Results 20,641-20,660 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: What Deputy Donnelly has not heard from me today, and which he suggests he has heard from others, is that everything should have been done exactly the same as it was. I am not in a position to say that to this committee. I am not saying that to this committee. I am saying that I am going to follow the evidence in respect of what could have been done better. I do not think Deputy Donnelly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The individual referenced by the Deputy was on the board in an individual capacity based on his competencies, as was the case for all members. While the Deputy may not have intended to imply otherwise, the person was not representing the Office of Government Procurement or the Department of Finance.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: That is fair to say. However, procurement experts were hired by the board and the Government contracts committee was used. That individual was not the person on the board to make the decision on the procurement processing but, rather, was there in an individual capacity for a competency-based board. The Deputy returned to talking about building houses. It is fair to state she has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will understand that I cannot speak for-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I am very glad that the Deputy has made this point because some members of the committee, both here and in comments in the media, have suggested as the solution to the problem things that would halt the project. The project is not being halted. We are contractually committed to delivering the project and I am really proud that this hospital will be built. I guarantee that in years to come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Ministers do not award contracts. If they did, the Deputy would be asking-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: We will get to that in a moment. The Deputy would be asking me much more serious questions if we did. European Union procurement law dictates that companies can apply and people cannot be excluded from that procurement process. The Deputy is correct and it is a cause of great concern for us that we see on a number of projects extra claims coming in all the time. It would be the easiest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: No, I am not. I am just saying I cannot buy into the Deputy's narrative of how we arrived there. I have said it would politically be very convenient for me to do this, saying we had a project with a budget but this awful company came in and lobbed extra claims at us. That would wrap it up nicely in a bow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I am saying that when we examine the reasons behind the overrun, they are far more complex and numerous than a company putting in additional claims after bidding for a project. Let us see what the PricewaterhouseCoopers report suggests. I genuinely believe that to be the case. I will make decisions on the future governance of the project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As I said to Senator Mullen, the primary reasoning behind the location of the site must be the clinical outcomes for our children. The idea of co-locating a hospital with an acute adult teaching hospital like St. James's Hospital, as well as with a tri-located maternity hospital in due course, was a primary objective. I also do not believe, for the purposes of these conversations about...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Expenditure (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Health Service Executive on capital planning for 2019 and subsequent years having regard to the increased capital costs of the new children's hospital, following Government’s approval to proceed with Phase B of the new children's hospital and outpatient and urgent care centres.

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I am already on record as stating that the increased cost is a matter of great concern and I have made it clear that Phase B of the construction project must be delivered within budget and timescale.  The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board will be required to provide on-going assurance to the HSE, Department of Health and Government that Phase B of the project is being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (24 Jan 2019)

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: Hospitals Discharges (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Ensuring that patients who are clinically fit to leave hospital but require supports such as a home care package, transitional care, or a nursing home bed without delay is a priority this winter.  A major strength of the Winter Plan is the integrated nature of the plan and the involvement and ownership of management and staff in local hospitals and community health organisations in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: According to provisional data received from the HSE Acute Business Information Unit, there were on average 10,893 inpatient beds and 2,218 day case beds available nationally between January and December 2018. Information relating to closed beds is collated at a particular date in time. The number of beds closed can fluctuate greatly from day to day for a variety of reasons, including...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Services Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year, with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 and into 2019 has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE. In 2018 CHG delivered 418 scoliosis procedures. This represents an increase in activity of 12% against 2017 (371 procedures) and an increase in activity of 87% compared to 2016 when 224 procedures were carried out. In terms of the numbers waiting for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Good practice around the management of hospital waiting lists recommends periodic validation of waiting lists.   Validation is the process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals during the year to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or wish to be removed.   Importantly,...