Results 23,261-23,280 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.  Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government. Investing in additional capacity, including beds and theatre space; the progression of recruitment and retention of staff; the delivery of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE's Expert Group on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility examined the issue of awarding medical cards on the basis of illness and concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility.   The Expert Group also concluded that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier...

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

Simon Harris: I wish to 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 Government remains committed to tackling overcrowding in EDs and improving access to health services. Preparations and planning for Winter 2018-19 are well advanced at hospital and local level. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: School Medical Examinations (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: Health Services Data (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: Nursing Staff Data (23 Oct 2018)

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

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

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Data (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 to...

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: Hospital Staff Data (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

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

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

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: Primary Care Centres (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government is continuing to deliver Primary Care Centres (PCCs) in line with our commitment to expanding primary care services. There are now 124 PCCs in operation, with another 83 sites at various stages of development from early planning to construction.   I have visited many of these centres and have seen first-hand the excellent work being undertaken and the myriad of...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I sincerely thank all Deputies, regardless of their perspective, who contributed to the Second Stage debate on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018. We have had a good debate. I resent hearing people imply that we are rushing this. Anybody who wanted to speak on the Bill had the opportunity to speak. Some who said last night that we were rushing this did not use...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I was just making the point that, as the people's representatives, everybody has had ample opportunity, as is right and proper in this House, to give their views. I thank all Deputies for giving those views. I also make the point that it is 146 days since the people voted to repeal the eighth amendment. It is important that we do not forget what has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 227 to 230, inclusive, together. I can assure the Deputy that there are no plans for the National Ambulance Service to take over responsibility for the delivery of emergency ambulance services in Dublin. It is however proposed to transfer all Dublin ambulance call taking and dispatch functions to the HSE National Emergency Operations Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (18 Oct 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (18 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: Hospitals Funding (18 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.