Results 1,721-1,740 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: It is not satisfactory that wards or beds in any public hospital should have to be closed, other than for reasons relating to health care.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: We will spend over €12 billion this year on the delivery of health care to our relatively young population of over 4 million people. We have to do better with that money — that was the purpose of establishing a new unified system. The allocations for this year, which will be made to individual hospitals soon, will be based on performance and results, which was not the way money was...

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: If health care workers take industrial action of that kind, patients will be the only people to suffer.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: That is the sad reality, as I said to the doctors.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I remind Deputy McManus that the ratio of nurses to patients is higher in this country than anywhere else in the European Union. I mentioned that fact to the INO.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: One of the aspects of the ten-point plan——

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: We are trying to ensure that there is a sufficient number of staff to deal with patients.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Hospital cleanliness is one of the matters addressed in the ten-point plan. We are paying the top price to have our hospitals cleaned. Many cleaning contracts have been outsourced to big contractors, who are receiving huge amounts of money. Nobody is supervising the cleaning work in some cases, but that will change.

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: No hospital bed should be closed because of a lack of cleanliness. Everybody is paying big money to have hospitals cleaned. I have asked the director of the National Hospitals Office to introduce a new inspection and audit approach to ensure basic cleanliness in our acute hospitals, which is not too much to expect. I agree that many more people can be treated if hospital beds are put to...

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: There is no doubt that the volume of activity in our hospitals has increased significantly. While we must be fair and acknowledge that there are problems in accident and emergency services, they are part of the wider problem in the health system. Some people access hospitals through accident and emergency departments because they cannot access an appropriate outpatient department. There are...

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I apologise for failing to deal with that aspect of Deputy Twomey's contribution. I visited the new accident and emergency facility in Cork. The reason it has not opened has nothing to do with the failure to make resources available but with logistical issues. A date has been set for the opening of the department to which I will ensure Deputy Boyle is invited. If memory serves me correctly,...

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: As I do not have responsibility for the Health and Safety Authority, I do not have responsibility for its report. If the report is made available to me, I will have no difficulty publishing it. I am sure it will be obtainable under freedom of information provisions. It is not a matter on which legal advice will need to be taken. The capital programme is being finalised and will be announced...

Hospital Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 13, 18, 67, 79, 89, 108, 110, 114, and 118 together. Mobility of key personnel is a regular feature of the hospital system as demonstrated by the ease with which medical staff transfer from prestigious hospitals abroad to take up positions in Ireland. It is also the case that medical consultants in various oncology disciplines, including medical oncology,...

Hospital Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The whole intention is to improve the quality of services at regional level. In the case of the dedicated oncology ward, we need such a facility at Cork University Hospital. It is intended that a dedicated oncology ward will be provided when the new day ward is opened. I hope that will happen soon. A replacement consultant will be sought as quickly as possible. In regard to BreastCheck, I...

Hospital Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I will come back to the Deputy on that. I am having inquiries made.

Written Answers — Independent Reviews: Independent Reviews (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The report of the panel established by the former Minister for Health and Children to carry out an independent review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Róisín Ruddle was submitted to me on 7 February 2005 and it was published on my Department's website on Thursday, 10 February. The panel's principal finding was that if Róisín's operation had gone ahead as planned on 30 June...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: As indicated in the Health Service Executive's organisational design, the local health offices will be key units of delivery for its primary community and continuing care directorate. Each local health office will be located within the existing 32 community care offices. At present there is a general manager assigned with responsibility for managing all community based services from these...

Written Answers — National Cancer Strategy: National Cancer Strategy (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The national cancer forum is currently finalising a new national cancer strategy which is expected to be completed in the summer. The national cancer forum, a multi-disciplinary group of experts in cancer care, has conducted an extensive consultation process with professional bodies, voluntary organisations and the general public. In developing an organisational model for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Debt Collection: Debt Collection (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: The management and control of the application of patient charges, together with the collection of outstanding debts, is a matter for individual hospitals, including voluntary hospitals, and for the Health Service Executive in its role in managing and delivering health and personal social services. My Department has, therefore, passed the Deputy's question to the chief officer of each of...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I proppose to take Questions Nos. 15, 101 and 111 together. I am committed to the national roll out of a cervical screening programme in line with international best practise. International evidence demonstrates the proven efficacy of programmes that are effectively managed and meet quality assurance standards. Careful planning and consultation with relevant professional and advocacy...