Results 36,181-36,200 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery have to be addressed, and the Department has been working closely with the HSE to address services pressures, particularly in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, which is the largest provider of scoliosis surgery for children and young people. Additional funding has been provided in recent years to develop the paediatric orthopaedic...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (14 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: Hospital Staff Data (14 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: Hospital Services (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together. The Deputy's questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (14 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has escalation procedures which are operational during times of increased pressure in Emergency Departments (EDs). The underlying principle of these protocols is to ensure that safe care is provided to all patients at all times. Cancellation of elective procedures can occur for a variety of exceptional reasons including cancellations because a bed or the...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is correct.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: That is why we have already made sure the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, knows its allocation, not just for this year, but for 2018 of €55 million to ensure it can immediately start processing that to ensure there are no gaps.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The full picture must take on board the submission the GPs and the community made to me. I want to meet the GPs from Portlaoise in the coming weeks.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: While I want to provide certainty to Portlaoise hospital, I want to ensure we have all the pieces of the jigsaw before I do so. We hope to increase number of nurses working in the health service by more than 1,000 this year and I expect Portlaoise will benefit from it. Regarding where we need to invest in more beds, I will be led by the bed capacity review. I thank Deputy Griffin for...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I am confused that Deputy Billy Kelleher is confused as to what the Government's policy is. It has been the same since the Government came to office. We are going to try to do what we have never done before regarding the health service, namely, agree on a cross-party basis what the structure of the health service should be. We all agree it should not be exactly as the HSE is. We all agree...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: We need to see exactly what we can do. More services will be provided in Cashel to help alleviate the pressure on Clonmel, in addition to the works the Deputy knows I intend to carry out in Clonmel. I would be delighted to visit Sligo hospital and talk about the health service issues there with Deputy McLoughlin in the coming weeks. I will revert to the Deputy on paediatric neurology.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The funding provided to the NTPF in the budget became available to it on 1 January, when it started its tendering process. Patients will receive their procedures through the NTPF starting in March and 2,000 people will benefit from it. The NTPF did not have a ring-fenced budget until the first day of 2017. However, it has moved ahead on it.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I try my best.

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The INMO executive council met yesterday. I am deeply disappointed that it rejected the proposals, although I respect the right of its members to do as they wish. What is really important is they have now provided three weeks and six days before a work-to-rule takes place across the Irish health service, a work-to-rule that I believe, and the INMO has conceded, would be detrimental to Irish...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I will. With regard to accountability, I appreciate the point Deputy McGuinness makes. I am clear on what I am accountable for but there are other people accountable for other elements of the health service. When I ask for them to be held to account and for them to redouble their efforts, I do not mean it to excuse me of my responsibilities. When I talk about accountability, I am talking...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: On Deputy O'Dowd's point, I want to be very clear that I have confidence in the director general of the HSE to do his job. However, I do not have blind confidence in anybody and I am not going to start writing blank cheques for anybody. Everybody in every role in the health service, from the person working on the front line to the person managing a hospital, big or small, needs to be...

Hospital Waiting Lists: Statements (9 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: 12 o’clock In response to Deputy Cowen, I am not partisan or petty on this, in that the NTPF was set up by the Fianna Fáil Party in government and the Fianna Fáil Party sought the reinstatement of it. While there have been differing views in my party, I am of the view that it is a useful and effective vehicle, at least in the short term. While people want to have...