Results 14,101-14,120 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: A number of initiatives are on the way. One of my real complaints about the HSE when I was in Opposition was its inability, in spite of being a national organisation, to bring any uniformity of approach to matters. One found excellence in one hospital but this was not transferred across to other hospitals. It is not always appropriate that the same measures should work in every hospital...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I am bemused. The reality is that, as Minister, I do not become directly involved in industrial disputes. The Department and the HSE handle these matters. If I have to become involved it is usually when matters have become extraordinarily serious and require direct ministerial involvement. I must put on the record of the House that I have done more in respect of this issue than any...

Other Questions: Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors Working Conditions (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: As to other English-speaking countries I do not wish to denigrate any country. There certainly were big problems with this across the water in the UK but I do not know how much progress has been made in recent times. I am sure there has been considerable progress. I believe this comes back to sentiment. Maybe I will be shot for saying this but judging by many of the doctors I have met I...

Other Questions: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: The number of cards that have been issued following review and the number that have been withdrawn is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. Details of the number of medical cards and GP visit cards are provided to my Department each month by the HSE. These figures are currently provided on a net basis, showing the balance after new cards have been issued and other...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Prices (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I have consistently emphasised the vital need to address the rising cost of private health insurance and the necessity for all private health insurers to address their cost bases aggressively. Last year, I established the consultative forum on health insurance to generate ideas to address health insurance costs. During the summer, I appointed an independent chairperson, Mr. Pat McLoughlin,...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Prices (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I am glad that the Deputy has raised this important issue. It is the third leg of the health stool - the Department, the HSE and the VHI - and is responsible for 80% of pay-outs. I am determined that we address the cost base. Why do we pay the same sort of money for a procedure that used to take two hours that now only takes 20 minutes? I discussed this matter with the VHI. After much...

Other Questions: Health Insurance Prices (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: -----is shaking his head. His Minister made a mess of the health service. I could tell the Deputy that I have been two and half years in the Department and that it takes longer to get things off the ground in health than in other Departments, but I will not, as that is what his leader, Deputy Martin, stated in 2002.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Estimates (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: It is too early to say whether a supplementary budget will be required in 2013. Significant savings have been required of the health services since the downturn in the economy. The budget provision for health has reduced by some €1.5bn on the 2008 provision and, taking into account the need to provide for increases in demand, the underlying reduction in health spend is over...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Remuneration (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: The health service is the most complex sector of the Irish public service and employs approximately one-third of all public service staff. Despite the substantial reductions in financial and staff resources which have been necessary in recent years, the health budget accounts for approximately €13 billion annually. In addition, the health service is the subject of an ongoing major...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cochlear Implants (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Beaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland's national cochlear implant programme, with surgical provision for patients under six (6) years being carried out in the Children's University Hospital Temple Street. Since the programme commenced seventeen years ago (in 1995), over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Improving access for patients to inpatient and daycase treatment is a priority for this Government and significant progress was made in 2012 towards maximum waiting time targets. However, 2013 has been very challenging. While waiting list numbers tend to increase in the first few months of any year, the increase in 2013 was much greater than expected, associated with the unusual wintry...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Substance Misuse Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Proposals are currently being finalised on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy 2012. These proposals cover all of the areas mentioned in the report, including legislation on minimum unit pricing; controls on alcohol advertising and sponsorship; labelling of alcohol products; measures on access and availability of alcohol and a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Discharges (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 53 together. The operational definition of a delayed discharge is “A patient who remains in hospital after a senior doctor (consultant or registrar grade) has documented in the medical chart that the patient can be discharged.” The number of delayed discharges nationally, as at 17th September 2013, is 653. Of these, 529 are reported as...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Inspections (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: The prevention and control of Health care Associated Infections (HCAIs) is one of my priorities in protecting patient safety. HCAIs represent a major cause of preventable patient harm and increased health care costs. Established as an independent statutory body under the Health Act 2007, the Health Information and Quality Authority's (HIQA) mandate extends across the quality and safety of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Diseases Strategy Publication (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Work on the drafting of a National Plan is well under way with publication of it earmarked for the end of the year. As the particular queries raised by the Deputy are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cochlear Implants (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Beaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland’s national cochlear implant programme, with surgical provision for patients under six years being carried out in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Since the programme commenced in 1995, over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in 2012 (42...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Domestic Violence Refuges (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Wexford Women's Refuge is a Limited Company run by a voluntary Board of Management. While the HSE commission the service of the Wexford women's refuge through a service level agreement, it is the voluntary Board of Management who are legally responsible for any decisions that are made in relation to how the service is delivered. The reduction in service provision in Wexford Women's Refuge...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: Comprehensive, multi-level approaches are required to address the obesity epidemic. For this reason the Minister for Health has established a Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) whom he meets with regularly to progress the obesity prevention agenda. SAGO is concentrating on a range of measures and initiatives to help reverse the growing prevalence of obesity in the Irish population. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I would like to assure the Deputy that addressing the health needs of those affected by narcolepsy, with symptom onset post pandemic vaccination, continues to be a priority for my Department. This includes consideration of all possible supports which may need to be put in place for those diagnosed. I, along with officials of my Department continue to work closely with the Health Service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (26 Sep 2013)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 260 and 261 together. There is ongoing and intensive engagement each month between officials of my Department and the HSE in the context of regular monitoring of expenditure. My Department also provides detailed analysis each month on expenditure trends to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and there is regular engagement between officials...