Results 40,821-40,840 of 46,235 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments Waiting Times (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Pressures on Emergency Departments have been rising, given an ageing and growing population. ED attendances have been significantly higher this year, particularly in Quarter 1. To date, the HSE has reported an average increase in attendances of nearly 6% compared with the same period last year. Despite attendance increases, TrolleyGar numbers in Quarter 1 2016 are similar to those for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Patient Transfers (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Multi-annual Budget Plans (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Increases in the health budget have been possible both in Budget 2015 and 2016. It is this Government's intention to work with the Oireachtas to sustain these annual increases going forward. It is our intention to set out a detailed longer-term budget for the health service, underpinned by a 5 year Health Service Plan based on realistic, verifiable projections. It is acknowledged in our...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Charges (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The provision for the €100 charge to patients who avail of the services at an Emergency Department is made under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013. There are certain exemptions from the charge which include, a person with full eligibility (i.e. a medical card holder), a person who has a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner and a person whose...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has focused on the recruitment of additional front line staff to support service delivery and continues to do so, as additional resources have become available. From the end of April 2014 to the end of April 2016 the total number of consultants working in the public health service increased by 175, the number of NCHDs increased by 862 and the number of nursing and midwifery staff...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Last month at my request, the HSE published the National Ambulance Service Capacity Review together with an action plan for implementation which incorporates the recommendations of both the Capacity Review and the 2014 HIQA Report on the National Ambulance Service. The Capacity Review makes it clear that we need a very significant programme of investment in our ambulance services. In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Groups (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently finalising Guidance on Developing Hospital Group Strategic Plans which will be circulated to Hospital Groups in the near future. The Groups will develop their Strategic Plans informed by this guidance document. Each Hospital Group will be required to develop a plan to describe how it will provide more efficient and effective patient services; reorganise these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Training (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I understand that the Health Service Executive has been involved in Ireland’s participation in the European Commission Project on ‘Support for the definition of core competences of health care assistants’. A workshop took place in early April 2016 at which Ireland was represented by a senior manager from the Nursing Midwifery Planning and Development unit in the HSE....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Clinical Trials (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I am aware that various clinical trials are ongoing and I welcome the opportunity for Irish patients to be involved in such trials. However, my Department is not privy to information on the number of people recruited to particular trials, or to detailed information on the progress of these trials. The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Escalation Framework was issued to hospitals in December 2015. It advises hospitals on how best to manage patient flow when there is a surge in demand for emergency care. Central to this approach is that hospitals should avoid the need for escalation where possible, by improving systems and planning. When necessary, escalated responses are delivered in three stages. It is only at...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the impact that long wait times in Emergency Departments can have on patients and their families. In June 2015, additional funding of €18 million was made available to the HSE under the Winter Additional Capacity Initiative. The initiative identified 301 additional winter capacity beds that could be opened. In some hospitals, beds have proved more challenging...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Pensions (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 and employs in the region of 287 employees. It is understood that 47 employees are members of the funded pension scheme in question. Following receipt of information from the CRC in relation to the wind up of the scheme the CRC was requested, as a matter of urgency, to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I understand that central procurement is a key element of national pharmaceutical policies in other countries. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to examine opportunities for leveraging purchasing power either through national or European initiatives and for making greater use of effective but less costly medicines. Most drugs and medicines reimbursed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Pensions (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 and employs in the region of 287 employees. It is understood that 47 employees are members of the funded pension scheme in question. Following receipt of information from the CRC in relation to the wind up of the scheme the CRC was requested, as a matter of urgency, to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Policy (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I welcome the establishment of the Committee on the Future of Healthcare which is a key commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The staffing and resourcing of the Committee is a matter for the Committee and the Houses of the Oireachtas. My Department will be happy to assist and advise the Houses of the Oireachtas, as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Care Policy (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Officials from the Department of Health met with a wide range of Deputies during the course of negotiations for the Programme for a Partnership Government. The purpose of these meetings was to provide factual information to Deputies and answer technical queries raised by them including, if requested, clinical analysis. No specific briefing documentation was drafted for these meetings. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cancer Strategy (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any item, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available. As regards the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Last month at my request, the HSE published the National Ambulance Service Capacity Review together with an action plan for implementation which incorporates the recommendations of both the Capacity Review and the 2014 HIQA Report on the National Ambulance Service. The Capacity Review makes it clear that we need a very significant programme of investment in our ambulance services. In...