Results 14,921-14,940 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: Medicinal Products Availability (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I am informed that it will be done from 1 November.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I supported the establishment of the cross-party Committee on the Future of Healthcare and have consistently supported its work. I have welcomed the publication of the Sláintecare report and in particular I have been encouraged by the level of cross party and stakeholder support that it has attracted. The Government is committed to making tangible and sustainable improvements in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that all 2016 and 2017 nursing and midwifery graduates will be offered permanent contracts by the HSE. These offers will be subject to the usual recruitment requirements. Nursing and midwifery recruitment and retention is a priority for the Government and officials in my Department are liaising with the HSE on a weekly basis to review progress on the appointment of nursing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Service Level Agreements (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Previous information provided to the Deputy from the Health Service Executive (HSE) in response to PQ 36159/17 in July last regarding organisations in receipt of funding in excess of €1m from the HSE showed that a total of €3.574bn funding is provided to 207 Service Provider organisations through Service Agreements. At that time Service Agreements were not in place for 26...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Capacity Review (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I wish to thank the Irish Hospital Consultants Association for its comprehensive submission as part of the Health Capacity Review. This review is currently being undertaken by my Department and will examine both current capacity across the health system including in acute hospitals, primary care and social care, and the drivers of future demand moving to 2030. This review is due to be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The Saolta University Healthcare Group has advised that it recognises that the diagnostic waiting times at University Hospital Galway are unduly lengthy. In order to address this deficit at UHG, the Saolta Group is currently undertaking a tender for a mobile MRI machine that will allow the Hospital to significantly increase its capacity to provide diagnostic scans. The Saolta Group is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE advises that all patient referrals for primary care ophthalmology appointments are being monitored closely and prioritised according to clinical need. Additional clinics are in place to deal with the waiting list in South Galway, where there has been difficulty in recruiting a Community Ophthalmologist. The HSE continues to make every effort to ensure that children are seen in a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Letterkenny University hospital provides essential high-quality hospital care to patients in the Northwest. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop the diabetes service at the Hospital. Adult diabetes services at Letterkenny are currently provided by a consultant endocrinologist, supported by a locum consultant general physician with an interest in diabetes. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children including early intervention services, and to improving access by these children to therapy services insofar as possible within available resources. Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Within this...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The Emergency Department in Cavan has been performing well to date in 2017, having a 68% reduction in trolley numbers at the Hospital in comparison with the same period in 2016. The RCSI Hospital Group has identified the need for development of the resuscitation area in Cavan Emergency Department. Future investment in Cavan General Hospital will be considered within the overall acute...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The provision of medication to patients is based on clinical criteria and is a matter for the treating Consultant. Instigation of the oral contraceptive pill for family planning reasons is generally a community based activity. However, while an acute hospital would seldom instigate the combined oral contraceptive pill, I have been informed by the HSE that there may be occasions when...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has advised that Carrigaline Primary Care Centre is currently being equipped and is expected to be operational by the end of 2017. In relation to the services provided in the Centre, as the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to making tangible and sustainable improvements in our health services and the Sláintecare report now provides a framework and a direction of travel to do this. As part of its work, the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare undertook significant consultation and engagement with a broad range of stakeholders to enable it to consider all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Infectious Diseases (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacteria. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE has extensive information concerning Lyme disease on its website www.hpsc.ie/a-z/vectorborne/lymedisease/. Lyme borreliosis can...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Waiting Lists (28 Sep 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: Emergency Departments Data (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 185 together. Recently published HSE data shows that at the end of June 2017 there were 18,173 emergency presentations at Mayo University Hospital, a reduction of 2.3% when compared with the same period last year. In line with this, recent HSE data shows a 41% reduction in trolley numbers at the Hospital in comparison with the same period in 2016. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 80 together. Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, provides that the HSE may ‘..give assistance to any person or body that provides or proposes to provide a service similar or ancillary to a service that the Executive may provide.’. Such assistance may range from contributing to the expenses incurred by that person or body to allowing them the use of an HSE premises. Financial assistance is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (28 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.