Results 27,681-27,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Treatment Programmes Policy (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Drugs Strategy contains a number of actions designed to assist families experiencing difficulties due to drug/alcohol use, including family support, parenting skills programmes and targeted measures focusing on the children of problem drug and/or alcohol users aimed at breaking the cycle and safeguarding the next generation. I have asked the HSE to examine the issue raised by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Staff Category details : March 2011 to October 2014 Staff Category WTE Mar 2011 WTE Dec 2011 WTE Dec 2012 WTE Dec 2013 WTE Oct 2014 WTE change since Mar 2011 % change since Mar 2011 Medical / Dental 8,005 8,331 8,320 8,353 8,755 +751 9.4% Nursing 36,783 35,902 34,637 33,768 34,060 -2,724 -7.4% Health & Social Care Professionals 16,295 16,217 15,717 15,844 13,554 -2,740...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him. 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: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Health provides shared payroll and financial services to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal without charge. I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with details of HSE projects. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (16 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The information being sought by the Deputy in relation to non-commercial semi-state agencies under the remit of the Department is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy on completion. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the aspect of the question that relates to them. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate. Senator O'Donovan welcomed the Bill and accurately pointed out that it will not be a panacea or a utopian solution to the cost of health insurance but that it will help. My timeframe would be a little more ambitious than the Senator's; I hope we will start to see measurable increases in the number of people with health insurance next...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to address the House today on Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014. As Senators will be aware the Bill recently passed through all Stages in the Dáil unopposed. Risk equalisation is a necessary support underpinning our community-rated health insurance market. The main purpose of the Bill is to specify the risk equalisation credits, the rate of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Organ Donation (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising the issue of the steps being taken to boost organ donation and transplantation rates in Ireland. I was very pleased that, in the face of difficult economic circumstances, the Government arranged for the HSE to allocate an additional €2.9 million to organ donation and transplantation in 2014. This additional investment is a clear demonstration of our...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Organ Donation (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I had some conversations with my predecessor, when he was Minister for Health, but the issue we discussed was the symbol to appear on the new driving licence. For various reasons, mostly regulatory, we agreed that if someone agrees to donate organs it is reflected in a code on the driving licence. What Senator Daly says makes a lot of sense to me. I am due to meet the organ donation team...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Funding (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In view of the escalation of waiting lists for certain scheduled care procedures, and the number of patients breaching government targets for scheduled care provision, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) was requested by the Department to work with the HSE to develop an initiative to address waiting list breaches. GI endoscopes were identified as the clinical area where intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Emergency Department overcrowding is a very serious issue for patients and staff, as it is extremely difficult to deliver optimal care in an overcrowded department. The issue is being actively addressed by the Health Service Executive, through the work of the Special Delivery Unit. Specific measures to address pressures on access to acute hospital care have been put in place. These include...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014,has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (11 Dec 2014)

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: Maternity Services (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE's National Service Plan 2015 includes a commitment to the undertaking of a review and evaluation of current maternity services. This review will inform a national maternity strategy which will be developed by my Department, in conjunction with the HSE. In relation to the UN Report referenced, it is recognised that it can be difficult to make international comparisons in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (RDATF) assess the extent and nature of the drug problem in their area and coordinate action at local level so that there is a targeted response to the drug problem in local communities. They implement the National Drugs Strategy in the context of the needs of their region through action plans which have identified existing and emerging gaps in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 160 and 164 together. As these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy 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 Complaints Procedures (11 Dec 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is a formal complaints process for issues concerning individuals or services under the aegis of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Details of this procedure are on the HSE website at: . In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie. Where an individual is not satisfied with the response they...