Results 31,361-31,380 of 46,095 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Nursing and midwifery recruitment and retention is a priority for the Government and my Department is in regular contact with the HSE on matters concerning the recruitment of nurses and midwives. The HSE is currently focused on offering graduating nurses and midwives permanent posts and replacing agency staff with permanent staff. Recruitment of additional nurses is also the subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Good practice around the management of hospital waiting lists recommends periodic validation processes and in this context, the NTPF National Inpatient/Daycase Planned Procedure Waiting List Management Protocolsets out the national protocols for the management of waiting lists including validation and clinical suspensions. The purpose of Validation is to: - Maintain hospital-patient...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (26 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: As I stated in parliamentary question 1195 of 11 September 2017 there are no plans to extend or amend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. The LTI Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis;...

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

Simon Harris: In February, I published the Health Products Regulatory Authority’s (HPRA) report ‘Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review’. On foot of the HPRA’s conclusions I announced that I would establish a cannabis for medical use access programme, for patients under the care of a consultant, for the following medical conditions: - spasticity associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (26 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: In June this year, I met with representatives to discuss diabetes services in the Northwest. Following that meeting, officials of my Department requested the HSE to progress a number of action points in relation to the provision of services for paediatric and adult diabetes in County Donegal, including the progression of two Advance Nurse Practitioners posts for Letterkenny University...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (26 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I will correspond directly with the Deputy on this question.

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

Simon Harris: In response 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: Hospitals Data (26 Sep 2017)

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

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I only relay to the House information given to me that I believe to be factually correct. I am told that two hospitals, one in Germany and one in the UK, have signed their contracts and have begun reviewing patient files with a view to commencing treatment in October 2017 for those families taking up the offer of surgery in overseas hospitals. That is the information that has been made...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: We are also dependent on parents being able to travel and in that regard, I understand that it is not always straightforward. In terms of the theatre, we had this conversation this time last year. Indeed, the same conversation was had by many others who were in government before my time in this post. We had a theatre that was closed, that was not performing surgeries. We have hired...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious matter and for giving me an opportunity to update the House on the position. I assure colleagues that improving scoliosis services is an absolute priority for both me and the Government. I am monitoring closely - indeed, on a weekly basis - the progress being made on addressing waiting lists. As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE, working with...

Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy John Brassil for raising this issue. I appreciate the sincerity with which he approaches it. I think we can all agree in this House that medicines clearly play a vital role in improving the overall health and well-being of patients. The pipeline for new medicines is very strong and it is estimated that in the region of 45 new molecules are due to receive market authorisation...

Topical Issue Debate: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The well-being of patients and citizens is something the Deputy and I share a desire to work together on. It is something all of us in this House want to see. What we cannot see is a drug company behave in an unethical fashion and blackmail the taxpayer and effectively, therefore, blackmail patients. As Minister for Health, each week I see more drugs become available. This is good. These...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Sep 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 HSE has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (21 Sep 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: Stroke Care (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. The National Clinical Programme for Stroke (NCPS) has been in place since early 2010. The vision of the programme is to design standardised models of integrated care pathways for the delivery of clinical care to ensure sustained quality clinical operational management. Overall, the NCPS aims to improve quality, access and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Diseases Strategy Implementation (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: The National Rare Disease Plan recommended that an Oversight Implementation Group of relevant stakeholders, including patients' groups, be established to oversee and monitor implementation of the plan's recommendations. This group was established by the Department of Health in 2015 and it has met on a number of occasions. One of the principal recommendations in the Plan was the establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (21 Sep 2017)

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