Results 3,961-3,980 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced to meet fiscal and budgetary targets. The Deputy acknowledges this. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. The recruitment embargo, or moratorium, has achieved substantial reductions in employment in the public health service. The number of staff employed by the health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The Special Delivery Unit continues to support front line staff in our hospitals to make significant progress including at University Hospital Galway and all across the West North West Hospital Group, although significant challenges remain. The SDU can confirm that: - Each site has a documented unscheduled care improvement plan which is continually reviewed and updated; - Key areas of system...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Tobacco Control Measures (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: I would like to thank the Deputy for her question. As I have not introduced any measures on the area to date, I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent announcement by the Health Service Executive that the use of e-cigarettes will no longer be permitted in any of its facilities or campuses. The ban commenced on 1 May, as part of the HSE’s Tobacco Free Campus policy, which, in line...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The provisions of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD) encompass a number of measures to protect workers welfare and safety, including a maximum 48 hour working week - averaged over a reference period, daily and weekly rest periods and the granting of compensatory rest where the working day exceeds 13 hours. Under the Directive, the 48 hour average working week became a requirement for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: It is my intention to have the legislation for Universal Health Insurance (UHI) in place by early 2016 and to then proceed to have the new system fully implemented by 2019. The price of premiums for the UHI standard package will be set by the health insurance companies. Price setting for these products is likely to happen closer to the implementation date. The State will subsidise or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Diabetes Strategy (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The Paediatric Diabetes Working Group was established in 2011 under the auspices of the Paediatric and Diabetes Clinical Programmes. One of the recommendations from the Diabetes Expert Advisory Group was that Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (pump therapy) should be the primary treatment option in children, especially those aged less than 5 years of age; and consequently, the working...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The website referred to by the Deputy is a registered brand name of Healthcare Help Ltd. The information on the site is intended to be for general educational and information purposes only. It features healthcare professionals from a range of disciplines and from different maternity units in Irish healthcare settings. The aim is to provide general information for free to all women but in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: I am happy to provide the necessary reassurances to the Deputy that in the context of the implementation of Hospital Groups, the range of services currently available in Waterford Regional Hospital will be retained and enhanced. The Hospital will, inter alia, operate as a cancer centre under the National Cancer Control Programme, be the hub for the South-East renal service, a regional...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Data (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The current physiotherapy staffing complement is 18.1 wte and there are currently 13.4 wtes employed; a recruitment process is underway to fill the vacant posts. All referrals to physiotherapy services in Waterford Regional Hospital are prioritised. There is a service to all hospital wards and new emerging needs are addressed within resources available and in accordance with priorities...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Access (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The HSE's National Social Inclusion Office has a remit for Roma health and has partnered in a number of initiatives aimed at providing access to services for members of the Roma community. The office has been closely involved in the series of thematic seminars hosted by Pavee Point in relation to the health and support needs of the Roma community. The National Social Inclusion Office will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: I intend to use existing resources to the greatest extent possible in preparing for the introduction of UHI. Overall responsibility for policy development and for driving the advancement of the groundwork necessary for implementation of UHI will be discharged by my Department from within the existing staffing complement and budget. As this policy advances, we will draw on resources of other...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: Notwithstanding the need to reduce public service numbers, the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and quality care and to support service delivery. While the focus under the Public Service Agreement and the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) is on increased productivity and reform, additional nursing support is being made available...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Reviews (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: My priority continues to be to ensure that the women who have undergone surgical symphysiotomy continue to have their health needs comprehensively and professionally met. The HSE provides a range of services to women who may be experiencing any adverse effects as a result of undergoing this procedure. These services include the provision of medical cards, the availability of independent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Service Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Maternity Services (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: As the Deputy is aware, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is preparing a National Maternity Strategy which will determine the future model of maternity services to ensure that women have access to safe, high quality care in a setting most appropriate to their needs, ensuring access at all times to the right level of care and support, and providing choice insofar as is possible. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The need to reduce waiting times for patients requiring emergency admission remains a priority for me.  Heretofore, the unscheduled care agenda has been dominated by the emphasis on trolleys.  As the majority of emergency attendances do not result in admission, this focus needs to change to the broader Patient Experience Time (PET), which includes all who attend for emergency care,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has commissioned a national capacity reviewto determine the level and use of resourcing required for a safe and effective service. This independent review will be undertaken by the UK Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, an organisation with considerable international experience in operational and strategic reviews of this kind. In the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff Recruitment (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: Notwithstanding the need to reduce the numbers employed across the public service in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets, the HSE has the capacity to recruit frontline staff including consultants to ensure service delivery. However, I am aware that some hospitals are having difficulties in filling certain consultant posts. Last July I established a working group, chaired by Professor...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: I am advised by the HSE that, in 2013, a total of 6,456 patients on waiting lists for outpatient treatment at the Waterford Regional Hospital, were referred to private facilities for outpatient services, and a total of 666 patients were referred for in-patient/day case procedures. All 666 in-patient/day case patients have fully completed their episode of care. The patients were treated at...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Air Ambulance Service Provision (14 May 2014)

James Reilly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 169 and 170 together. In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.