Results 12,981-13,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Government regards trolley waits of over nine hours as unacceptable. I acknowledge the difficulties the current surge in emergency department activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in what are very challenging circumstances. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also...

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I would point out that 4,000 nurses have not resigned. Rather, the number of nursing posts has been reduced, which is not quite the same thing. Between 2008 and 2013, the number of nursing posts reduced by approximately 5,000 but this is offset in large part by the fact that nurses work additional hours under the Haddington Road agreement and also by the graduate nursing programme....

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure the Deputy is not accusing the media or the people who write the headlines of lies.

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: No, I am not: I am disputing the Deputy's understanding of them. It may well be the case that 11,000 nurses have left the service in the past five years but it is also the case that 6,000 nurses have come into the system. As such, the net reduction in nurses is approximately 5,000 but this has further reduced to 4,500 because the number of nurses increased in 2014. As I said, this is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that the Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is under pressure. As part of a comprehensive building programme at the hospital, a new Emergency Department will be completed and operational in 2016. Pending its completion, a number of initiatives have been put in place to address current limitations for patients and staff. A 22 bed Emergency Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Response Times (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Our ambulance services are undergoing significant development and performance is improving. There has been significant upskilling of ambulance personnel, greater use of technology, improved response times, development of clinical protocols to promote better outcomes and dedicated aeromedical, paediatric and neonatal retrieval services. There is much development under way to further improve...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drugs schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. This requires consideration of a range of statutory criteria prior to reimbursing any medicine, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: ED Overcrowding is a priority issue for me and for the government. All hospitals, including Naas General Hospital, have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I recently announced the extension of the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged 65 to 69 years of age. Planning for this is underway and screening of the extended cohort will commence in Quarter 4 of 2015. The age extension will be expanded on an incremental basis in order to manage the additional screening and follow up involved. It will be fully rolled out across all women in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Our ambulance services are undergoing significant development and performance is improving. There has been significant upskilling of ambulance personnel, greater use of technology, improved response times, development of clinical protocols to promote better outcomes and dedicated aeromedical, paediatric and neonatal retrieval services. There is much development under way to further improve...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: ED Over-crowding is a priority issue for me and for the government and I acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that the total number of acute hospital beds available at October 2014 is 12,483, comprised of 10,488 in-patient beds and 1,995 day case beds. The number of acute beds available can fluctuate greatly over time for various reasons, including ongoing refurbishment and maintenance work. While the number of resourced acute hospital beds is clearly an important factor in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Latest available paediatric waiting list figures for the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore indicate that a total of 305 children are waiting for in-patient treatment and 246 patients are waiting for daycase procedures. Of those awaiting in-patient treatment, 183 have been waiting longer than the 20 week target and, of these, 21 have been waiting longer than a year. Of those awaiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE is developing a substantial infrastructure project at Naas General Hospital which includes an endoscopy unit. The proposed project will be a two storey build. The oncology unit and the physical medicine department which includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy will be accommodated on the ground floor adjacent to the main concourse and out-patients. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As with all capital projects the proposed new ED project at University Hospital Galway must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There are proposals to extend and upgrade the Emergency department and some funding is available to advance the development of this project. However, there is limited funding available for new projects over the next...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is currently developing a National Maternity Strategy in conjunction with the HSE which will be completed this year. The strategy will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. It will be informed by a national review and evaluation of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have already addressed this issue in my reply to Question No. 6. As I mentioned, I am currently considering the High Court judgement on this case and its implications. As part of this process I expect to be seeking further information from the HSE to finalise my considerations and understanding of what lessons we may learn from this extremely difficult and unfortunate case. Finally, I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Improving waiting lists for in patient and day case treatment is a key priority for me and for the Government. My Department is working with the HSE to put in place a plan to eliminate very long waiters by the end of the year. This will involve both productivity improvement and rigorous waiting list management. Further increasing day case surgery rates for specific procedures will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that the current complement of NCHD and Consultants in Mullingar Regional Hospital is 106. This compares to 99 posts in July 2014, 102 posts in July 2013, and 99 posts in July 2012. Of these, 26 are Consultant posts and it is worth noting that there has been no reduction in the number of Consultant posts at the hospital since July 2012. Furthermore, the HSE has...