Results 21,821-21,840 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year. My...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Island Communities (5 Dec 2018)

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: Cancer Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Mater Hospital runs a Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinic and Rapid Access Clinics for lung and prostate cancer. In October, the key performance indicators set out in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 for access to the three clinics were reached as follows: Clinic Target Performance - Oct.2018 Symptomatic Breast Disease Clinic 95% of referrals triaged as urgent to be seen within...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the INMO and the PNA have rejected recent pay proposals. The INMO are currently conducting a ballot of their members seeking a mandate for industrial action. While the Government will respect the outcome of this ballot, I would continue to urge the parties to continue to engage. Indeed, I understand that the parties have been invited to attend a meeting of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Issues (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government’s overriding priority at present is to work towards the finalisation of the draft Withdrawal Agreement and the political declaration on the EU-UK future relationship. However, any Brexit scenario will mean considerable change and impact for Ireland. Government Departments and Agencies are undertaking extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Incidence (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 143 together. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory function in relation to reimbursement of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: While I cannot comment on individual cases or matters that are the subject of litigation, one of which is a case managed by the High Court concerning the issue of Discovery, I can provide background information on this litigation and clarify matters that are already in the public domain. As of 3 December 2018, the State Claims Agency (SCA) has been notified of potential claims being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: My priority is and will remain the provision of services of the highest quality. It is important to be clear that the Report of the Scoping Inquiry into CervicalCheck, published on 12 September on the website of my Department, provides welcome reassurance on the quality of all laboratories currently contracted to provide services for CervicalCheck, including the private laboratories...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Increasing hospital bed capacity is a priority for this Government. Over the past 12 months an additional 240 beds have been opened nationally. A further 78 additional acute beds are expected to be opened in early 2019 across the country. In addition, my Department is currently in discussion with the HSE, in the context of the National Service Plan 2019, to identify the sites for investment...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. It is against this background that the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 recommended an increase in acute hospitals beds of over 2,600 by 2031 to support the projected increase in demand for services in the years ahead....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year. My...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Department and HSE recommenced engagement with the Irish Medical Organisation in early October on a package of measures comprising service improvements and contractual modernisation and reform. The goal is to develop a contractual framework that has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion, disease prevention and for the structured care of chronic...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Services Provision (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I am committed to the development of the new maternity hospital on the St Vincent's campus. This is a vital project for women and babies in Ireland, representing the flagship project of the National Maternity Strategy and the largest single investment ever made in maternity services in Ireland. Considerable work has been undertaken to develop a legal framework to protect the State's...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (5 Dec 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I have been quite clear that care in the new maternity hospital on the St. Vincent's University Hospital campus will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction and as such any medical procedure which is in accordance with the laws of the land will be carried out there. Considerable work has been undertaken to develop a legal framework to protect the State's significant...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Arising from the court cases relating to CervicalCheck the Government agreed that High Court Judge Charles Meenan would be requested to review, in the case of women affected by CervicalCheck issues, mechanisms which avoid, wherever possible, women and their families having to give evidence in court. The Judge was requested on 2 August, 2018 to undertake this review. The Terms of Reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Recruitment and retention of nurses remains a priority for this Government. Last year, the Government concluded an overall Public Service Stability Agreement with public sector unions which sees very significant increases in public service pay, including for nurses. In line with that Agreement, in recent weeks, the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) concluded a review in respect of key...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Incidence (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Based on data from the National Cancer Registry, the number of women who have been diagnosed with Stage IV cervical cancer in the Republic of Ireland in each of the years 2015 to 2017 is set out as follows: Cancer Type 2015 2016 2017 Cervical (Stage IV) 31 29 37 These figures relate to the stage at the time of the patient’s initial diagnosis with cervical cancer, or within a...