Results 20,701-20,720 of 45,836 for speaker:Simon Harris

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,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

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

Simon Harris: Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for government. Budget 2019 announced a funding increase from €55 million to €75 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients. My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/day case and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: In September, the Executive Director of the Sláintecare Programme Office commenced refining the Implementation Strategy into a detailed Action Plan for 2019. I can confirm that the Action Plan 2019 has been developed and, following the finalisation of the HSE's National Service Plan, Project Teams are now being established to drive delivery. The Action Plan will be presented to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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: Primary Care Services Provision (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. 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: Alcohol Pricing (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The objective of Minimum Unit Pricing is to ensure that strong alcohol can no longer be sold at low prices and, in particular, to prevent it being sold at pocket money prices in order to protect our children. The 2013 Government Decision which approved the drafting of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill envisaged that Minimum Unit Pricing would be implemented simultaneously in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (24 Jan 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: EU Directives (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 177 and 181 together. The Safety Features Delegated Regulation (EU 2016/16) provides that from February 2019, most prescription medicines and a very small number of non-prescription medicines will have to carry ‘safety features’ on their outer packaging. These safety features take the form of an anti-tamper device (e.g. foil seal,...

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

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures is a key commitment of Government. The 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan is currently being finalised by my Department and will set out HSE activity levels to reduce waiting lists across specialties and improve access. The Access Plan will also set out activity levels for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) who, following...