Results 17,501-17,520 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (7 Feb 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Payments (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, General Practitioners are reimbursed for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. GPs can claim practice support subsidies towards the employment...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. Under s52 of the Health Act 1970, as amended by s12 of the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, a person who has been referred to a hospital for an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Data (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit. In this capacity, the Department of Health is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This co-operation also involves the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: A payment was made to the company in question in July 2017 following a procurement exercise through the Office of Government Procurement's Framework for the Provision of Security Software and Associated Reseller Services, in respect of maintenance and three year licensing for Sophos Anti Virus protection in the amount of €40,811.40.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: As the question raised by the Deputy relates to a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Appointments to State Boards Data (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision SI80/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Infectious Disease Epidemics (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borelliosis) 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 infection is generally mild affecting only the skin but can occasionally be more severe and highly debilitating. Lyme disease is diagnosed by medical history and physical examination....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for patients is one of the Government's key priorities. In addition, all patients are prioritised according to clinical need. The Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan 2017 contained a specific target to reduce by 50% the number of patients who would be waiting 15 months or more for outpatient appointments by removing over 95,000 patients from the Outpatient...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for patients is one of the Government's key priorities. In addition, all patients are prioritised according to clinical need. The HSE Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan 2017 contained a specific target to reduce by 50% the number of patients who would be waiting 15 months or more for outpatient appointments by the end of October 2017. The Plan aimed to remove...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Funding (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Terms of Reference and the scope of the Capacity Review did not include the costing of additional capacity. The Review was tasked with outlining the potential effects of reform scenarios on the demand for health and social care services. It was not tasked with modelling the potential impact of the Sláintecare proposals on future demand and capacity, although the reform scenarios...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Vice Chairman. I apologise for the late delivery of my script and the answers to questions. My officials and I will endeavour to work with the committee secretariat to ensure a more satisfactory situation in future. I welcome the opportunity to once again appear before the committee. I am joined by my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Vice Chairman for bringing that issue to my attention also. I received the letter too. The Vice Chairman's comments are 100% correct. It is very important that our public bodies, in particular the HSE in this case, remain entirely impartial. Obviously, the health service will implement the laws of the land where any decision is taken by the Irish people. This is not the first...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I will take the queries in order. I thank Deputy Kelleher for his questions. I very much appreciated that when he said "Here we go again", he included the word "again". He spoke about observing HSE budgets for the last seven years. If one examines budgets since the HSE was established, one sees a recurring issue. In fact, looking at some of the progress we made on the HSE's budget last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Maybe they are. The Deputy is right about predictability and avoidability. I will not play a word game and confuse everybody. The point I am trying to make is that everybody knows. If the Deputy was sitting in the chair I am in now, we would all know the pressures our hospitals come under. They are pressures our hospitals are always under but we know that tipping point is hit every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I thank the Cathaoirleach. I thank Deputy O'Connell for raising a number of important issues, as always. On the issue regarding the morning-after pill, I obviously do not have enough facts to comment with any degree of certainty other than to say I want to live in a country and see a health service that provides women with access to the supports that they are legally entitled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I always appreciate the Vice Chairman highlighting good news.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I am sick and tired of the Deputy highlighting all the good news around this place. To be serious, I appreciate her comment. She is correct on this and I hope we can do something about it. I have written down a word that I cannot read so if I have forgotten a question by the Vice Chairman, she might tell me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I have the response on that. I have asked the chief medical officer to do a body of work on this. I saw the programme in question and have heard about the experiences of women who have had very debilitating conditions and who face very upsetting circumstances. I have noted the impact on their families. I have to balance this with the comments of the clinicians on the programme. They said...