Results 23,161-23,180 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Improving access to health care services is a key priority in 2019. I understand that the works in relation to the planned modular build at South Tipperary General Hospital are progressing and that recruitment processes are currently in train, with the objective of opening the new 40-bed ward block in the first quarter of 2019.

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

Simon Harris: The development of a sustainable scoliosis service has been prioritised by my Department and the HSE in 2018. An additional €9 million was provided to the Children’s Hospital Group in 2018, to support the development and implementation of a sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service for children and young people. The increased investment in scoliosis has brought...

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: Hospital Services (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: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Considerable progress is being made in relation to the introduction of the Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme, the lack of availability of cannabis products in Ireland remains the most critical barrier to full implementation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme. Full establishment is dependent on the commercial operators making these products available in Ireland. Whilst...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (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: Disease Management (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacteria. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin but can occasionally be more severe and highly debilitating. Testing and treatment for Lyme borreliosis is widely available in...

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: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE assessed the application for the pricing and reimbursement of Respreeza and in August 2017, the manufacturer, CSL Behring, was notified that the HSE did not recommend reimbursement. A number of patients were on an access scheme for this product, operated by the manufacturer, for the treatment of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. That scheme was being run independently by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 gives full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on the reimbursement of all medicines, including orphan medicines. The Joint Committee on Health's Report on Evaluating Orphan Drugs made a number of significant recommendations in relation to the reimbursement of such medicines in Ireland. My Department is examining...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Eligibility (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. In Budget 2019 we have further increased investment in this area, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to increase from €55 m in 2018 to €75 m in 2019, an overall increase of 150 % since this government came into office. In 2019, the NTPF plans to...

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 Appointments Status (23 Oct 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 Beds Data (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: €10 million in funding is being made available in 2019 to enable additional acute beds to be opened for Winter 2019/2020. This is the first step in the process of implementing the Capacity Plan which identifies over 600 acute beds to be phased in by the end of 2020, including 33 additional beds in Kerry University Hospital.  My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (23 Oct 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: Medical Aids and Appliances 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: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (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: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: In June 2016, I gave my approval for the establishment and funding of an All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network, centred on Our Lady’s Childrens’ Hospital Crumlin (OLCHC) and serving as an all-island centralised hub for paediatric cardiothoracic surgery and interventional cardiology. As part of the Network, OLCHC provides cardiothoracic surgery and paediatric cardiac...

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

Simon Harris: The €10.9 billion provided for the public health sector in the National Development Plan is very welcome and will allow for implementation over the next 10 years of a solid, ambitious plan to build a better health service for the future. This funding provides us with the opportunity to further reform and modernise our health service to meet the needs of our growing and ageing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Section 10 (b) of the Health Service Executive (Financial Matters) Act 2014 states “(3) (a) If the amount of net expenditure incurred by the Executive in a financial year is greater than the amount determined by the Minister for that year, the Executive shall charge the amount of such excess to its income and expenditure account for the next financial year and (b) If the amount of net...