Results 26,861-26,880 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Data (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I continue to support the HSE in its efforts to bring down the waiting times for and improve access to scoliosis services. The long-term strategy to develop sustainable scoliosis services from 2018 has been prioritised by the Department of Health and the HSE in the 2018 HSE National Service Plan.   €9 million funding has been provided in 2018 to improve access to paediatric...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction and associated areas of research in October last year and the General Scheme is published on my Department’s website. The General Scheme does not include any provisions relating to foetal reduction.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research in October last year and the General Scheme is published on my Department’s website. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill. In addition, the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Narcolepsy Issues (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The details supplied indicate that the question concerns legal proceedings being managed by the State Claims Agency. As of 9 May 2018, legal proceedings against the Minister, the Health Services Executive and GlaxoSmithKline Biological SA have been initiated by seventy individuals.  The plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy resulted from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Capacity Review (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: In the light of the conclusions of the Health Service Capacity Review that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. This work is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The impact of demographic changes is one of a number of issues that must be taken into account when considering how current and future demand for services is to be measured and assessed. Global and regional health workforce demand is expected to increase in the coming decades because of population and economic growth, combined with demographic, epidemiological and other factors.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Strategies (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health has commissioned a number of reports on future demographic demands for the health system, including the Health Service Capacity Review 2018.  From such reports we can see that, under current delivery models, the costs of care for older people, as well as those with chronic illness, will put pressure on funding going forward.  However, the actual forecast...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services Staff (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Medicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I welcome the completion of Professor Walker's Report and would again like to convey my sympathies to the families involved in this process. I am advised that Portiuncula University Hospital and Saolta University Health Care Group have reviewed the findings and recommendations in Professor Walker's Report and an Implementation Team is already in place to progress the recommendations. I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Negligence Claims (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: The management of clinical indemnity and general insurance claims has been designated to the State Claims Agency under Section 9 of the National Treasury Management (Amendment) Act 2000.  The State Claims Agency has a statutory mandate to investigate and manage these claims to completion. The State Claims Agency has provided the following information in respect of the past 10...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (10 May 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Martin Kenny. I will indeed take a look at it. The HSE is already looking at how it can streamline its recruitment process. It is worth saying, however, that despite the recruitment challenges, we have more doctors and nurses working in the health services this year than last year and had more last year than the year before. We are always looking at ways to further...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Brassil for the calm manner in which he raises issues. This is an important matter and it is causing concern for many parents. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is engaging with the HSE on this matter and I will ask him to provide the Deputy with an update directly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairman and committee members for inviting me to attend today. I am joined by my ministerial colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Jim Daly. I am also accompanied by Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General of the Department of Health. I would also like to welcome Mr. Dean Sullivan, deputy director general of the HSE, Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: May I go first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: I think Deputy Kelly asked each of us the same two questions, both of which are important. The first question is whether I would be concerned that there could be other issues or scandals of which I have not been made aware. I am not aware of any others. I have put everything I have learned relating to this into the public domain as quickly as I received it and that is the way I intend to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Update on Health Issues: Discussion (9 May 2018)

Simon Harris: Is the scoping inquiry enough? No, absolutely not. It has been set up and is independent. We will leave Dr. Scally and Dr. Denton to their work. What I have heard from colleagues from all political parties and groupings and most importantly what I have heard from women who have been impacted by this was that they did not want us to hand this issue over to a commission or something that...