markets. They naturally seek to control drug prices but the extent of this control varies widely. Countries with higher prices, such as the UK and Germany, rely more on market forces to set prices. Spain, on the other hand, closely regulates and controls prices. Ireland's...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: In accordance with health strategy objectives, the Government's immediate focus is on the reduction of waiting lists and waiting times for inpatient and day case treatments in acute hospitals. This is being particularly facilitated by the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF. The NTPF has reported that waiting times have fallen significantly, with 37% of patients now waiting between three...

Written Answers — Influenza Vaccine Provision: Influenza Vaccine Provision (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness. It is characterised by the sudden onset of symptoms, which include a temperature of 38° Celsius or more with a dry cough, headache, sore muscles and sore throat. The cough is often severe and protracted, but otherwise the disease is self-limiting. While those who are in good health usually recover from influenza in two to seven days, there are...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position with regard to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: The determination of eligibility of applications for medical card is a matter covered by legislation for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board. Assessment of eligibility is based upon the applicant's income and his or her medical need. In cases of refusal, applicants have the right of appeal and are normally advised of this by their local health board. Generally, the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of health services in County Galway rests with the Western Health Board in the first instance. The board has identified the need for a new community hospital in Tuam as one of its priorities for capital funding. My Department will continue to liaise with the board with regard to this project in line with the board's priorities for...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: Services at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to examine the issues raised and to reply to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: I am aware that one of the claims referred to by the Deputy was found to be statute barred by the Supreme Court. However, I have been given no information on the implications of the Supreme Court decision in this case, or any other cases. In the absence of this information, I am not in a position to make any further statement on the matter at this stage.

Written Answers — National Health Strategy: National Health Strategy (19 Oct 2004)

Mary Harney: I am aware of the policy recommendations to which the Deputy refers, which cover a range of health issues. The Deputy is aware that the national anti-poverty strategy, NAPS, targets to reduce health inequalities were included in the Government's review of the NAPS — Building an Inclusive Society — and have subsequently been subsumed into the national action plan against poverty and social...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for provision of audiological services is a matter for the health boards-authority in the first instance. My Department has therefore requested the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board to prepare a report on the matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: There is no statutory obligation on health boards to provide chiropody services to medical card holders. I understand that health boards make arrangements for the provision of such services. The nature of the arrangements and the level of chiropody services provided are a matter for the individual boards. As regards dental services, the Deputy will be aware that primary dental care for adult...

Written Answers — Health Board Services: Health Board Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 211 to 214, inclusive, together. I have agreed to a request from SIPTU on behalf of their members in Dublin Fire Brigade to discuss issues in relation to the provision of emergency ambulance services in the Dublin area following the establishment of the Health Services Executive. I do not consider that it would be appropriate to make any further comment in...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (2 Nov 2004)

Mary Harney: Many of the difficulties and delays experienced in emergency medicine departments reflect system-wide issues. It is, therefore, necessary to take a whole-system approach involving primary care, acute care and sub-acute and community care in tackling the problems in emergency medicine departments. This Government has already during the past few years, introduced initiatives aimed at improving...