Results 25,881-25,900 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: Mental Health Services (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Browne for his point. We are in agreement on this issue. We need to see a greater roll-out of these services. However, I would point out that the data are encouraging in terms of the number of people now being seen. Taking the example of counselling in primary care from 2015 to 2017, in 2015, 17,002 people were referred to the service, which increased to 18,471 in 2016 and...

Other Questions: Health Services Staff (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: In 2015, the HSE established a group to review the eligibility criteria for employment as a psychologist in the HSE psychological services. This came about in response to ongoing issues with the eligibility criteria for recruitment to HSE psychologist positions. The review was completed in 2016 and made recommendations which have been accepted in full by the HSE. Both clinical and...

Other Questions: Health Services Staff (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Browne for bringing the information to my attention. I will ask the HSE to examine what he has said and revert directly to him on it. In 2015, the HSE established a review group to examine the eligibility criteria for employment as a psychologist. In its review the group was guided by the changes to models of care, by service user safety, by maximising our resources and...

Other Questions: Health Services Staff (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask the HSE to engage with all unions in this matter. The terms and conditions of existing staff members are not being changed, but what we are saying, for good reason, which is grounded in trying to improve the experience of the service user and based on a very comprehensive and detailed review that was carried out, is that qualifications should also be matched with experience...

Other Questions: Mental Health Services (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The choice of care for a patient is determined by the needs of the individual patient. Both talk therapy and medication are included in this process as options to consider. HSE specialist mental health services provide a wide range of talking therapies in both child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and adult mental health services. The HSE also provides talk therapies at...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I have not negotiated my Estimates for 2019 with the Minister for Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform, yet. The Government has made it clear in a number of decisions that whatever financial supports are required will be provided. The Taoiseach has made it clear here on the record of this House and the Government has given me assurances about the funding of the practical measures that...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: On HPV testing, I asked the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, to carry out a health technology assessment on this and it came back recommending HPV testing. I decided in February that we would move ahead with the introduction of that later this year. I have asked that that be accelerated. It is a big body of work. It will also provide the opportunity for the reconfiguration...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will ask that question of the HSE and revert to Deputy Broughan. I envisage that it is likely that Dr. Scally's report will signpost any areas identified as needing improvements, make recommendations and outline to us what further body of work needs to be done. I want to take the opportunity, on the record of the Dáil, to reiterate the point about screening not being a diagnostic...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: In the interests of providing accurate information, I will have to check that. I do not have a note available to me about that. I will check for the Deputy if the mammogram machines have been upgraded since he last asked the question of my predecessor and will revert to him directly.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy that we need to do more about this issue, but I will give some figures, given the considerable commentary on the matter in recent months. We are making significant progress. In the 12-month period between April 2017 and April 2018, the total number fell from 10,304 patients waiting to 7,818, a decrease of more than 20%. On the length of time people have to wait, 744...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will take the Deputy up on his offer. I do not want anyone to work in a silo. There is enough work to go around. Given the ageing demographic profile, demand for ophthalmological services will only increase. The report of the primary care eye service review group is a good body of work, with people working in the community and acute hospital settings coming together to draw up what was...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I assure the Deputy that rolling out the package of supports is a priority. Not only did we appoint a national lead within the HSE to co-ordinate it, but we have also instructed that lead to ensure public health nurses are assigned in each of the community healthcare organisations, CHOs, to liaise with the families. I do not want to hear of any woman or her family having to go to a meeting...

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Not yet.

Other Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: At the request of many Deputies, the laboratories we use and their performance are specifically within Dr. Scally's terms of reference because I do not feel qualified nor, I respectfully suggest, is anyone in the House to make these adjudications. All of the laboratories being used meet international standards and follow the quality guidelines set for the programme. The clinical advice is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: We are all aware that Dr. Scally is independent in his work, which is right and proper. We also all agreed to the terms of reference and they are very clear on the work Dr. Scally is to set about doing. He has shown himself to be well able to get to the bottom of serious issues. While I can absolutely understand how people who have been so badly let down cannot have confidence in elements...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy on the documentation and review findings required. I will follow up on the matter directly immediately after priority questions. For those who are watching and to have confidence in the screening programme and that information will be given, it is important to say two things. First, there has been a huge volume of calls in the last few week to the CervicalCheck...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Waiting Lists (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question. Reducing waiting times for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. Cataract surgery is among the most common surgical procedures carried out in the ophthalmology specialty. Through the work of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, and the HSE, the overall number of patients waiting for cataract...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelly for the question and for his work on this important issue in recent weeks and months. I want to say first that in regard to the HSE as a whole, I do not believe the current governance structures are appropriate. I believe the HSE is far too bureaucratic and is not accountable enough. I believe we need to move quickly as an Oireachtas to put in place an independent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Beds Data (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Donnelly. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, confirmed to me today that at no point did it refute the capacity review figures and it was represented on the steering group of the review. It has confirmed also that it is very clear that the projections on the two exercises were not comparable. The Deputy is not suggesting they are as the ESRI one did not factor...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Health Services Data (29 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I will do that a special courtesy to the Deputy..