Results 40,821-40,840 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

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 Waiting Lists (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The numbers of patients on waiting lists must be considered in the context of overall demand. Every year there are 3.2m outpatient attendances at our hospitals. 100,000 patients have elective inpatient procedures and 800,000 have planned day case procedures. In 2015 my predecessor introduced a maximum waiting time of 15 months to be attained by the end of December 2015, focussing on...

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

Simon Harris: Seven Hospital Groups have been established on a non-statutory administrative basis. Pending the enactment of legislation, Hospital Groups will continue to operate within existing legislative frameworks governing the health services and the policy and accountability frameworks of the Department of Health and the HSE. The implementation of Hospital Groups will progress in a phased manner,...

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

Simon Harris: In February 2016, the Taskforce on Staffing and Skill Mix for Nursing, developed an Interim Report and Recommendations for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix in general and specialist surgical care settings in adult hospitals in Ireland. One of the reports’ key recommendations was the necessity to undertake a pilot test of the framework in 2016. In February 2016, a Taskforce Pilot...

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

Simon Harris: At the outset, I would like to say that the delay in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NBMI) responding to your previous question of 21 April 2016 is regretted. This reply encompasses both this question and your previous question of 21 April 2016. As of 31 May, 2016, a total of 803 nurses and midwives have been registered by the NMBI since 1 January 2016. In addition, 681...

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

Simon Harris: A Consultant Paediatrician with a Special Interest in Diabetes has been recognised as a priority post for Galway University Hospital. The post was approved, recruited and a Consultant has been appointed to GUH. Due to previous work commitments, the successful candidate will take up their post in March 2017. The current arrangement, whereby all infants and children under 5 years of age...

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

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

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

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Supply (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: Most drugs and medicines reimbursed by the HSE are supplied to patients through over 1,800 contracted community pharmacies which, in turn, purchase them from wholesalers or, to a lesser extent, directly from manufacturers. The community pharmacist is paid a fee for dispensing medicines to patients. The HSE maintains a Reimbursement List of all products reimbursed under the Community Drug...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Expenditure (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The way that public acute hospital services are funded is in the process of being reformed through the implementation of an Activity Based Funding (ABF) system. The purpose of ABF is to change the model of funding from the previously existing block grant budget system to a new approach where hospitals are paid based on the quantity and quality of the services they deliver to patients within...

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

Simon Harris: The Programme for Partnership Government emphasises the priority of increasing access to safe, timely care, as close to patients' homes as possible, and it recognises that general practice needs a new contract to address its changing role in delivering chronic care with the community and to allow it play its part in addressing the challenges that face the health system. Under a Framework...

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

Simon Harris: The HSE's Mental Health Division is experiencing significant challenges in recruiting suitably qualified nurses for the mental health services. Given this, it sought from the National Director, Human Resources, and was granted a derogation from the policy which did not allow for the rehiring of retired staff. Following this decision some retired mental health nurses have been rehired to...

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

Simon Harris: Considerable efforts have been made by the Saolta Healthcare Group to improve the staffing levels at Portiuncula Hospital. In March 2016, the Hospital hired one extra ED consultant, an increase from one consultant to two. In the area of Medicine, the Hospital has five consultants in post; two permanent, three locum and two vacancies. The three locum posts are being filled on a permanent...

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

Simon Harris: Cross-border cooperation on health makes sense, allowing us to pool our resources to provide better health care for all our citizens. North-South cooperation on health matters takes place through the North South Ministerial Council as well as joint departmental projects. There has been significant activity in cross-border health and social care activity over the last decade. Collaboration...

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

Simon Harris: The rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised at global, European and national levels, including Ireland, as one of the greatest potential threats to human and animal health with possible serious consequences for public health, animal welfare and the agriculture and food sectors. The emergence of resistance is a normal biological phenomenon but is increased through the overuse and...

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

Simon Harris: An easing of restrictions on the employment of additional staff was announced in Budget 2015. Under this new approach public sector organisations can obtain delegated sanction to recruit within the parameters of their pay budget once they obtain approval for their Pay and Numbers Strategy from their parent Department and from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This change...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The HSE estimate that the projected number of persons covered by Medical Card eligibility on 31 December 2016, as outlined in the HSE Service Plan will be 1,675,767. On 1 May 2016, the number of people with Medical Card eligibility was 1,731,406, which included 104,671 persons granted eligibility on the basis of the exercise of discretion. It is not possible to forecast the number of...

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 number of nursing and midwifery staff working in the public health service increased by 1,275 in whole time equivalent terms to 35,925. Recent measures taken in...

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

Simon Harris: Work on a new independent national model for patient advocacy as recommended by the HIQA Report into Portlaoise Report has commenced. This advocacy service will be external to the Department and the HSE and will be in line with international best practice. The Department has begun the examination of the most appropriate patient advocacy model for Ireland having requested the Health...