Results 9,681-9,700 of 45,736 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2017)

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: Hospital Staff (31 Jan 2017)

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: Health Products Regulatory Authority (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: I expect to receive the HPRA’s report in coming days. While I will need some time to consider the report I expect that it will be published relatively quickly. I would reiterate that, in the meantime, while cannabis is very strictly controlled in Ireland, it is open for an Irish registered doctor to apply for a licence for cannabis-based preparations for an individual,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: On Budget Day 2017, the Oireachtas approved gross expenditure of €14.606 billion for the health services, which is the highest ever, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to investing the gains from a recovering economy in a better health service. The allocation of additional funding to the Health Services is a matter for Government.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: In September 2016, the HSE launched the ‘Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017’ which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. This Initiative was developed to manage the expected winter surge in demand for hospital care in an integrated way across Primary, Acute and Social Care. On 5 January, in response to significant pressures in our EDs in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Staff Data (31 Jan 2017)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed below: Grade Number of Staff Clerical Officer 63 Staff Officer 7 Executive Officer & Equivalent 57

Priority Questions: Nursing Staff Recruitment (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The report of the emergency department expert group identified a need to take on additional nurses to care for boarded patients awaiting admission from emergency departments. This is particularly where the number of patients awaiting admission occupy over 50% of the emergency department cubicle capacity for the hospital concerned. Having regard to the formula set out in the report for...

Priority Questions: Nursing Staff Recruitment (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The intention is to recruit 1,000 additional nurses this year. That was announced on budget day. The details of that will be worked out among the operational plans for each of the hospital groups. The process is under way and will conclude shortly for the individual budgets for each hospital. We do need to grow nursing numbers and I am not disputing that with the Deputy whatsoever. We do...

Priority Questions: Nursing Staff Recruitment (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: True.

Priority Questions: Nursing Staff Recruitment (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: What I am clear about is that the budget is there to increase nursing numbers by 1,000 in 2017. That is what we funded for in the budget. How that is done is now a matter for the HSE in its operational plan. I am also clear that recruitment and retention of nurses is a key issue that needs to be resolved. I hear many doctors going on the radio saying that if one wants to end trolleys in...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelleher for his question. In order to respond to increasing demand for hospital services, budget 2017 provides an additional €118 million for hospital services in 2017. Of this funding, €109 million will be used to maintain our existing level of service to take into account the costs associated with our aging demographics, meeting increased demand for...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: That is entirely incorrect. In the past, Opposition spokespersons on health would have been very critical of a HSE service plan that did not adequately set aside resources for demographics. We cannot talk about existing levels of services as though that does not impact on people. This is about trying to prepare the health service for the fact that more people will need health services next...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I appreciate Deputy Kelleher's helpfulness but that is simply not the case. For whatever reason, he is ignoring the reality that in addition to that €9 million, €20 million has been provided specifically for the NTPF to drive down waiting lists to more acceptable, albeit still high, levels by October 2017. It is intended to have no one waiting longer than 15 months for any...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. On budget day 2017, the Oireachtas approved gross expenditure of €14.606 billion for the health services, which is the highest level ever, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to investing the gains from a recovering economy in a better health service. The provision for this year represents a 3.5% increase on the final projected 2016...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I am very proud to be a member of Fine Gael. In my engagement in the House, I always try to not be partisan because I am conscious that many different people from all parties have stood in this position as Minister for Health over the past number of decades - not yet from Deputy Kenny's grouping but that may happen - and have faced similar challenges to those that I face this January and...

Priority Questions: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I appreciate the Deputy's bona fides and we share a desire to fix this issue. I agree that the staff in our health service are incredible and are doing incredible work, and have done so over the past number of years with fewer colleagues standing beside them on the wards. That is now changing. Since I became Minister for Health, we have increased the health budget not once but twice....

Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: That day is etched in my mind because what I saw when Deputy Kelly showed me around was a beautiful facility that was not being fully utilised. The Deputy knows the history better than I, but Cashel Health Campus in County Tipperary, which includes Our Lady’s Hospital, provides mainly primary care services. There is a small residential facility on the site, together with other...

Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I apologise. I can come back with more detail on it. Additional information not given on the floor of the House I have been assured by the HSE that it will continue to explore and maximise the ongoing and future use of the Cashel campus and that services provided will continue to play a significant role in the provision of overall health services within the south Tipperary area. I have...

Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The fine people of south Tipperary are not alone in not understanding it because I do not understand it either. I did not make the decision in 2007, and neither did the Deputy, that the site at Cashel should be exclusively used for primary and social care. I am sure he wants to acknowledge, as I do, the hard work that is ongoing there. We had an opportunity to speak to the people who work...

Other Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The answer to the last part of the Deputy's comments is that it is a very good idea and I would be delighted to do so. He can therefore take it as given that we will have that meeting of the Tipperary Oireachtas Members. I ask that we give it a few weeks to allow-----