Results 8,921-8,940 of 45,622 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership Government commitment states the following: "The use of county boundaries for access to health and social services will be reviewed independently, to ensure that the most efficient and cost effective service is provided to those who need it". As I have previously stated, I do not intend to pursue further structural reforms while the work of the Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Correspondence (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Contracts (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that no negotiations have taken place on a new consultant's contract. At present all new entrant consultants are offered the 2008 Common Contract.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Data (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Training (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places by 100 over the next five years to 259 places annually. In July of this year, the GP training intake increased from 157 to 172 places and I am anxious to achieve further increases in future years. One of the priority actions contained in the HSE's National Service Plan 2017, which was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Pharmacy Services (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: In the context of the Programme for Government I am examining the potential for expanding the services that our contracted pharmacists deliver to public patients including in the areas such as vaccination, treatment of minor ailments and supply of emergency contraception. A pilot minor ailments project was run earlier this year by the HSE in conjunction with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together. 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 reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: One of my key objectives as Minister for Health, and a strong theme within the Programme for a Partnership Government is to support a decisive shift within the health system towards primary care. The Programme for a Partnership Government also contains a commitment to examine the use of tax instruments and other incentives to support investment in primary care centres, technology and service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I am committed to ensuring that patients throughout the country have access to GP services, including in remote rural areas and also in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in such areas into the future. In the context of the ongoing development of revised GP contractual arrangements, work is underway to consider the most appropriate way to support general...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Clinical Advisory Group was established by the Director General of the HSE in January 2015 to provide clinical oversight and guidance to 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 membership of the Clinical Advisory Group includes...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Car Park Charges (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together. Since my appointment as Minister for Health I have travelled on the Government jet on 3 October 2016 to and from Bratislava for an informal meeting of EU Health Ministers. I was accompanied by three officials. The Department of the Taoiseach has accepted the lead responsibility for the code of practice for the use of the Government jet,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Section 16 of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards states that compliance with the Government Decision of 23 July 2014 on Gender Balance on State Boards is an essential requirement for all State Boards. This requirement is for a minimum of 40% of both men and women appointed as Ministerial representatives to all State Boards. My...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Deaths (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. From January 2015, Ireland has adopted the Eighth Edition of the ICD (International Classification of Disease)10-AM classification which includes a revised Australian coding standard ACS 0110 for sepsis (A40, A41, A02.1, A22.7, A26.7, A32.7, A42.7, B37.7, T81.42, R65.0), severe sepsis (R65.1) and septic shock (R57.2). This is a new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Contracts (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The functions of Comhairle na nOspidéal, established under the Health Act of 1970, in relation to regulating the number and type of consultant posts, were transferred to the HSE when it was established. These functions, together with medical education and training and medical workforce planning, are now centralised in National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) in the HSE. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (16 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I fully recognise the need to ensure that patients have timely access to health services. My Department works closely with the HSE, and the NTPF, to implement measures to reduce waiting times. At my request, the HSE developed an action plan to reduce, by year end, the number of patients waiting 18 months or more for an inpatient/day case procedure. I am aware of the high demand for...