Results 35,921-35,940 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 478 together. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information /dossier submitted by the Company) and will take...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) provides emergency ambulance services in Dublin city and county, by arrangement between Dublin City Council and the HSE. The HSE National Ambulance Service provides some emergency capacity in the greater Dublin area, as well as non-emergency patient transport. I am not aware of any plans the HSE has to withdraw DFB ambulance services in north County Dublin, I...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: As Minister for Health I have a responsibility to patients to make decisions around healthcare based on the best scientific and clinical evidence available. When I initiated the review of policy on the use of cannabis and cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes I requested that the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) provide expert advice on the issue. The HPRA’s...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (21 Feb 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Administration (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependents and every application must be assessed on that basis. In accordance with the Act, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I will first address the general issue of retirement age. An Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, was established in early 2016. This Group was to examine the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors, in the context of the increase in the State Pension age from 65 to 66 in 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Location (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The project to develop the new children’s hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance paediatric services for children. The Government decision in 2012 to locate the hospital on St James’s Hospital campus was made in the best interests of children from a clinical perspective. St. James's has the broadest range of national specialties of all our acute hospitals, in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (21 Feb 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: Patient Data (21 Feb 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: Medicinal Products Availability (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information /dossier submitted by the Company) and will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (21 Feb 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 National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Eligibility (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence from March. The HSE is currently developing a 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (21 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: There were no costs to the Department to incorporate the use of the Eircode on the information technology systems or databases. The Department uses its own Eircode on official stationery and emails, and encourages staff to use Eircodes on outgoing mail.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HIV-AIDS Programmes (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. The strategy was developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health. The Strategy contains 71 recommendations that address all aspects of sexual health and a Sexual Health Action Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the progressive development of maternity services. Indeed, in the last 12 months alone we have launched the National Maternity Strategy, the HSE National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death and the HIQA National Standards for Safe Better Maternity Services. In addition, each of our 19...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Deaths (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I am aware of correspondence from the individual concerned and I have written to personally express my deepest sympathies to the family. I understand that the death of the child occurred in Temple Street Hospital and Temple Street Hospital has been in contact with the family a number of times to discuss and clarify the circumstances of their child's death, post-mortem and burial, and has...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (21 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: THC and CBD are both derived from cannabis. THC is a psychoactive substance and as such is strictly controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended, and Ministerial regulations made thereunder along with the cannabis plant. However, since CBD does not have psychoactive properties it is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. There is no prohibition on an Irish...