Results 8,041-8,060 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Policy: Health Policy (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The National Task Force on Medical Staffing, chaired by Mr David Hanly, was set up to: devise a strategy for reducing the average working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) so as to achieve the requirements of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD); address the consequent medical staffing needs of Irish hospitals; analyse the practical implications of moving to a...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 177 together. The reform of the acute hospital system, now well under way, was proposed in the Health Strategy published in 2001. The actions for change proposed for the development of the system were related to capacity, the mix between public and private patients and measures concerned with organisational and practical steps aimed at promoting...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The issue of what is an appropriate method of funding the health services was discussed in the Health Strategy of 2001, which remains Government policy. The conclusion in the Strategy was that the present system should remain as "there is no compelling evidence that any alternative approach to the tax-based system would deliver significant improvements". If the question is referring to an...

Written Answers — General Medical Services Scheme: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The most recent information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department shows that 41,506 GP visit cards have been issued as at 25th October, 2006. More detailed statistical data provided by the HSE to my Department and correct as of 1st October 2006 contains county-by-county figures for the number of GP visit cards issued and this information is set out below. My...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Proposals for a new employment contract for consultants working in the public health system have been tabled by the management side in the context of the consultants' contract negotiations, which will resume shortly. The new contract will be a first step towards the introduction of a consultant-provided service and the appointment of large numbers of dedicated public hospital and community...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is responsible for the development of professional and performance standards for the ambulance services and for the accreditation of institutions providing training for ambulance personnel. The Health Service Executive has advised that when private ambulance services are contracted to carry out A&E duties, on the Executive's behalf, it ensures...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Government is committed to making the full range of cancer services available and accessible to cancer patients throughout Ireland. Government policy is to achieve best outcomes for patients based on all aspects of cancer care, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy delivered by multi-disciplinary teams based around major centres. My Department is working closely with the Health Service...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: EU Commission Infringement 2004/5152 deals with the calculation of salary on the staff nurse pay scale, in particular the appropriate incremental point when experience gained in other EU countries is taken into account. The ruling, which is called a Reasoned Opinion, was addressed to Ireland by the Commission under Article 226 of the Treaty on 19 December 2005. All EU citizens are currently...

Written Answers — Medical Profession Regulation: Medical Profession Regulation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Complaints about medical practitioners are obviously of concern to me. I understand that a total of 189 complaints were made to the Medical Council in the first six months of this year, compared with 174 in the first six months of 2005. I am currently preparing a new Medical Practitioners Bill. The proposed legislation is intended to be both proactive and reactive. The main objective of...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Despite the substantial decline in the prevalence and severity of dental cavities in Ireland since 1964, this largely preventable disease is still common. Fluoridation of community drinking water is a major factor responsible for the decline in dental caries. 71% of the Irish population live in areas with fluoridated water supplies. In Ireland, according to the preliminary National Children's...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available for treatment of patients in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,204 to a total of 13,349 (an additional 724 in-patient beds and 480 day places). In July 2005, I announced an initiative to have private hospitals built...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I have noted the recommendations contained in the recent report of the ESRI in relation to the Health Sector under the NDP 2007-2013. These recommendations will be considered in the context of the Government's deliberations in finalising the new National Development Plan which is due to be announced in January next.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: As I stated in the debate on the co-location initiative last week, arrangements will be put in place whereby consultants will be able to work at these co located private hospitals. The policy direction states that the development of the new private hospitals will be subject to better work practices being put in place in each of the public hospitals involved in the initiative. Many consultants...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Control Strategy encompasses all aspects of cancer, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, supportive and palliative care. My objective is to develop an integrated cancer control programme based on: evidence of what works to prevent and treat cancer; standards that assure quality in all aspects of cancer control; and fairness, so that all patients,...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (1 Nov 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. 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 (1 Nov 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. 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 — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: In the first 6 months of this year, Deputies asked 2,222 Parliamentary Questions which were appropriate for direct reply, either in part or in full, by the HSE having regard to its statutory remit. These questions covered a broad scope of issues, ranging from the provision of services to individuals to national operational or infrastructural matters. The Executive has informed my Department...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: The Forum on Fluoridation was established by the Minister for Health and Children to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The main conclusion of the Forum Report was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. The Forum, while recommending that fluoridation of water supplies continue, recommended a reduction...

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: Private health insurance companies do not pay public hospitals €1billion in respect of private beds in public hospitals. The €1billion paid out by private health insurance companies is an estimate of the total payments by the companies in respect of consultant fees, claims from private hospitals claims from public hospitals and claims in respect of out-patient services. Our initial...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) collects data on MRSA bacteraemia (also known as bloodstream infection or "blood poisoning") as part of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS). EARSS collects data on the first episode of blood stream infection per patient per quarter. The Irish data for EARSS,...