Results 23,541-23,560 of 45,836 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: We will be ready to go as soon as they are ready to go in terms of progressing it. I want to thank the hospital group CEO. She put a lot of work into it and ploughed on with it as well, which was very important for being ready. In Clonmel, the 40-bed modular is progressing. My understanding is that it is due to open very early in the new year. I will confirm that with the Deputy. I hope...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I would be happy to discuss that with Deputies Murphy O'Mahony and Kelly. A population-based approach ensures we design the structures based on where our population is, rather than designing the structures and then hoping the population finds or makes its way to them. We will look at a map of Ireland not just in a geographical sense but in terms of where our citizens live and what needs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Durkan for affording me the time to reply within the seven minutes. I do not disagree with the Deputy at all that the current construct of the HSE is not fit for purpose. That is not just my view but it is the view of the HSE. The former director general of the HSE said that at this committee, calling it an "amorphous blob", as reported in the national media. The HSE, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree that bricks and mortar cannot be, and is not, all there is to primary care. The buildings can be enablers for change, integrated care and multidisciplinary working. I opened one in Grangegorman only a few weeks ago and, as the Senator knows, it brought together many healthcare professionals who for the first time were working together under one roof, providing integrated care for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Senator. Much of the cost relating to many such facilities is in the capital space. I am pleased that our capital budget has increased significantly which will enable us to have those conversations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: The bona fides of the Chairman in regard to healthcare are beyond question. I hear his frustration and know that it is genuine. As I stated, some of the timelines in the Sláintecare report were unworkable. It would be incorrect to contend otherwise. Although I do not wish to end on a sour note, I must point out that the report was produced in May and suggested that an executive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: It did, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: That is what the report stated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: That is correct. I am not here to be negative and I want to get on with this. However, the timelines were somewhat contradictory in this regard because while the Chairman is correct that the report recommends increasing capacity, it also states that we must ensure that eligibility is extended in a very short period of time. That would not have worked. I want the committee to know that I,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I accept that we can make progress on waiting lists in advance of Sláintecare, and aside from it. I believe - I am not being pedantic - the policy shift that Sláintecare represents will help improve waiting lists. If we did not have Sláintecare, it would lessen the pace of progress. I think that is a fair comment. For the benefit of those watching the proceedings, I want to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I am making the case for the full delivery of Sláintecare over ten years. What a Government or the Oireachtas will be able to deliver in 2019 and 2020 is a variable. It will be dependent on the choices the Deputy's party makes and on the choices and decisions of the Government. I expect that we will have funding allocated to Sláintecare this year that will enable progress. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: On the funding overrun, the Minister for Finance is a greater authority than me in commenting on these matters, particularly at this time of the cycle. He has made clear that he believes the funding overrun in health, which sadly is not a new phenomenon and is a reflection of the need for Sláintecare and a more efficient accountable transparent model of funding and delivery, will not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes, my understanding is that the health overrun will not affect the Minister of Finance's ability in terms of his spending or tax plans in the health space. On the assets, I will ask Ms Magahy to respond later to that question because she has a body of work to do in mapping out people need and the capital and infrastructural need over the next number of years. On the comment that the HSE...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: We are not there yet. I am sure the Deputy will agree that I could not make announcements in that regard in such a public forum. These are conversations to be had with representative bodies at an appropriate time. This is about where people work. Many of the people working in the HSE today may work in a devolved regional entity into the future. The HSE has employees throughout the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: Ms Magahy would like to respond to another question asked by the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I will respond briefly to the three matters raised by the Senator. I fully agree with him that the hospital in Cork needs increased capacity, There is a particular need for acute hospital space. As the Deputy has rightly said, the population has grown significantly, but the bed base has not. That is why we announced an acute hospital development for Cork in the capital plan. We also said...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: It is as good as any other way of getting it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree with much of what Deputy Durkan stated. One of the things we are lacking in the health service is data. I think that is the reason the Sláintecare committee put such a focus on ehealth. I am pleased that we are going to be able to deliver the ehealth agenda in full because of the ability it provides in tracking that to which Deputy Durkan referred in terms of where the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation Strategy: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Harris: I accept that. I stated that in the Dáil and at the IMO conference and I say it here because it is the truth. We have an issue with the retention of healthcare professionals. One could argue the toss about recruitment because the stats show that people sign up to be nurses and doctors but the length of time people stay in the health service is a cause of concern. Mr. Duffy and the...