Results 17,581-17,600 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 52 and 54 together. Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding in 2017, and a further €40 million in 2018, has been made available to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The most recent NTPF figures published for December 2017 show that there was a total of 41,678 people on the Outpatient waiting list for hospitals in the Children's Hospital Group. 65% of these children (26,958) are waiting up to 12 months and 35% (14,720) are waiting over 12 months for a first Outpatient appointment. The HSE has confirmed there have been challenges in addressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Feb 2018)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Legal Cases (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: This matter is the subject of litigation in which plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy (cataplexy) resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. As Deputies would be aware, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on individual cases or matters that are the subject of litigation. However, I can provide background information...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: 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 Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. As such, €30 million in additional funding in 2017, and €40 million in 2018, was made available as part of the Budget 2018 to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over this winter period and strengthen capacity moving forward. As part of the package of measures...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Industrial Disputes (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60, 61, 74 and 243 together. Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE provides financial assistance to organisations by means of a grant. Section 39 legally underpins the provision of services similar or supplementary to a service that the HSE may provide. In 2017, the HSE provided funding of approximately€800 million to over 2,200 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 85 together. Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Citizens Assembly (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: My Department is examining the ancillary recommendations in the Joint Committee's report. This includes consideration of the nature and scope of a free contraception service and of what the introduction of such a service would involve. Officials in my Department, under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, have established a group to address the recommendations and formulate an...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen capacity moving forward. Since the start of this winter,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Programme (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has put in place a process to examine possible changes to Article 40.3.3 of the constitution. The Government established a Citizen’s Assembly, in line with its Programme for Partnership Government commitment, to consider a number of matters including constitutional reform. The Assembly first considered the Eighth Amendment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Notwithstanding significant recruitment and retention challenges, including global shortages, considerable progress has been made in the past four years in growing the numbers of front line staff working in the public health services, including doctors and nurses, as additional resources have become available. The number of consultants has increased by 109 in the 12 months ending...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 221 and 233 together. Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the statutory body responsible for standards, education and training in the area of pre-hospital emergency care. PHECC's statutory functions encompass the recognition and assessment of institutions providing education and training in pre-hospital care and the determination of the standards for training courses. PHECC has a long standing,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: On foot of the 2017 HPRA report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’ I announced the establishment of a cannabis for medical use access programme for patients under the care of a consultant and suffering from certain medical conditions which have failed to respond to all other previous treatments. The Programme is intended to facilitate access to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for patients is one of the Government's key priorities. Throughout 2017, the HSE and NTPF worked together to drive down long wait times for Inpatient and Daycase procedures. Over 29,000 patients came off the Inpatient/Daycase waiting list by the end of October . In order to continue the strong focus on reducing waiting times for scheduled care, Budget 2018 included...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times for Ophthalmology patients are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people's lives. Data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund indicates that as of 29 December 2017 there were 23 people waiting for an outpatient Ophthalmology appointment in Mercy University Hospital and 13 people waiting for an Inpatient/Daycase...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Correspondence (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I approved the NSP 2018 on its own merits and, as required under legislation, assessed it by reference to relevant legislative provisions, the letter of determination, the policies and objectives of the Government and the HSE’s approved Corporate Plan. It is the responsibility of the HSE to manage the entire budget and to set out in its Service Plan what can be delivered in the coming...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (8 Feb 2018)

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