Results 28,601-28,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Expenditure (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Two weeks from now, Ministers will know what their budgets will be. At that point, they will be able to determine how their allocations should be spent and will obviously have to identify priorities. The nature of health and all areas of public expenditure is that everyone believes his or her priorities should be the main ones, but the nature of politics is that decisions must be taken on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Expenditure (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his words of congratulations. Vote 39 for the Health Service Executive, HSE, is showing a net current deficit of €260 million against profile at the end of September. However, receipts from the United Kingdom which were profiled for November were received in September and when they are excluded, a net current deficit of €432 million emerges. In income...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Diabetes Strategy (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: National policy for paediatric/adolescent diabetes care was informed by the Diabetes Expert Advisory Group. It recommended that continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or pump therapy should be the primary treatment option in children, especially those aged less than five years of age. It also recommended the regionalisation of care. The centres envisaged for care were in the major...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Prices (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) monitor the factors that contribute to costs on an ongoing basis. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by issues such as the number of persons and the age profile of those holding private health insurance and new treatment interventions which can have an impact on the cost of care and the cost of claims. I am determined...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Treatment Abroad Scheme (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Treatment Abroad Scheme, operated by the Health Service Executive, provides for the referral of patients to another EU/EEA country or Switzerland for a treatment that is not available in Ireland or where undue delay is experienced in accessing necessary treatment in Ireland. Under the Scheme, the HSE provides for the cost of approved treatments abroad through the issue of form E112. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Delays (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: At the end of December 2013, 98% or 295,815 patients were waiting less than 52 weeks for an outpatient appointment. This was achieved by year-long intervention with a special funded focus from September to December which included outsourcing of patients determined to be suitable for such assessment. Currently 89% are waiting less than one year for access to outpatients. There has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As indicated in previous replies, I fully support the proposed extension of the Breastcheck screening programme to the 65-69 year age cohort. The timing of the implementation of this priority extension of the service will depend on the availability of resources and will be kept under review in this context.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Regulation (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is a need for much greater cost control in the private health insurance industry so that premiums are affordable for as many people as possible. My Department and the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) monitor the factors that contribute to costs on an ongoing basis. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by issues such as the number of persons and the age profile of those...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Budgets (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In Vote terms the Health Service Executive Vote 39 is showing a net current deficit of €260m against profile at the end of September. However, receipts from the UK which were profiled for November were actually received in September; when this is excluded, a net current deficit of €432m emerges. In income and expenditure terms the HSE is reporting a year to date net...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the publication of the Guidance Document for the Implementation of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act and it is my understanding that this document is in full compliance with the Act. In addition, the Guidance Document identifies referral pathways to fulfil the requirements of the Act, and other relevant matters, and this information should assist health professionals in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the statutory body responsible for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital. The new hospital will be co-located with St James's Hospital, and ultimately tri-located with a maternity hospital to be developed on campus. In addition to the main hospital, the project includes two satellite centres at the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In the Health Sector which provides 24/7 care 365 days of the year, flexibility is required that allows the use of overtime and agency staff to meet agreed and approved service levels. Recourse to overtime or agency is necessary for a variety of reasons including, for example, over-runs in operating theatres, sudden increases in service demand, to cover for sick leave, annual leave and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As indicated in previous replies, I fully support the proposed extension of the Breastcheck screening programme to the 65-69 year age cohort. The timing of the implementation of this extension of the service will depend on the availability of resources and is being considered in the context of the Estimates process for 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Beaumont Hospital continuously monitors staffing levels in the Emergency Department (ED) to meet service demands. In times of severe pressure, additional staff are allocated to the department. The challenges in the ED reflect both increased demand for emergency care and a slowing down of patient flow within the hospital. A number of factors have impacted on the hospitals ability to maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: To date, there have been significant challenges in filling medical posts including Consultant posts at Letterkenny General Hospital. At present there are 7.5 WTE posts currently being filled by Agency Consultant Staff. Two of these posts commenced in August 2014. The cost of the remaining 5.5 WTE agency paid Consultants to Letterkenny General Hospital as at 31st July 2014 is €933k...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Correspondence (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has received a query from the Ombudsman and is currently investigating the matters raised. A reply to the Ombudsman will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As indicated in previous replies, I fully support the proposed extension of the Breastcheck screening programme to the 65-69 year age cohort. The timing of the implementation of this extension of the service will depend on the availability of resources and is being considered in the context of the Estimates process for 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, was launched in March 2013. It is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of the country over the coming generation. The Framework has four goals: - Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life; - Reduce health inequalities; - Protect the public from threats...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, was launched in March 2013. It is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of the country over the coming generation. The Framework has four goals: - Increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life; - Reduce health inequalities; - Protect the public from threats...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (30 Sep 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, was launched in March 2013. It is the national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of the country over the coming generation. One of the priority actions being undertaken under Healthy Ireland is the development of a National Physical Activity Plan. My Department and the Department of Transport,...