Results 12,881-12,900 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Cancer Treatment Services: Cancer Treatment Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 74 and 111 together. The delivery of cancer services on a programmatic basis will serve to ensure equity of access to services and equality of patient outcome irrespective of geography. The decisions of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to the designation of four managed cancer control networks and eight cancer centres will be implemented on...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: At present, people with disabilities may retain their medical card for three years on taking up employment. My Department is at present considering the most appropriate approach to the implementation of the commitment to extend this retention period.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The number of births last year was over 70,000. The Health Service Executive Service Plan for 2008 estimates that the number of births for the year will be nearly 73,000. The transformation of maternity services nationally is a key project within the HSE Transformation Programme. As part of this work, an independent review of maternity and gynaecology services in the greater Dublin area is...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has informed my Department that the review of pathology services at Cork University Hospital is currently being completed. The HSE has also informed my Department that the Pathologist concerned no longer works in any of its Hospitals.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The investigation by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into pathology services at University College Hospital Galway in the context referred to by the Deputy was commenced in September 2007. I am informed that significant progress has been made in this investigation. While it is difficult to predict precisely at this stage when the work will be completed, it is hoped that...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides for a range of dental services for adult medical card holders from participating dentists holding contracts with the Health Service Executive (HSE). The DTSS Review Group was established in May, 2006 to undertake a comprehensive review of Primary Care Oral Health Services provided under the DTSS. Represented on the Review Group are the HSE,...

Written Answers — Medical Aids and Appliances: Medical Aids and Appliances (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services, including the National MRSA Reference Laboratory which is operated by St. James's Hospital, is provided in its annual vote. The HSE was allocated a total sum of almost €14bn for 2007 and...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 138 and 139 together. I would like to assure the Deputies that tackling Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), including MRSA and C Difficile, continues to be a priority for the government and for the Health Service Executive (HSE). It should be noted that the HSE does not have a remit in relation to private hospitals. The European Antimicrobial...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Screening Service which amalgamates BreastCheck and the Irish Cervical Screening Programme (ICSP) was established on 1 January 2007 and will deliver both programmes nationally. This will maximise the expertise in both programmes, ensure improved efficiency and develop a single governance model for cancer screening. The Service compiles a register of women eligible for...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The management of out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the Health Service Executive and the individual hospitals concerned. My Department has asked the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the details contained in the relevant newspaper article. I might add that in 2005, at my request, the National Treatment Purchase Fund...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: I met with Mr. Michael McGimpsey, MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in October and November last year to discuss a range of co-operation issues in the health sector, including hospital services. As both Health Departments have established a Project Board to take forward a Feasibility Study on the potential for future co-operation across a range of health service...

Written Answers — Cancer Treatment Services: Cancer Treatment Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The Report 'Early Detection in Cancer: A Needs Assessment of General Practitioners' was a joint study involving the Irish Cancer Society and the Irish College of General Practitioners. The aim of the study was to identify the barriers experienced by General Practitioners to early diagnosis of cancer in order to improve early detection, increase the number of patients diagnosed at an early...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: Over 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: I understand from the Health Service Executive (HSE), that owing to regulatory difficulties being experienced by the manufacturer of the BCG vaccine, there is a shortage of the vaccine throughout the country at present. This is a Europe wide problem as the manufacturer in question is the only company which supplies the vaccine to the European Market. I have been informed that the HSE is in...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the terms of the Employment Control Framework introduced in December 2006, the HSE is required to obtain the prior approval of my Department and the Department of Finance for the filling of posts at Grade VIII and above. The number of posts approved in 2007 was 18 and this year the figure so far is 4.

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: It is very important that measures are in place in 2008 to avoid a repetition of the budgetary difficulties encountered by the HSE in 2007. In my letter to the Chairman of the HSE approving the 2008 National Service Plan, I have emphasised that the evident links between the Voted allocation, approved employment levels and service activity — within the HSE itself and in HSE funded agencies...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: The National Cancer Screening Service is planning to roll out the National Cervical Screening Programme on a national basis around the middle of this year. Women aged 25 to 44 years old will be screened every 3 years; women aged 45 to 60 will be screened every 5 years. The Service will be available free of charge to all eligible women. Approximately 230,000 women will be screened...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular question raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...