Results 21,401-21,420 of 45,789 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: It certainly is. The Bill provides that it shall be an offence for a person by any means whatsoever to intentionally end the life of a foetus, otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Bill. Officials from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General have considered a number of different ways of phrasing this offence. The wording put forward in the Bill is the...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I am happy to clarify that. I want to reiterate that, from an operational perspective, this legislation is trans-inclusive. We will take on board the findings of the Government's review of the Gender Recognition Act. We have also ensured that the explanatory memorandum is clear on this, as too will be the clinical guidelines.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 contain provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Delays (11 Dec 2018)

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: HSE Governance (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive together. As the question refers to a Section 38 Agency which is governed by the Health Service Executive, this is a matter for the HSE. This question has been referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Properties (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Dec 2018)

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: Primary Care Centres Provision (11 Dec 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: Medical Negligence Claims (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: An alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process was put in place by the Courts in late 2015. This means that any person seeking compensation on foot of being fitted with the recalled DePuy ASR hip resurfacing device or DePuy ASR XL total hip replacement implants must now pursue their case through this process in the first instance. Details of how to access this process are available at...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (11 Dec 2018)

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: Hospital Waiting Lists (11 Dec 2018)

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: Health Services Reform (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE launched the Incident Management Framework in January 2018.  The HSE Incident Management Framework is designed to provide health and social care services with a practical and proportionate approach to the management of incidents.  The HSE Incident Management Framework seeks to place a particular emphasis on supporting the needs of service users, families and staff in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management and maintenance of healthcare infrastructure, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Discharges (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2018, I appointed Graham Knowles, Chairperson of the University of Limerick Hospital Group, to chair a Working Group to carry out an independent expert review of delayed discharges. Delayed discharges result in longer lengths of stay for patients, impact on patient flow and contribute to congestion within the hospital system, including in our Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 357 together. It is understood that the Askeaton Protocol to which the Deputy refers is the 'Disease Cluster Investigation Protocol'. I am informed by the HSE that the protocol is still in use in relation to investigations of potential emissions from industrial facilities that can cause damage to human health. The correspondence to which the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together. I take it that the Deputy is referring to the on-going preparation for the move to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism for CervicalCheck. As the Deputy will be aware, switching to HPV testing as the primary screening mechanism will require a reconfiguration of laboratory services. While it is likely that a tendering...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Legislative Measures (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government approved the general scheme of the Patient Safety Bill on 5 July 2018. The Bill provides the legislative framework for a number of important patient safety issues, including providing in legislation for mandatory open disclosure of “serious patient safety incidents” and the notification of such incidents to the appropriate regulatory body and the State Claims...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 which specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. Before any medicinal product can be assessed for reimbursement by the HSE, it is required to have been granted a marketing authorisation by either the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: On 24 July 2018, the HSE was requested by the Chief Medical Officer to pause all uro-gynaecological mesh procedures, in cases where it is clinically appropriate and safe to do so, pending confirmation by the HSE of the implementation of recommendations relating to (i) professional training requirements, (ii) patient information and consent and (iii) the development and maintenance of a...