Results 40,841-40,860 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE National Service Plan (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The National Service Plan sets out the type and volume of health and social care services to be provided by the HSE in a given year within the funding allocated by the Government. I understand that the HSE has already begun its preparatory work in relation to the 2017 National Service Plan, but detailed workings and finalisation can only be completed once the 2017 Budget is announced and...

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

Simon Harris: My Department, together with the HSE, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement, entered negotiations with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) in recent months with a view to securing an agreement that would: - significantly reduce the price of medicines to the Irish taxpayer; - reduce growth in the drugs and medicines bill to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Minor Ailments Scheme (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: I am informed by the HSE that the target date for commencement of the pilot Minor Ailments Scheme developed between the HSE and the Irish Pharmacy Union is 1 July. The four locations chosen for the pilot scheme are Edenderry, Roscommon, Macroom and Kells. The pilot scheme will run for a period of three months, and a review of its effectiveness will then be conducted. The objective of...

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

Simon Harris: Under a Framework Agreement, signed in 2014, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the General Medical Services (GMS) and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. As a first step in this process, universal GP care without fees for all children under the age of 6 years was...

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

Simon Harris: Arising from Budget 2015, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced an easing of restrictions on the employment of additional staff. Submission of a Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned staffing levels and pay/pensions expenditure was required to obtain sanction for the lifting of the moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements. This change allows for...

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

Simon Harris: My Department has committed, in its Statement of Strategy 2015-2017, to developing a national integrated strategic framework for health workforce planning, in collaboration with Government Departments and agencies. Workforce Planning models in other countries will be assessed and analysed as part of this development process. This will provide an overarching framework for strategic,...

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

Simon Harris: As set out in the Programme for Partnership Government, the Government is committed to the goal of universal healthcare. One of the key proposals in the Programme is the establishment of an Oireachtas Committee to develop cross-party consensus on the future of the health service. I believe the health service would benefit enormously from a single unifying vision that can help to drive...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital (2 Jun 2016)

Simon Harris: The decision to locate the new children's hospital at the St James's campus was based on the over-riding priority of best clinical outcomes for our children and, in particular, the sickest of these. The planned new facilities will provide us with the means to deliver on improved health outcomes for children, especially the sickest children in Ireland. I am delighted at the unanimous...

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...