Results 8,561-8,580 of 45,622 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Policy (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: My Department does not collect data specifically on the cost to the exchequer of operating a private system of healthcare. However, the System of Health Accounts provides data on current health expenditure in Ireland and other EU and OECD countries, both public and private. It is collected by the CSO in Ireland for the purpose of estimating health care expenditure according to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased this year with a 4% increase in inpatient and day case activity nationally to end October compared with the same period last year, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 95% of people should...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 65 together. The NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004 and previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended. Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest waiting patients. €20m is being allocated to the NTPF, rising to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 85% of people should wait less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate that 75%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004 and previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended. I include with the official report a tabular statement setting out details of the annual budget of the NTPF and the number of patients treated per annum since its inception. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Decisions on pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products within public health systems are a national competence for EU Member States. However, the issue of pricing and reimbursement of medicines and patient access to affordable medicines has been addressed at European level. In June of this year the EU Council adopted conclusions on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Acquired Infections (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Multidrug-resistant infections and resistance to antibiotics are an ongoing and evolving international risk for all healthcare providers. I can assure the Deputy that the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant patient safety and public health priority for the Government. I am aware of the challenges in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Increased demand for health services is evident across acute hospital services this year with a 5% increase in ED attendances and a 4% increase in inpatient and day-case activity to end October 2016, in comparison with the same period in 2015. Trolley numbers have been high in November due to increased ED attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 85% of people should wait less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate that 86%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 80 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the undertaking of a national hospital bed capacity review "to establish the number, type and location of beds required into the future recognising the need for a range of beds including critical care, palliative and day case bed stock", with the intention that this would form part of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Treatments have been commissioned from the private sector by both the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE in targeted initiatives to reduce waiting list numbers. The NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004 and previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the 2013 Act, if a Company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drug Schemes or as a hospital medicine, the Company must first submit an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 88 together. During 2017, the Hospital Groups will be developing strategic plans for the development of services in their region. As part of its Strategic Plan, the Saolta University Healthcare Group will develop its strategy for urology services. The Saolta Group envisages that it will operate a hub and spoke urology service model with a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Government and my Department recognise that difficulties recruiting and retaining doctors and nurses has the potential to impact negatively on patient care and service delivery. The Programme for a Partnership Government aims to recruit and retain talent within the public health service by implementing new procedures to ensure more efficient and timely recruitment of doctors and nurses....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has advised that there had been a vacancy for some time for a Consultant Paediatric Urologist at Temple Street Hospital as recruitment efforts for this very specific specialty post were not successful. However interim arrangements to provide specialist consultant input were put in place, including arrangements with a Consultant Paediatric Urologist in the NHS to visit Temple Street....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 85% of people should be waiting less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I met Judge Maureen Harding Clark on 19 October 2016 last when she submitted her report on the Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Ex Gratia Scheme to me. I examined the report and submitted it to Government last week prior to its publication on my Department's website on 22 November last. I have not been in contact with the three survivor groups, as the work of the Scheme has now concluded. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I met with a delegation from the INMO on 17 November to discuss a range of matters of concern to their membership including recruitment and retention difficulties. It was agreed at the meeting that the Department and the INMO would remain in contact over the coming weeks to progress a number of related matters raised at the meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Private Partnerships Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Currently, the first Health public private partnership (PPP) project is underway. Primary care centres will be delivered at the following 14 locations - Summerhill, north inner city Dublin; Coolock/Darndale, north city Dublin; Kilcock; Wexford town; Waterford city; Dungarvan; Carrick-on-Suir; Limerick city; Tuam; Ballinrobe; Claremorris; Westport; Boyle and Ballymote. Assuming progress is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for hospital inpatient and day case activity nationally has increased by 4% year on year to end October, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 95% of people should be waiting less than 15 months for their inpatient or day case...