Results 36,421-36,440 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: State Claims Agency (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The State Claims Agency which manages clinical negligence claims against consultants, including maternity claims occurring on or after 1st February 2004, on behalf of the State has advised me that the growth in maternity-related claims against consultants from 2006 onwards is in line with the actuarial predictions made by the Agency. It has also advised that there are three complicating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Our Lady’s Hospital Navan is part of the Ireland East Hospital Group. Every hospital in that Group, large and small, has a vital role to play within the Group, with smaller hospitals managing routine, urgent or planned care locally and more complex care managed in the larger hospitals. Currently, the Hospital Group is engaged in a programme of re-design work to further integrate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The Director General said that €9 billion was a high level estimated requirement taking account of a number of factors including an aging population and increases in chronic disease. During 2017 my Department will work with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme. My Department will also conduct a Bed Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: There has been no downgrading of emergency services at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). In relation to the issue of 24/7 primary PCI services at UHW, as the Deputy will be aware, an independent report undertaken by Dr Niall Herity recommended that the provision of such services at UHW should cease, in order to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned cath lab...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the provision of routine foetal anomaly scanning for all pregnant women has been a key target for Cavan General Hospital; however, despite every effort having been made, the hospital has not been successful to date in recruiting the necessary specialists required to provide a routine 20 week anomaly scanning service. The Deputy will be aware that the National Maternity...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63, 67, 68, 72, 90, 106 and 129 together. Recent data from the HSE indicates that in 2016 there was a circa 5% increase in Emergency Department attendances nationally. In addition, early January 2017 saw continued significant pressure on our EDs due to high demand, increased incidence of flu mainly affecting older people, as well as on-going bed...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: The National ED Escalation Framework sets out procedures to be followed in hospitals during periods of high demand for emergency care, to ensure that safe care is provided to all patients. In order to respond to surges in ED demand, under the Framework, hospital managers may, in consultation with the relevant clinical leads, review and cancel non-urgent planned electives, where appropriate....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (1 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 Waiting Lists (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Long waiting times for scoliosis surgery are not acceptable, and my Department has been working closely with the HSE to address this service pressure. Additional funding of €1.042m was allocated under the 2015 Service Plan to increase capacity at Crumlin, and further resources of €0.987m were allocated under the 2016 Service Plan for Orthopaedics and Trauma to address...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 81, 100 and 130 together. An anomaly scan is a full detailed anatomical survey of pregnant women that takes place between 20 and 22 weeks' gestation. Anomaly scans are currently available in the following Hospital Groups: -Ireland East Hospital Group- The National Maternity Hospital -Dublin Midlands Hospital Group- The Coombe Women & Infants...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Decisions on pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products within public health systems are a national competence for EU Member States. However, the issue of pricing and reimbursement of medicines and patient access to affordable medicines has been addressed at European level. In June 2016 the EU Council adopted conclusions on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (1 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 Waiting Lists (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: In August, following a briefing on electronic referrals, I tasked the HSE's Chief Information Officer with producing a report into how digital solutions could change the way in which waiting lists are managed. The HSE has responded providing my Department with a detailed set of options that could be explored. This response on the digital challenge for waiting lists includes an overview...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. While there are significant challenges at present in recruiting consultants, nurses and midwives and doctors, due primarily to worldwide shortages and international competition, progress has been made in recent years in growing the consultant and NCHD workforce in particular. Since the establishment of the HSE, the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Treatment Purchase Fund Eligibility (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: Since 2012 as a matter of policy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund ensures that clinicians contracted or employed by private hospitals do not receive remuneration for the treatment of the same patient from both the referring public hospital, by way of salary, and from the treating private hospital, by way of a fee. I am advised by the NTPF that this is explicitly prohibited in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (1 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: Hospitals Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: In order to respond to increasing demand for hospital services, Budget 2017 provides an additional €118 million for acute hospital services in 2017. This includes €9m, which has been allocated to expand existing, or develop new acute hospital services in 2017. Of this funding, €109 million will be used to maintain our existing level of service to take into account...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing and midwifery staffing levels throughout the country. The number of nursing and midwifery staff increased by 1,650 whole time equivalents between December 2013 and December 2016, notwithstanding intense global competition for our nurses and midwives. The HSE is offering permanent posts to 2016 degree programme graduates, and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (1 Feb 2017)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Simon Harris: General practitioners contracted under the General Medical Services scheme must make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for emergencies outside normal practice hours. While there is no obligation on GPs to participate in GP out-of-hours cooperatives as a means of meeting this contractual requirement, such services have been developed and expanded...