Results 19,861-19,880 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Hospitals Building Programme. (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: -----and he aspires to be Minister for Health and Children, I expect a bit better from him. On many of the reforms, whether it is HIQA, the fair deal, the hygiene standards, the cancer control programme or changing how we remunerate pharmacists, everything has been opposed by Deputy Reilly. That is a fact.
- Nursing Home Charges. (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: My brief contains the HIA statistics. If there is any need to correct the record, I will certainly do that.
- Written Answers — Assisted Human Reproduction: Assisted Human Reproduction (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: My Department is developing proposals for an appropriate regulatory framework, including legislation, in respect of Assisted Human Reproduction. The work involves, among other things, examining the approaches to regulation in other jurisdictions and considering the ethical and legal issues that arise. It will also take into account any report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and...
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I am aware of the Irish Nurses' Organisation survey which suggests that 705 acute and non-acute beds were closed at the beginning of October 2009. The most recent HSE acute hospital bed census indicates that, at 25 October 2009, there were 554 acute beds closed for cost containment reasons. A further 226 beds were closed for clinical and operational reasons. This includes infection control...
- Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I have no plans to review the NTPF's statutory remit. Its operation is subject to ongoing monitoring and review to ensure that resources are used efficiently and are targeted so that they achieve the greatest benefit for patients. I have emphasised to the Fund the need for maximum cost-effectiveness, consistent with safe and effective care. I have asked it to seek even better value from...
- Written Answers — Cystic Fibrosis Screening: Cystic Fibrosis Screening (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The report of the Working Group established by the HSE on Services for People with Cystic Fibrosis was recently published on the HSE's website. Amongst its recommendations was that a neonatal screening programme should be established. A Steering Group, 'Newborn Screening for Cystic Fibrosis', was established in June 2009, under the Chairmanship of Professor Gerry Loftus, Professor of...
- Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: In 2008, the Health Service Executive (HSE) spent nearly â¬1.786 billion on the medical card and GP visit card schemes. The 2009 allocation is â¬1.888 billion. To date, the HSE's monthly Service Plan reports show that the medical card and GP visit card monthly expenditure has been within the overall expenditure projected for the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. My Department and the...
- Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the country will be offered the vaccine. However, initially the vaccine...
- Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: All persons ordinarily resident in Ireland have full eligibility for hospital services. Although public hospitals treat private patients, the core purpose of the public system is to provide services for public patients. Government policy has been to ensure there is equitable access for public patients and, accordingly, that the proportion of private activity is appropriately controlled....
- Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 118 and 125 together. The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes met with officials from my Department and the Health Service Executive in February 2009 and my Department also prepared and submitted to the Group an evaluation paper detailing the areas of expenditure under the Health Group of Votes. The recommendations of the...
- Written Answers — Health Service Quality Standards: Health Service Quality Standards (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: In January 2007, as part of the Government's commitment to ensuring patient safety and quality in our health service, I established a Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance to develop clear and practical recommendations to ensure that quality and safety of care for patients is paramount within our healthcare system. The Commission's report - Building a Culture of Patient Safety -...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The review in question was commissioned by the Health Service Executive in order to inform plans for the organisation and delivery of adult critical care services within the acute hospital system. I understand that the report is being finalised at present. A decision on publication will be made when the report is completed.
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 108 together. I am currently considering the recommendations in the report of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group and it is my intention to publish the report on my Department's website shortly.
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 151 together. The payment of the 2007 bonus to the CEO of the HSE was not in contravention of a letter sent from my Department to the HSE in May 2009 as it is manifestly a bonus in respect of two years prior. Many other bonuses were paid within the public service, including the HSE, in relation to 2007. The approval of performance-related payments to...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
- Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The HSE has indicated that the capital development cost of the hospital will be approximately â¬750 million. It is intended that â¬400 million of this funding will be provided from the Exchequer. The remainder will be raised from other sources, including philanthropic contributions. A sub-committee of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is to be established in this regard.
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The Government is committed to ensuring quality health services, delivered efficiently and effectively. Ensuring patient safety is paramount, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes are achieved. There is significant international and national evidence that acute complex healthcare, particularly for emergency medicine, complex surgical...
- Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124, 136 and 152 together. The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the...
- Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (4 Nov 2009)
Mary Harney: The matter raised by the Deputy is the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.