Results 13,021-13,040 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Legislation (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware Article 40.3.3oof the Irish Constitution states that: 'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.' The interpretation of Article 40.3.3owas considered by the Supreme Court in Attorney...

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

Leo Varadkar: ED overcrowding 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. I convened the Emergency Department Taskforce last month to develop long term solutions to overcrowding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days she should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

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

Leo Varadkar: ED overcrowding 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. I convened the Emergency Department Taskforce last month to develop long term solutions to overcrowding...

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

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

Leo Varadkar: As set out in Performance Management in the HSE - Guidance Document 2012, it is the policy of the HSE to "implement, maintain and monitor a Performance Management System that develops the capacity and capability of its employees, improves the performance of the organisation and addresses the underperformance in a timely and constructive manner". The performance management system applying to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I am concerned regarding the implications for the health service and patient safety should the current impasse over the annual retention fee increase continue. I have therefore written last week to the President of the Board of NMBI and asking that options be explored to bring a resolution to issues surrounding the annual retention fee. I recognise that the Board must meet its obligations...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Status (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The new hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with a maternity hospital to be developed on campus. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the...

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

Leo Varadkar: Emergency Department over-crowding is a priority issue for me and for the Government. All hospitals, including the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore 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. The Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore enacts its...

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

Leo Varadkar: There has been much discussion about ambulance response times recently. I would like to clarify that response time performance is improving in the face of increasing demands on the service. The latest published data shows that nationally, in October 2014, the volume of ECHO calls rose by 5% compared to the same period in 2013, and DELTA calls by 10%. Despite this, an ambulance arrived...

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

Leo Varadkar: In its recent report, HIQA acknowledged our geographic challenges and recommended different rural and urban response time targets. I also understand that the draft executive summary of the National Capacity Review, recently circulated to the Joint Committee on Health and Children, suggests that the response time targets recommended by HIQA cannot be met, even with substantially increased...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Lyme Disease (also known as Lyme borelliosis) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borella burgdorferi. It 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 and highly debilitating. The commonest noticeable evidence of infection is a rash called erythema...

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

Leo Varadkar: Emergency Department over-crowding 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...

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE TAS seeking access to public health care outside the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE National Service Plan (21 Jan 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Service Executive's National Service Plan sets out the type and volume of health and personal social services that the Executive proposes to deliver during the course of this year. The 2015 Budget increased the funding available for health and social care services by €635 million - the first increase after a period of seven years of significant retrenchment - and this...

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

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

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.