Results 37,681-37,700 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 88 together. During 2017, the Hospital Groups will be developing strategic plans for the development of services in their region. As part of its Strategic Plan, the Saolta University Healthcare Group will develop its strategy for urology services. The Saolta Group envisages that it will operate a hub and spoke urology service model with a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Government and my Department recognise that difficulties recruiting and retaining doctors and nurses has the potential to impact negatively on patient care and service delivery. The Programme for a Partnership Government aims to recruit and retain talent within the public health service by implementing new procedures to ensure more efficient and timely recruitment of doctors and nurses....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has advised that there had been a vacancy for some time for a Consultant Paediatric Urologist at Temple Street Hospital as recruitment efforts for this very specific specialty post were not successful. However interim arrangements to provide specialist consultant input were put in place, including arrangements with a Consultant Paediatric Urologist in the NHS to visit Temple Street....

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 be waiting less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I met Judge Maureen Harding Clark on 19 October 2016 last when she submitted her report on the Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Ex Gratia Scheme to me. I examined the report and submitted it to Government last week prior to its publication on my Department's website on 22 November last. I have not been in contact with the three survivor groups, as the work of the Scheme has now concluded. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Remuneration (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: I met with a delegation from the INMO on 17 November to discuss a range of matters of concern to their membership including recruitment and retention difficulties. It was agreed at the meeting that the Department and the INMO would remain in contact over the coming weeks to progress a number of related matters raised at the meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Private Partnerships Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Currently, the first Health public private partnership (PPP) project is underway. Primary care centres will be delivered at the following 14 locations - Summerhill, north inner city Dublin; Coolock/Darndale, north city Dublin; Kilcock; Wexford town; Waterford city; Dungarvan; Carrick-on-Suir; Limerick city; Tuam; Ballinrobe; Claremorris; Westport; Boyle and Ballymote. Assuming progress is...

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 hospital inpatient and day case activity nationally has increased by 4% year on year to end October, the important issue for patients is how long they wait. Under the HSE Service Plan 2016 targets, 95% of people should be waiting less than 15 months for their inpatient or day case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (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 be waiting less than 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment. The latest NTPF Outpatient Waiting List figures indicate...

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

Simon Harris: OECD statistics are useful for comparing expenditure on medicines and other areas. However, per capita figures are only one of a number of measures that can give a view of drugs spending in Ireland. The OECD report cited by the Deputy uses data from 2014, the last year for which full figures are available. In 2014, expenditure on prescription and over the counter medicines accounted for...

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

Simon Harris: Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital is part of the Ireland East Group and is Ireland's major centre for elective orthopaedic surgery. The hospital provides the full range of orthopaedic services including major joint replacement (ankle, hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, and wrist), spinal surgery, primary bone tumour service, paediatric orthopaedics and sports injuries. Recent developments at the...

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: National Treatment Purchase Fund Waiting Times (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. Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients....

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. According to the October waiting list data published by the NTPF, 83% of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places by 100 over the next five years to 259 places annually. In 2016, the GP training intake increased from 157 to 172 places and I am anxious to achieve further increases in future years. In September 2015, the HSE published a medical workforce planning report entitledMedical Workforce Planning -...

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: 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 to you.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Data (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Harris: Treatments have been commissioned from the private sector by both the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE in targeted initiatives to reduce waiting list numbers. The NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004 and previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended. I...

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 nationally 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...