Results 23,141-23,160 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I fully 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. Reflecting the demographic pressures associated with the growth in our aging population, this year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services Provision (23 Oct 2018)

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 Action Plans (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2019 the Government has prioritised improving access and reducing waiting times for patients, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019, of which, €6 million will be committed to outpatient activity. To date in 2018, the NTPF has approved almost 12,700 additional first-time...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (23 Oct 2018)

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: Abortion Legislation (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The issue of consent is addressed in section 22, which clearly states that the provisions of the Bill will operate within the existing legal provisions in regard to consent for medical procedures. The Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners of the Medical Council provides thorough information on the appropriate process to be followed to obtain valid...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Brexit Issues (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland which is comprised of experts from a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: In Budget 2019 the Government has prioritised improving access and reducing waiting times for patients, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019, of which, €6 million will be committed to outpatient activity. To date in 2018, the NTPF has approved almost 12,700 additional first-time...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (23 Oct 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: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,700 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,669 as at July 2018. The number of GPs holding GMS contracts has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,507 as at 1 September 2018. The Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy has been provided by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) at Hospital Group level and can be found on the attached spread sheet. Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and day case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Arising from the recommendations in the Health Service Capacity Review, my Department engaged with the HSE this year to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which could be frontloaded to address pressures being experienced in our hospital Emergency Departments. This process culminated in the development by the HSE of a Capacity Plan, which identified over 600...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2019 (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I would like to assure the Deputy that Sláintecare was my main priority in terms of the allocation of new funding in Budget 2019. The 2019 Budget features over €200m which will directly support a range of additional services including initiatives proposed in the Sláintecare Report and committed to in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy including: - Ringfenced funding...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: On 12 September 2018, the Final Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, was published following a Government decision. Government has accepted all 50 recommendations set out in the Report. These recommendations address issues identified through Dr Scally's extensive programme of work. I am committed to returning to Government...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reports (23 Oct 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: Hospitals Building Programme (23 Oct 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: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government remains committed to increasing the consultant workforce. Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants employed in the public health service has increased by 118 in the 12 months to end August 2018 and by 479 in the past five years to 3,032 (whole time equivalents). The Public Sector Pay Commission in its Report published on 4 September...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Policy (23 Oct 2018)

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: Medical Card Administration (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE strives to have an application process for medical cards which is as streamlined and straightforward as possible for all applicants. Assistance is offered to persons completing application forms through the National Medical Card Unit and Local Health Offices. The application process for medical cards for persons over the age of 70 years is now more straightforward as a gross income...