Results 34,221-34,240 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Screening Programmes (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 257 together. BowelScreen, the National Bowel Screening Programme, is run by the HSE's National Screening Service. It offers free bowel screening to men and women aged 60-69. The BowelScreen Round One Programme Report, 2012-2015, which was launched on 25th April 2017, shows that 521 cancers were detected through bowel screening, 3 out of 4 of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 250, 252 and 253 together. My Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) engage in consultation with regard to the setting of the national budget for each service area as part of the National Service Plan and Estimates process. The setting of budgets for the type and volume of health and personal social services is completed within the HSE as part...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure (3 May 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: Vaccination Programme (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of health care interventions and the importance of vaccination is acknowledged by all the major international health organisations. The World Health Organisation estimates that up to 3 million lives are saved each year as a result of vaccination and the scientific evidence is clear that benefits of vaccines outweigh the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (3 May 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: Health Services Provision (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 262 together. My Department has commenced the Health Service Capacity Review over recent weeks. Work has been progressing on the Review process, including putting in place the Review structures, finalising the Terms of Reference, assessing external expertise requirements, and considering options for stakeholder consultation. The review is being led by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE have statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes. In line with Part 4 of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the HSE publish and maintain a reimbursement list. This list specifies the ingredient price for each drug. In setting this price or reviewing the price of a reimbursed drug, the HSE shall take...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives. It is important to note that a combination of a growing and ageing population has led to an increase in demand for acute hospital services in recent years. Our hospitals are now carrying out four-times more procedures in patients aged 65 years and over, and twice...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, I had the opportunity to outline my views recently to the all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare regarding the future direction of the health service and a number of key priorities that I believe should underpin that future direction, including this issue around the respective roles of the public and private sectors in the delivery of health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. The Health Service Executive (HSE) operates the General Medical Services scheme which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. In relation to the processing of medical card applications as at week ending 1 April 2017 (latest figures available), 99.67% of medical card applications received by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: Since the start of 2017 there have been approximately 6.3% less patients waiting on trolleys nationally compared to the same period last year. In September the HSE launched its ‘Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017’ which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. This Initiative was developed to manage the expected winter surge in demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (3 May 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (3 May 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: Medical Card Eligibility (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive issues Income Guidelines to assist in determining entitlement to Medical Cards/GP Visit Cards. In revising the Income Guidelines, the HSE has regard to Government policy, increases in the Consumer Price Index and to other issues which may be relevant. There are no proposals currently to amend the current Income Guidelines for the granting of eligibility under the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: I have been advised that the ruling the Deputy is referring to concerned a breach of Article 63 TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), essentially a breach of the free movement of capital. I have also been advised that Article 63 TFEU will not apply to the new company - National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC (limited by shares). Accordingly the ruling has no relevance.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (3 May 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (3 May 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 provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Education (2 May 2017)

Simon Harris: Student nurses undertake a number of unpaid supernumerary work experience placements during the first three years of their degree programme. In the fourth year they undertake a 36 week clinical placement during which they replace staff nurses on a 2:1 ratio. During this placement they experience the full range of nursing duties and requirements, including week-end and night duty rosters. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (2 May 2017)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are currently drafting the General Scheme of legislative provisions on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research, which will include provisions relating to surrogacy. It is envisaged that the General Scheme will be completed by the end of June 2017. Once the General Scheme has been completed, a memo will be submitted for Government approval, and once...