Results 17,201-17,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Groups (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the review of Emergency Care Units which the Saolta University Hospital Group has been undertaking. The Group has been reviewing emergency medicine in all hospitals within the Group with a view to improving quality and safety of emergency care provided. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how it will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Programme for Government Initiatives (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has embarked upon a major multi annual programme of health reform, the aim of which is to deliver universal healthcare, where all people can access the health services they need, of sufficient quality to be effective, while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose them to financial hardship. In April 2014, the White Paper on Universal Health Insurance was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Last November I received approval from Government to the drafting of a Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. This Bill is now being drafted as a matter of priority. This is a different Bill to the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The latter is effectively a Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) No. 1 Bill, with the other a No. 2 Bill as soon...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Response Times (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Over the past few years, the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has undertaken very significant reconfiguration, and modernisation, of its services. The NAS now operates on a national and regional, rather than a local, basis. Ambulance resources, including rapid response vehicles with advanced paramedics, are dynamically deployed over an area, from individual stations within, and surrounding,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: As part of the winter capacity planning initiative for 2015/16, an additional 301 beds were commissioned to open on a phased basis to ease pressures in emergency departments. 202 of these beds are open to date and it is expected that the remainder will be available by the end of February. In addition, the HSE identified a further 154 closed beds in the system, which it is intended to re-open...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are unacceptable and I have been clear in my determination that these waiting times are reduced, through additional resources and capacity. Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Funding was allocated in 2015 for additional consultant posts including two...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is keen to progress academic linkages between hospital groups and their academic partners. The Deputy can therefore be assured that my Department supports the development of academic and teaching capacity at University Hospital Waterford, and recognises the benefits that this will bring in terms of clinical standards and the ability to attract and retain clinical staff....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staffing (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: There is an international nursing and medical manpower shortage, leading to difficulties in recruiting nurses, doctors and consultants. This difficulty is being experienced by other English speaking countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada. Notwithstanding this, the HSE Census returns for the end of November 2015 show that we have over 880 more nurses employed in the public health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (2 Feb 2016)

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 Services Provision (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I recognise that overcrowding in Emergency Departments is an issue of genuine public concern. It is regrettable when patients experience long waits in Emergency Departments and I appreciate that this can be particularly distressing for patients and their families. The Saolta Group is working with hospitals within its region, including Mayo General Hospital, on an on-going basis to manage and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The agency expenditure totals in respect of University Hospital Waterford, for each of the last three years can be seen in the table below. Year € expenditure 2013 3,597,747.50 2014 6,289,020,99 2015 5,145,766.47 The November HSE Performance Report stated that in 2015 a particular focus was given to reducing agency and overtime. Overall, agency costs are falling in the HSE. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) report which was published on 26 January 2016, states that, according to its research, Ireland ranks 21 of 35 countries, up one place from the previous year. The report shows that Ireland is performing well compared with other countries in patient access to prevention services such as infant and HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation programmes and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I met with Arthritis Ireland previously where the issue of Arthritis Champions was discussed. A model of care is being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology and is currently undergoing the final stages of consultation/sign off prior to launch. The objectives of Arthritis Ireland will be considered by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology in its ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this 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 on the matter with you.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Discharges (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Data (2 Feb 2016)

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 Consultants Recruitment (2 Feb 2016)

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: Hospitals Expenditure (2 Feb 2016)

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: HSE Properties (2 Feb 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates a protocol for the disposal of surplus property assets. This protocol sets out three options. 1. Does a State Agency require the property? 2. Open market sale, subject to favourable market conditions. 3 Community/voluntary use will be considered only if points 1 and 2 above do not materialise. The Health Service Executive is required to obtain...