Results 23,481-23,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Topical Issue Debate: National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the implementation of the NPAS. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is in the Seanad. The programme for Government committed to completing and implementing the NPAS in order that older people are recognised, supported and enabled to live independent...

Topical Issue Debate: National Positive Ageing Strategy Implementation (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I concur with the Deputy's earlier remarks. I become concerned when I hear people talking about an ageing crisis, a demographic time bomb and so on. We should look on ageing as an enormous opportunity, for which, of course, we have to plan. The fact that people are living so long highlights the success of modern medicine and health care. They would not have lived as long in the past but I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have been advised by the HSE that the development of the Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin is progressing well. Extensive enabling works to clear the site for the unit are complete. Construction work which began in July 2014 is now at an advanced stage. From commencement of construction, the build programme is planned to take approximately two years to complete. It is expected that the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Admissions (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Average length of stay (ALOS) refers to the average number of days that patients spend in hospital and is often used as an indicator of efficiency. According to the OECD Health at a Glance (2015), in 2013 the average length of stay in hospitals for all causes across OECD countries was 8.1 days. The 2013 OECD data show that the average length of stay in Irish hospitals was 6 days, less than...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: According to the preliminary results of the System of Health Accounts issued by the Central Statistics Office, current total health care expenditure as a percentage of GDP in Ireland from 2009 to 2013 (the latest year available) is as follows: Year Current total health care expenditure as a % of GDP 2009 10.5% 2010 10.6% 2011 9.9% 2012 10.1% 2013b 10.2%bbreak in series

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Workforce Data (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The OECD has compiled data that shows Ireland having twelve practising nurses per 1,000 population compared to an OECD average of 9. These OECD figures are based on data provided by the Central Statistics’ Office Quarterly National Household Survey. They are based on the concept of “professionally active” nurses, which means nurses who are actually working in the health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Workforce Data (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The figures requested by the Deputy are set out with the following table. Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Variable Unit Professionally active physicians Density per 1,000 population 3.01 3.08 3.24 3.16 3.06 3.04*Source of data: Medical Council of Ireland. Notes: 1) In an attempt to estimate for professionally active physicians, figures refer to all persons with addresses in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Death Certificates (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Expenditure (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Regulatory Bodies (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, by regulation, designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 to 387, inclusive, together. The HSE Service Plan includes two performance measures for Emergency Care and Patient Experience Time in the Emergency Department (ED) for all patients as follows: % of all attendees at ED who are discharged or admitted within 6 hours of registration (Target 95%). % of all attendees at ED who are discharged or admitted...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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 scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Pursuant to a "Chairman's Note" to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, the Department of Health and the HSE are to consider the issues of pay for student nurses during the fourth year 36 week placement with the nursing unions. This matter is the subject of direct engagement between my Department, the HSE and the nursing unions at present. Student nurses participate in the 4th year rostered...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Open Disclosures Policy (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: As I have previously indicated the safety of service users is of paramount importance and steps need to be taken to anticipate and avoid things going wrong and to reduce the impact if they do. All employees including medical staff are required to disclose and report incidents in line with the HSE's Safety Incident Management Policy. Creating a culture of open disclosure and learning from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (15 Dec 2015)

Leo Varadkar: 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...