Results 20,221-20,240 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am very much aware of the concerns that women in Northern Ireland have regarding access to termination of pregnancy, which are similar to those faced by women in the Republic prior to the recent change in the law here as a result of the referendum. I hope that we arrive at a situation in the not too distant future where Northern Ireland makes its own...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question and the succinct way in which she put it. I interpret this question as her specifically referring to the issue that has arisen in respect of secondary HPV testing and she can tell me if she wishes me to talk more broadly. I welcome the opportunity to clarify this matter in the House. Unfortunately, quite a bit of misinformation was put out, although...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is a strong advocate of the screening programme. When raising this issue, she always has been. However, a charge were made in this House by the leader of Fianna Fáil on an occasion when Members knew I was not here to respond. The charge was that I offered free repeat smear tests to women against official advice. That is false. That decision was made in conjunction with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: First, it is not true for anyone to suggest that GPs or many medical bodies oppose this decision. For example, my Department negotiated the provision of the repeat free smear test with the Irish Medical Organisation. We agreed a fee with the organisation. We paid GPs to provide this test and the Deputy agrees with me on this. Had we not done that, we would have had a situation where women...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. In March 2008, the HSE amended the qualifications specified for consultant posts to require membership of the specialist division of the register of medical practitioners. The register is maintained by the Medical Council. Notwithstanding that policy position, the HSE has been obliged in certain circumstances to appoint doctors who are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Instinctively I do, but I want to allow the HSE to complete this work. Given that it is imminent - it is due to be completed next month - I want to be guided by it. The HSE is pursuing a range of initiatives to improve the recruitment process and support those who are not on the specialist register to pursue registration. As the Deputy was good enough to acknowledge in his opening...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Medical Register Administration (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I take seriously the Deputy's suggestions and I will reflect on them. However, the Medical Council is the regulator of our doctors. It is important for our citizens and patients to know that there is no suggestion - the Deputy Donnelly has not suggested it - that these doctors who are not on the specialist register are not fully qualified in medicine. This important point has been...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I will be here to speak about CervicalCheck tomorrow.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Improving access to hospital appointments and procedures is a key commitment of Government. I hope to publish the Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 shortly. This plan which is a joint collaboration between my Department, the HSE and the NTPF, will set out commitments aimed at improving access for patients waiting for hospital operations or procedures, as well as patients waiting for a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that the current time to access occupational therapy services can be too long and that this may cause anxiety for parents and patients who are currently waiting to access services. That is why the HSE will be prioritising investment in OT in 2019 to reduce waiting times and improve access to services. Across the country, 40 additional OT posts will be recruited by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Dental treatment for medical card holders is provided under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). Services available annually include an examination, two fillings and emergency extractions. More complex care and a broader range of treatments for patients with special needs and high risk patients is also provided, some of which requires prior approval. Preventive care, screening...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I accept that the current time to access primary care therapy services can be too long and that this may cause anxiety for individuals who are currently waiting to access services. It is for this reason that the expansion of primary care was prioritised as part of the National Service Planning process for 2019. Overall funding for primary care increased by more than €50m or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Groups (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I am committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Since 2014, the focus has been on supporting the hospital to develop and enhance management capability, implementing changes required to address clinical service deficiencies, and incorporating the hospital into the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Under section 18 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, the HSE is required to submit a report to the Minister each year on the operation of reviews in the immediately preceding year. The Minister must, as soon as possible after receiving the report, cause copies of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. The HSE shall then arrange for the report...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to children who have the greatest level of need and who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. The HSE aims to commence treatment for the majority of patients within two years of assessment with patients with greatest clinical need being prioritised for treatment. In Cork Kerry Community Healthcare area (CHO 4)...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID- pronounced “skid”) is a rare but treatable genetic disorder that affects the immune cells in infants. Infants with SCID appear healthy at birth but are highly susceptible to severe infections. All babies (between 3 and 5 days old) born in Ireland are currently screened for 8 rare but serious medical conditions as part of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I have been advised by the HSE that the GP post in Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim was offered to the successful candidate and that the candidate has accepted the post. A tentative start date of early May has been agreed. In line with the HSE protocol for filling such vacancies, the HSE and the candidate must now complete the contractual paperwork, vetting and references. As the candidate is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Trade Union Recognition (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 88, 104, 387 and 402 together. SIPTU is the main union recognised by the HSE and has negotiating rights for front-line ambulance grades employed by the Executive. Unite and FORSA also represent some ambulance grades. As a result, the HSE deducts subscriptions at source for those ambulance staff that are members of those unions. However, the National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Expenditure Programme (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive is currently developing its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 and beyond having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway and the relevant priority of each project. The requirements of the new children's hospital and other health capital...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and €75 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in Budget 2019 to provide treatment for patients. I hope to publish the joint Department of Health/HSE/NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 for inpatient, day case and outpatients shortly. The plan will...