Results 23,221-23,240 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I am aware of reports of some general practitioners no longer accepting new patients. Where a medical card or GP visit card holder experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept him/her as a patient, the HSE has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list where the person has been removed from another GP's list or refused entry onto a GP's list, and the person has...

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 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019, an overall increase of 150% since this government came into office. In 2019, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ministerial Meetings (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to engaging with the representatives of general practitioners on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the GMS Contract. 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 conditions. This will enable...

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

Simon Harris: The Department and HSE recommenced engagement with the IMO in early October on a package of measures consisting of 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 conditions. This...

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 a 20-bed short stay ward in Letterkenny University Hospital. My Department...

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

Simon Harris: Increasing bed capacity is a Government priority. Over the past 12 months an additional 240 beds have been opened of which: - 148 opened by end quarter 4 2017; as detailed in Table 1 - 92 opened by end quarter 3 2018, as detailed in Table 2 A further 79 additional beds are planned for quarter 4 2018 and early 2019, as detailed in Table 3. Table 3 does not take account of the impact of the...

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

Simon Harris: Improving access to health care services is a key priority in 2019. In the first quarter of 2019, in the region of 80 additional beds will be brought on stream, including an additional 30-bed ward in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, a 40-bed modular ward block in South Tipperary General Hospital and 4 high dependency beds in the Mater and Cork University Hospital respectively. In...

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: Hospital Accommodation Provision (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: My Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure that local and regional winter plans at hospital and local level are consolidated and supported through policies and plans at national level to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to unscheduled care provision. As part of Budget 2019, an additional €10 million in funding is being provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE National Service Plan (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: As provided for under legislation (Health Act 2004 as amended), my Department must write to the Health Service Executive to notify it of its allocation for 2019 not later than 21 days after the publication by the Government of the Estimates for Public Services.  The legislation further provides that, on receipt of the letter of determination, the Executive has 21 days to prepare and...

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

Simon Harris: The Government remains committed to the recruitment and retention of health service personnel.  Notwithstanding recruitment and retention challenges, the number of consultants and nurses employed in the public health services have increased overall.  The Public Service Pay Commission recently concluded a review in respect of key health service grades, including nurses and...

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

Simon Harris: The Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the influence of demographic factors, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice. GPs play a crucial role in the provision of primary care services.  The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010...

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: Health Services Expenditure (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: A number of areas within the HSE are contributing to the overspend in 2018: 1. A private patient income shortfall, arising from the campaign by the PHI to dissuade their policyholders from using their insurance when admitted through an ED 2. Non- achievement of the tranche 3 of the VIP programme 3. Higher level of State Claims Agency payouts than budgeted for 4. PCRS driven by costs and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Medicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical...

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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (23 Oct 2018)

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 (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 Waiting Lists Data (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department and the HSE. The Children's Hospital Group, with the additional €9 million provided to the HSE in 2018, has continued to progress the move toward the implementation of a long-term sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service, including scoliosis...