Results 37,641-37,660 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Other Questions: Maternity Services (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: In relation to Portiuncula, I will revert to the Deputy. I intend to visit that hospital, as well as Galway University Hospital, this month. I hope the Deputy can join me then and we can explore these issues further. I take the Deputy's point on the importance of these appointments. It is really important that the posts are filled as quickly as possible and I am satisfied that the...

Other Questions: Maternity Services (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Deputy Rabbitte's point is really important. I have visited many of our maternity hospitals and maternity units over the past six months where so many staff are working extraordinarily hard. While, sadly, we have had tragedies in our maternity services and we must constantly strive to do better, and I have outlined what we will do better, we must also acknowledge the dedication particularly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Investigations (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I am very happy to share with Deputy Connolly the information I have available to me because this is a very serious matter and it is difficult, going back and forth, to put all the information on the record. However, I am endeavouring to do so. It is important to assure the public that an audit of the surgeon's non-spinal orthopaedic work was also carried out and that no concerns were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Investigations (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this very serious and important issue. I understand that following concerns over four spinal surgery cases detected through the quality and safety systems in University Hospital Galway in 2014, an audit of care provided by one consultant orthopaedic surgeon was undertaken. An external review of the four cases was then commissioned. On receipt of that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Investigations (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: November 2014 was when the external review was reported. The Saolta group then initiated a wider audit of the practice of the surgeon which was carried out by two independent orthopaedic surgeons. The consultant involved ceased performing spinal surgery immediately. I am further advised that the consultant orthopaedic surgeon in question resigned his post in February 2015 and is no longer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Investigations (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I fully accept Deputy Connolly's bona fides on the matter but I am sure she accepts mine as well. My primary concern is and will always be - as long as I hold this office - for the individual patients, their confidentiality, safety and sensitivity with regard to their own cases. They have a right to have their confidential patient information absolutely protected. Let me put some more...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Beds Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: As of July of this year there were 12,733 beds in the health service, 10,579 of them being inpatient beds and 2,154 day beds. There has been a range of reviews, with the most recent bed capacity review carried out by PA Consulting in 2007. It was commissioned by the HSE at the time to carry out an independent review of the acute bed capacity requirements for Ireland until 2020....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Hospitals collect income from a number of sources, including charges for public and private patients as provided for in legislation. They also collect income in respect of facilities such as rental of shops, cark park charges and other sources. Setting targets for income collection is a normal part of effective financial planning and management for any organisation. While rates for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: It is interesting to talk about cuts when the HSE and the health service has received the largest ever health budget in the history of any budget in this House. It is simply not the case that we are cutting services. We are, however, expecting the hospitals to do a better job of collecting the income that this House legislated for them to collect. These are the views of the Comptroller and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospitals Funding (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I am not a believer in a financial penalty for a hospital because while it sounds like one is acting like a tough guy, it ends up being a circular flow of money. I am not suggesting the Deputy is saying that, but that is my view. We have allocated additional funding to the health service. The HSE will make sure to put that additional funding to use for patients and improved services. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Beds Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kelleher for tabling this important question on a matter which he has raised on a number of occasions. A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the undertaking of a national hospital bed capacity review "to establish the number, type and location of beds required into the future recognising the need for a range of beds including critical care, palliative and day...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hospital Beds Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy about the importance of ensuring that expertise is brought in and that this review will be independent and impartial. While my Department will obviously be scoping the review, we will bring on board external support. It is not in anyone's interest for this not to be absolutely factual because we all need to get serious about the bed needs for our health service right...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased this year with a 4% increase in inpatient and day case activity to end October compared with the same period last year, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 95% of people should be waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Trolley numbers nationally have been high in November due to increased ED attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of elective activity in hospitals to address waiting lists. It is unacceptable that patients wait on trolleys for long periods especially elderly and vulnerable patients. Over the coming months it is essential that the health service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (1 Dec 2016)

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. I am informed that, following a request from the HSE, the NCPE carried out an assessment of the manufacturer's economic dossier submitted in March 2016 on the cost effectiveness of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: This Government is committed to improving waiting times for patients. While recognising that demand for acute hospital services has increased, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 85% of people should wait less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate that 81%...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Trolley numbers nationally have been high in November due to increased ED attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of elective activity in hospitals to address waiting lists. It is unacceptable that patients wait on trolleys for long periods especially elderly and vulnerable patients. Over the coming months it is essential that the health service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership 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. Occupational Therapy has, as one of its core values, the principle of enabling people to remain in their own homes and communities. A National Service Improvement Group has been established to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Strategy (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Programme for a Partnership 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 Programme emphasises the need and focus on enhancing primary health care services including the building up of GP capacity, increasing the number of therapists and other health professionals...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Trolley numbers nationally have been high in November due to increased ED attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of elective activity in hospitals to address waiting lists. The HSE has confirmed that there has been a 2% increase in attendances at the ED in Portlaoise since 2015. It is unacceptable that patients wait on trolleys for long periods...