Results 9,721-9,740 of 45,736 for speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Louise O'Reilly and Denise Mitchell for asking this question. There is no provision under the general practice general medical services contract for persons who hold a medical card or general practitioner visit card to be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP or a practice nurse on behalf of a GP, which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I have already outlined what the HSE will do. In other words, if a constituent of the Deputy or of any other Deputy is charged incorrectly for a service that my Department and the HSE believe is covered under the current GMS contract he or she, or another person on his or her behalf, can make a complaint in that regard to the HSE and it will impose a deduction on the GP's practice support...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: It is of concern to me that people are being referred to hospital for a service that can be adequately provided in primary care and which the GMS contract enables to be provided in primary care. However, I do not want to escalate this disagreement with our GPs in the context of contract negotiations which have already commenced. My Department and the HSE have commenced the process of...

Other Questions: General Medical Services Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I will communicate in writing with the Deputy on the matter.

Other Questions: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy would be upset if we went through an entire Question Time where we agreed on everything. We had better not do that. We have a difference of opinion in regard to the NTPF. I believe it to be an effective vehicle to reduce waiting times for patients and the Deputy believes differently, as is her right. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this...

Other Questions: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I do not believe that we should invest in the private health service instead of the public health service. However, the man who is waiting for a hip operation does not care how we get his operation done. He just wants to know what I am doing to do to ensure he does not have to wait longer. While we build up capacity in the public health service we will use the NTPF as a vehicle. That is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: As of September 2016, acute hospital bed capacity was 12,728 beds, comprising 10,569 inpatient and 2,159 daycase beds. As of 22nd January 2017, the HSE advises that there are 128 acute beds closed, with 20 closed owing to infection prevention and control, 3 for refurbishment, and 105 due to staffing constraints. In order to enable the reopening of acute beds, recruitment of additional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: For a medicine to be considered for reimbursement by the HSE it must first have a marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority, before being assessed under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. I understand that in Autumn 2016 Biogen applied to the European Medicines Agency for marketing authorisation in the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. We are seeing a considerable increase in demand for health services as our population grows and ages. For example, the HSE has advised that to the end of September, there was a sustained increase in referrals for outpatient...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I wish to reassure the Deputy that all efforts are being taken to reach an agreement with the INMO and SIPTU nursing to prevent any industrial action. Discussions between the INMO, SIPTU, my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE have been ongoing over the past week and are continuing. Issues relating to staffing, recruitment and retention of nursing and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: State Claims Agency (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The State Claims Agency which manages clinical negligence claims against consultants, including maternity claims occurring on or after 1st February 2004, on behalf of the State has advised me that the growth in maternity-related claims against consultants from 2006 onwards is in line with the actuarial predictions made by the Agency. It has also advised that there are three complicating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Our Lady’s Hospital Navan is part of the Ireland East Hospital Group. Every hospital in that Group, large and small, has a vital role to play within the Group, with smaller hospitals managing routine, urgent or planned care locally and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals. Currently, the Hospital Group is engaged in a programme of re-design work to further integrate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Director General said that €9 billion was a high level estimated requirement taking account of a number of factors including an aging population and increases in chronic disease. During 2017 my Department will work with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme. My Department will also conduct a Bed Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: There has been no downgrading of emergency services at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). In relation to the issue of 24/7 primary PCI services at UHW, as the Deputy will be aware, an independent report undertaken by Dr Niall Herity recommended that the provision of such services at UHW should cease, in order to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned cath lab...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the provision of routine foetal anomaly scanning for all pregnant women has been a key target for Cavan General Hospital; however, despite every effort having been made, the hospital has not been successful to date in recruiting the necessary specialists required to provide a routine 20 week anomaly scanning service. The Deputy will be aware that the National Maternity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63, 67, 68, 72, 90, 106 and 129 together. Recent data from the HSE indicates that in 2016 there was a circa 5% increase in Emergency Department attendances nationally. In addition, early January 2017 saw continued significant pressure on our EDs due to high demand, increased incidence of flu mainly affecting older people, as well as on-going bed...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The National ED Escalation Framework sets out procedures to be followed in hospitals during periods of high demand for emergency care, to ensure that safe care is provided to all patients. In order to respond to surges in ED demand, under the Framework, hospital managers may, in consultation with the relevant clinical leads, review and cancel non-urgent planned electives, where appropriate....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (1 Feb 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 Waiting Lists (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address this service pressure. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at Crumlin, and further resources of €0.987m were allocated under the 2016 Service Plan for Orthopaedics and Trauma to address...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 81, 100 and 130 together. An anomaly scan is a full detailed anatomical survey of pregnant women that takes place between 20 and 22 weeks' gestation. Anomaly scans are currently available in the following Hospital Groups: -Ireland East Hospital Group- The National Maternity Hospital -Dublin Midlands Hospital Group- The Coombe Women & Infants...