Results 24,721-24,740 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (11 Jul 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: National Cervical Screening Programme (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The clinical advice from the HSE and the Department of Health is clear that there is no evidence that the clinical and technical aspects of CervicalCheck have performed outside or below international standards or the quality guidelines set for the programme. All laboratories currently contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programme’s standards and have ISO accreditation, certified by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The Government agreed last year to the establishment of a dedicated Sláintecare implementation office to drive and support the reform programme. €1 million was made available in Budget 2018 to establish the Office and arrangements for the staffing of the Office are being progressed. The recruitment process for an Executive Director for the Office has been completed following...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The recruitment process for an Executive Director for the Sláintecare Programme Office has been completed following a competitive process run independently by the Public Appointments Service. I expect to be in a position to announce this appointment shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: Subject to Government approval, I intend to publish the Bill to establish an independent Board for the HSE next week.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reports (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: Arising from a recommendation in Sláintecare, I established an Independent Review Group (IRG) to examine private practice in public acute hospitals. The IRG has been tasked with making recommendations about the practical approaches that can be taken to remove private practice from public hospitals, the impacts that this removal will have, what timeframe might apply and how to phase...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The alignment of Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and Hospital Groups was set out by the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare as one of the fundamental principles underpinning healthcare reform. It recognised that the relationship between CHOs and Hospital Groups is critically important in the pursuit of connected care and patient-centred service delivery. I believe...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Meetings (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation on 2 and 9 May to discuss reform of the GMS contract.  The Department subsequently wrote to the IMO setting out the proposals formally.  The Organisation has not yet responded to the Department. In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Meetings (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: There have been no face to face meetings between the HSE, the Department of Health and the National Association of General Practitioners since 1 January 2018 concerning the GMS contract. I have acknowledged that the National Association of General Practitioners is anxious to be involved in discussions about reform of the GMS contract and have already indicated my willingness to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: In December 2017, the Government announced that additional funding would be provided to enable all carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance to qualify for a GP visit card. To clarify, in respect of the question, it is a GP Visit Card and not a Medical Card. Government approval was given on the 11 April to provide GP services without fees to persons in receipt of either full or half rate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (11 Jul 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The National Development Plan is a ten year plan which will provide the capital funding to develop dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities. We must ensure that we carefully plan the use of this capital funding so as to meet the populations health needs and achieve value for money. New dedicated ambulatory elective-only hospital facilities will be delivered in Dublin, Cork and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (11 Jul 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: Hospital Accommodation Provision (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: My Department and the HSE are currently working to progress a proposal to increase bed capacity nationally in line with the recommendations of the health service capacity review. As part of this process, I can confirm that the HSE is considering a submission by UL Hospital Group to develop a modular inpatient facility at University Hospital Limerick which will have capacity for up...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of capital developments in the public health service, my Department has asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly in relation to capital developments at University of Limerick Hospital.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 to 401, inclusive, and 403 together. The Oireachtas has put in place a robust legal framework in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which gives full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on the reimbursement of medicines, taking account of a range of objective factors and expert opinion as appropriate.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Reviews (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Diseases Strategy Implementation (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.   As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to reimbursement of medicines. Under the 2013 Act,...