Results 30,581-30,600 of 46,095 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (26 Oct 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Data (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, together. I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme Administration (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: The GMS GP contract stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences". The completion of forms required for local authority grant applications would also be outside the terms of the GMS...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: The Regulation of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 1999 was a Private Member's Bill proposed by Senator Mary Henry. This Bill was defeated at Second Stage in Seanad Éireann on 7 July 1999. For the Deputy's information on Tuesday 3 October 2017 the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research. Officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Investigations (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. I can assure the Deputy that procedures are in place to record and review maternal deaths and to ensure that any learning is disseminated and applied to help improve our maternity services. A maternal death is classified as a Serious Reportable Event and, as such, must be reported through the National Incident Management System within...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Investigations (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: As the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: The introduction of GP care without fees to all people over 70 and all children under 6 years of age in 2015 represents a major step forward in improving access, quality and affordability of health care in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the phased introduction of free GP care for all under-18s, subject to negotiations with GPs and noting the need for additional GPs to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In reaching a decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in March 2017, on foot of the conclusions from the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’, I established an Expert Reference Group to advise on the development of a Cannabis for Medical Use Access Programme. The Expert Group is chaired by Dr Mairín Ryan, Director of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Discharges (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: Tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments is a key commitment of this Government and I am delighted that €40 million in additional funding in 2017 has been made available as part of the 2018 Budget to address winter pressures and waiting lists over the rest of this year. This funding will be aimed at reducing overcrowding in our hospitals in this period through the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: Influenza can be a serious illness for people in ‘at risk’ groups which can lead to hospitalisation and death. ‘At-risk’ people include those aged 65 years and older, people with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up, those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, pregnant women, and residents of nursing homes, and other long stay facilities....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority responsible for the regulation of human medicines in Ireland. Medicines containing L-tryptophan are subject to prescription in Ireland, but the substance is not banned. Medicines containing L-tryptophan have not been authorised in Ireland since 2005, when Optimax was withdrawn by the marketing authorisation holder. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: Under section 39 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE has in place Service Level Agreements with voluntary providers which set out the level of service to be provided for the grant to the individual organisation. Any individuals employed by these section 39 organisations are not HSE employees, therefore neither the HSE nor the Minister have a role in determining the salaries or other terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (26 Oct 2017)

Simon Harris: I recognise that there are particular difficulties recruiting mental health staff at present and related workforce challenges. Psychiatry is a specialty where there are significant worldwide shortages and international competition for our doctors and nurses. The HSE has been focused on increasing the number of front-line staff over the past two years as the budgetary position has improved...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Response Times (26 Oct 2017)

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