Results 25,681-25,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Taking out health insurance is optional. Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled, subject to certain charges, to receive public in-patient and out-patient hospital services. People who do not take out health insurance continue to have the same entitlement to services in the public hospital system. Community rating, reflecting the principle of intergenerational solidarity, is a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staffing (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 839 and 840 together. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters. 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: HSE Funding (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of crisis pregnancy services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to thank the Deputy for the matter raised. Given that this is an operational matter, it is appropriate that it should be dealt with by the HSE. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for attention and direct reply. 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: Hospital Waiting Lists (9 Jun 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: Health Services Access (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: Referral guidelines and standardised referral forms have been developed by the HSE-National Cancer Control Programme and these are used for referral to breast, lung and prostate rapid access clinics throughout the country, including Galway University Hospital. The guidelines were draw up in association with the Irish College of General Practitioners. Access to designated cancer centres...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (9 Jun 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: Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 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, under section 4(2), designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met. My predecessor,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (9 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (9 Jun 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: Treatment Abroad Scheme (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme for people entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland under EU Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004, as per the procedures set out in EU Regulations (EC) No. 987/2009, and in accordance with Department of Health Guidelines. Patients have the ability to apply to the HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme seeking access to public healthcare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 864 and 865 together. The provision of services to prevent and treat addiction to alcohol is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Professionals (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The position regarding the establishment of registration boards under Section 26(1) of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended) is as follows: A total of eight registration boards have been established to date; six are currently operating for the original designated professions of dietitian, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, radiographer, social worker and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that complex surgery (bowel surgery) in Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise will be transferred to St. James's Hospital or Tullamore as the volumes are too low to maintain the requisite expertise of clinical staff. This will result in the discontinuation of undifferentiated surgical cases that present at the hospital's Emergency Department. This work is being done to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly Provision (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 871 and 872 together. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on these matters. 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: Hospital Care Standards (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The scope for EU action in health policy is set in Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The overriding principle is that human health is well protected and accounted for in the development of all EU policies and activities. The Treaty also makes clear that the EU shall fully respect the responsibility of individual Member States to define their health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Investigations (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has confirmed that an incident took place between two patients recently and that it is carrying out a full review into the incident. 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 Services (9 Jun 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: Commissions of Investigation (9 Jun 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 886 to 888, inclusive, together. Since the Act came into effect, there has been one Commission of Investigation established under the aegis of the Department. Statutory Instrument No. 304/2007 established the Commission of Investigation (Leas Cross Nursing Home) Order 2007. The Commission reported in 2009. Its report is available at...

Topical Issues: Ambulance Service Provision (28 May 2015)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputyfor raising this issue. I am very pleased to outline the current developments in pre-hospital services, both nationally and in Roscommon. The national ambulance service is working to ensure high-quality and timely emergency pre-hospital care, using all available resources as effectively and as efficiently as possible. As with any pre-hospital service, development and...