Results 10,861-10,880 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Funding (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: Private patient income in public hospitals was €626m in 2016. This is exclusive of private patient consultant fees which are remitted directly to the treating consultant. Over €2.7 billion income from private patient fees has been generated in public hospitals over the last 5 years. A detailed breakdown of this income by Hospital Group and individual hospital for each of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) is committed to providing a quality ambulance service to the Midleton area. Work is underway to relocate the Midleton station to a more suitable location in Midleton with direct access to the road infrastructure transport arteries. This move is scheduled for the second quarter of this year. I am advised that the current station will remain in operation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to reducing waiting times for patients, both for patients waiting for inpatient or daycase procedures and for outpatient appointments. During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE is currently developing Waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Remuneration (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The Public Service Agreement 2013 to 2016 provided for the introduction of an Intern Scheme for Health Support Staff during the moratorium on recruitment and promotion within the public service as an exceptional recruitment measure. Under the terms of this Scheme, Interns were given a 2 year contract with a starting salary of 85% of the first point of the salary scale in year 1, progressing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: On 3 November 2016 I asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority to examine the issue of medicinal cannabis and provide me with a report on the matter. I received the Authority's report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’ on 31 January last. On 10 February, I published the report and announced the establishment of an access programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: During recent engagement between this Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, INMO and SIPTU to avert the proposed industrial action by the INMO scheduled for the 7th March, the management side supplied a joint proposal document setting out a number of specific measures to attract and retain nursing staff. This was done in the context of HSE management having...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines in the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. As Minister for Health I have no function in this statutory process. I am informed that the manufacturer has submitted an application to the HSE for reimbursement of Procysbi. As far...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis or LB) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacteria. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin, but can occasionally be more severe. Lyme disease is the commonest cause of tick-borne infection in Europe. Lyme disease...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: A draft Waiting List Action Plan for Scoliosis has been submitted by the HSE to my Department. The draft action plan for Scoliosis includes both measures to increase capacity for scoliosis treatments in the children's hospitals and proposals for the outsourcing of procedures. Officials are currently reviewing and evaluating the plan and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF towards...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 49 together. There are currently no plans to construct a regional hospital for the north east in Navan. The proposal that a regional hospital be developed in Navan originated in a report prepared for the HSE in 2008. This proposal was superseded by the Government's decision, in 2013, to re-organise acute hospitals into Hospital Groups. Our...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The introduction of GP care without fees to children under 6 represents a major step forward in improving access, quality and affordability of health care in Ireland. The under-6s GP service contract, which includes age-based preventive checks focused on health and well-being and a cycle of care for children with asthma, underlines the Government’s commitment to enhancing primary care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Mar 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 53, 60 and 101 together. This Government is committed to reducing waiting times for patients, both for patients waiting for inpatient or daycase procedures and for outpatient appointments. During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages. In order to reduce the numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 88 together. This Government is committed to reducing waiting times for patients, both for patients waiting for inpatient or daycase procedures and for outpatient appointments. During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I am advised that foetal anomaly scans are available in all Hospital Groups. Those hospitals/maternity units currently providing anomaly scans accept referrals from other maternity units, if requested. This occurs where the medical team in the referring maternity unit consider that an anomaly scan is clinically indicated. The National Maternity Strategy is very clear that all women must...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (8 Mar 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: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Remuneration (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The Living Out Allowance was abolished for new entrant non-consultant hospital doctors (Intern, Senior House Officer and Registrar grades) in 2012. Following the agreement reached last month the allowance will be incorporated in to the basic salary of these doctors from 1 July 2017. It is estimated that this will cost approximately €16 million in a full year and €8 million in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: The issue of affordability and access to medicines is a major challenge for the Irish health service and for systems internationally. It is important that we take steps to ensure that a sustainable supply of medicines. This Government is committed to reducing the cost of medicines for Irish patients and a number of actions are currently reducing medicine costs. In relation to new...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: I am advised that foetal anomaly scans are available in all Hospital Groups. Those hospitals/maternity units currently providing anomaly scans accept referrals from other maternity units, if requested. This occurs where the medical team in the referring maternity unit consider that an anomaly scan is clinically indicated. The National Maternity Strategy is very clear that all women must...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.