Results 28,941-28,960 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I know Deputy O'Reilly gets upset when I agree with her. I would not want to destroy her street credibility by doing so.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: However, we need more beds in the health service. We will fund that through the capital plan which will be seen in the coming weeks. Deputy O'Reilly is correct on the issue of recruitment and retention. That is why we have asked the public sector pay commission to look at strategies for recruitment and retention. This process was welcomed by the nurses' organisations and one to which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: It is not just in that area.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I did not say that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Deputy Kelleher rightly identified the fact we had a significant number of people on hospital trolleys in January. I pointed out that one of the contributing factors was the decision to reduce hospital beds. That is why we are going to put in more hospital beds. We already have opened 170 and we will open 300 this year. I expect the capacity review will be funded through the capital plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The HSE made it clear yesterday that it will put in place a value improvement programme. We are asking people to find value for money in the context of not cutting but dramatically increasing their budgets. The health budget has increased by €1.4 billion since I became Minister. The health budget will continue to increase year-on-year. That has to be matched-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: That has to be matched by reform. Why does Deputy O'Reilly never comment on 479,000 people missing outpatient appointments? Why does she never comment on the fact that inpatient day-case lists have gone down for five of the past six months? There are good things happening in our health service too.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I thank Deputy Kelleher and Deputy O'Reilly for their questions. We had an opportunity to engage extensively on this matter yesterday. The meeting involved myself and the director general of the HSE. Anyway, I welcome an opportunity to engage again this morning. As I said yesterday, the need for effective financial management...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: HSE Funding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: When I write a letter, I am aware of the law of the land with regard to freedom of information. If I did not want processes to be transparent, I would not write letters. Presumably, the same is the case for anyone in my Department or anyone in the health service. I know some people, rightly, will use what this House has passed. I know how the law works. It is an entirely transparent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The most recent NTPF figures published for December 2017 show that there was a total of 41,678 people on the Outpatient waiting list for hospitals in the Children's Hospital Group. 65% of these children (26,958) are waiting up to 12 months and 35% (14,720) are waiting over 12 months for a first Outpatient appointment. The HSE has confirmed there have been challenges in addressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation 8 has a service arrangement with ABI Ireland to provide neuro-rehabilitation services in the Midlands area covering Laois/Offaly and Longford/Westmeath. Acquired Brain Injury Ireland is funded by the Health Service Executive and is a dedicated provider of community-based neuro-rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disabilities Assessments (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The current Programme for Partnership Government commits to improving services and increasing supports for people with disabilities, particularly in the areas of early assessment and intervention for children with special needs. Since the commencement of Part 2 of the Disability Act in June 2007 the HSE has endeavoured to meet its legislative requirements as set out in the Act. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, as part of Budget 2018, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and strengthen capacity moving forward. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Staff (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The shift of healthcare delivery towards primary care remains a key priority for the Government and, indeed, is one of the key features of Sláintecare. Primary care centres facilitate the shift from acute care to primary care because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and the role they can play in keeping people out of the acute hospital setting. I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs) is a key commitment of the Government. Accordingly, €30 million in additional funding was provided in 2017, and a further €40 million is being made available in 2018, to manage the expected peak in demand for our health services over the winter period and to strengthen capacity moving forward. Since the start of winter, 170...

Written Answers — Department of Health: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. It is intended that the final legislative amendments needed to enable Ireland to comply with the Convention will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reports (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Trauma Steering Group was established by Government to bring about better outcomes for the 1,600 patients who suffer a major trauma in Ireland every year. The Steering Group was clinically led, chaired by Professor Eilis McGovern, and with key input from patients, and its recommendations are evidence based. The vision for a national trauma system set out in this major report is to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Child Care Services Provision (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The tender process for the Diabetes Day Centre is underway with short-listing of contractors due to be completed shortly. Once a contractor has been selected, funding approval will be required in order to progress with the appointment of the contractor. The project has a timescale of 9 months once building works commence.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Infectious Disease Epidemics (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 64, 65 and 181 together. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by bites from infected ticks infected. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin but can occasionally be more severe and highly debilitating. Lyme disease is diagnosed by medical history and physical examination and can be a difficult diagnosis to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 89 together. The Deputy will be aware that leaks in the roof of the building that houses Merlin Park University Hospital's orthopaedic theatres occurred last September, necessitating the closure of both theatres in the interest of patient safety. An engineer’s report found that, in order to secure the integrity of the building, a full repair...