Results 15,681-15,700 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: There have been considerable improvements in the delivery of services in Emergency Departments over the past two years. For example, there has been a reduction in the average daily number of patients awaiting admission from 179 in 2005 to 92 in 2007. The figure for the first five months of 2008 was 99. National data was unavailable since early June because of industrial action taken by...

Written Answers — Financial Management Practices: Financial Management Practices (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has its own Vote and the Chief Executive Officer is the Accounting Officer for the Vote. It must manage its Vote in accordance with the standard Public Financial Procedures. This includes the preparation of the Annual Appropriation Account which is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. As Accounting Officer, the Chief Executive Officer submits...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I have had ongoing discussions with the Chairperson and CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding its plans to introduce revised management structures at both national and regional level in order to improve the delivery of health and personal social services. The overall result of these changes will be: better integration of primary, community and hospital care for the benefit of...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: The objective of the National Cancer Control Programme is to improve survival rates for persons diagnosed with cancer. It was established just over a year ago and the Director of the Programme took up his post last November. The Programme involves moving from the present fragmented system of care to one which is consistent with international best practice. Eight centres have been designated...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 267 together. Last April the Health Information and Quality Authority published its report of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the provision of care to the person concerned in relation to her symptomatic breast disease, the pathology services at Cork University Hospital and symptomatic breast disease services at the Mid Western...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: BreastCheck commenced roll-out in the Western Region in May 2007 and in the Southern region last October. I officially opened the BreastCheck clinical static units in Galway and Cork last December. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the Southern region covers counties Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary South Riding. The expansion of the BreastCheck programme to the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: The specific question raised by the Deputy relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the HSE under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Persons and their dependants who would otherwise experience undue hardship in meeting the cost of General Practitioner (GP) services qualify for a medical card, which entitles them to a range of health services free of charge. In general, eligibility for a medical card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE) following an examination of the means of the applicant and his/her...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Funding is received from the UK Government in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1408/71. In relation to healthcare, the provisions of the regulations ensure that where people are affiliated with the healthcare system of one member state (insured with that system or covered by it), but residing or staying in another member state, they can access the public healthcare system of that member...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Ireland's recommended immunisation programme is based on the guidelines of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines are prepared with the assistance of an active committee from associated disciplines in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice and public health. As part of the Primary Childhood Immunisation...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 329, 330 and 331 together. Tackling all Health Care Associated Infections (HCAIs), including MRSA and C. difficile, continues to be a priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE launched a National Infection Control Action Plan in March 2007. An Infection Control Steering Group is responsible for overseeing the...

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 170 together. A primary objective of Government policy in health insurance is that it should be affordable for the broadest possible cross section of the community including older people and those who suffer ill-health. This policy objective has been implemented through a substantial body of primary and secondary legislation providing for open...

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 305 and 306 together. Under the Health Act 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. This includes operational responsibility for the establishment of Primary Care Teams and Primary Care Centres. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I understand that Deputy is referring to St. Vincent's Hospital and the Mater Hospital. Both of these hospitals are designated centres under the National Cancer Control Programme and so will not operate as a single designated centre. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has designated University Hospital Galway and Limerick Regional Hospital as the two cancer centres in the Managed Cancer...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Subject to overall parameters set by Government, the Health Service Executive has the responsibility for determining the composition of its staffing complement. In that regard, it is a matter for the Executive to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. The Executive...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: The fundamental objective of the Government in health policy continues to be to maximise the health status of the population. The Government is committed not only to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible but to doing so in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and...

Written Answers — Pharmacy Services: Pharmacy Services (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 339 together. The Government remains of the view that the costs of pharmacy services under the GMS and community drugs schemes are not sustainable, a view that is reinforced by the current budgetary challenges. It is clear that there are significant savings capable of being made for taxpayers, presently and in the future. My Department is considering...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the 1970 Health Act, the Health Service Executive may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition, through the Long Term Illness Scheme (LTI). The LTI does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments. The conditions are: mental handicap, mental illness (for people...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: In November 2006 I informed the Board of the National Cancer Registry (NCR) that I had decided that its functions should form part of the Health Service Executive's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP). Following the appointment of the National Director of the NCCP the position was reviewed and it was agreed to postpone the integration of the NCR into the HSE until the roll out of...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (30 Sep 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services, including ambulance services, has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...