Results 14,041-14,060 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: My Department is in regular communication and continues to work closely with the HSE regarding delivery of the National Service Plan 2017, and planning for 2018. The level of funding available for my Department in 2018 will be considered as part of the national Estimates campaign, and pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reviews (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership Government committed the government to undertaking a capacity review of the health service. This is intended to provide a systematic analysis of the existing capacity across primary, acute and social care, and to assess the required capacity over the next 15 years. The Health Service Capacity Review is not due to report until later in the year. Work on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. In order to reduce the numbers of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. Of this 2017 allocation, €15 million...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: I would like to acknowledge the distress to patients, their families and those fronting staff experiencing overcrowding in Emergency Departments throughout the country, and I would like to reiterated my commitment as Minister to working towards improving access and waiting times for Emergency Care for patients. In relation to ED overcrowding, data from the HSE indicates that the national...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Budgets (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 847, 932, 1115 and 1159 together. Government Departments are required to manage expenditure within the allocations set out in the Estimates for each year, agreed by the Dáil. Any underspend that arises against agreed allocations is surrendered to the Exchequer at the end of the year. At end June 2017, the Health Vote is €55m under profile...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: HSE data indicated that at the end of June there were approximately 100 beds closed nationally due to a range of factors including for infection control reasons, refurbishment or due to staff shortages. The Department has not been informed in advance of proposed bed closures in acute hospitals in the period July to 31 December 2017. As such I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: The NTPF publishes waiting list data for endoscopies by hospital and hospital group each month. This data can be viewed on its website at NTPF.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services, especially in remote rural areas and also in disadvantaged urban areas, and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future. I want to ensure that existing GP services are retained and that general practice remains an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: In response 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: General Practitioner Contracts (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 855 together. The number of consultants has increased significantly in recent years though there are ongoing challenges in filling posts. At the end of June 2017 there were 2,883 whole time equivalents. This constitutes an increase of 296 since June 2014 and an increase of almost 700 in the past decade. The number of NCHDs has also increased...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, was introduced in 2008 and offers free smear tests to women aged 25-60. The screening of women from the age of 25 is in line with international best practice. Invasive cervical cancer is extremely rare in women aged under 25, with less than 5 women in this age group being diagnosed with this condition each year. While...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments Data (26 Jul 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 Appointments Status (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...