Results 41,001-41,020 of 46,235 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 May 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. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales Legislation (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill remains a priority for this Government. The Bill is part of a suite of measures agreed on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. The Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and the introduction of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 8 December 2015. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Acquired Infections (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: The prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a patient safety and public health priority for the Department of Health for many years. HCAI surveillance is complex. Information on excess costs of HCAIs such as prolonged hospital stay, further treatments required, attributable mortality and other complications can be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Expenditure (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. As these are service matters, 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: Medical Card Eligibility (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy directly. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, (as amended). It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cochlear Implants Provision (26 May 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 (26 May 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 it up.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Recruitment (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: There is no recruitment embargo in place in the HSE. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Data (26 May 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: Traveller Community (26 May 2016)

Simon Harris: My Department does not currently have plans to update the All Ireland Traveller Health survey. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Justice and Equality is leading on the development of a new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy aims to provide a set of specific actions that need to be taken to bring about a real improvement in quality of life for Travellers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (26 May 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 Appointments Status (26 May 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. The National...

Adjournment Debate: Hospital Services (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: I wish to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Connolly for raising this matter and for her good wishes. I am pleased to have this opportunity to update Members regarding hospital developments in Galway. Galway University Hospitals, GUH, which encompasses University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital, provide a comprehensive range of services to emergency and elective...

Adjournment Debate: Hospital Services (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: In respect of all the health care issues.

Adjournment Debate: Hospital Services (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: Obviously, there will be an opportunity for the hospital, through the hospital group structure, to raise whatever issues it wishes to raise with me. This will be a meeting for me to ascertain the priorities of that hospital group in terms of the development of health care facilities in the region. The Deputy also made a valid point regarding the ongoing need to tackle the trolley crisis,...

Adjournment Debate: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this very important matter and for presenting the starkness of the difference between what he was informed by the HSE by way of parliamentary question and the reality facing families in the community he represents. It is important that we hear that difference. It is something I will take back to HSE officials. I advise the Deputy that each individual...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Provision (25 May 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: Assisted Human Reproduction (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: When the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted in April last year, the Minister for Justice and Equality indicated that Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, which deal with donor-assisted human reproduction, would not be commenced for at least a year following enactment. This period was agreed between the then Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and the Minister for Justice and Equality...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive has responsibility for the provision and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue. 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: Cancer Screening Programmes (25 May 2016)

Simon Harris: The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is an initial test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. While raised PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, they can also arise in cases of certain benign prostate conditions, e.g. prostatitis. On average, two out of every three men who have a raised PSA level will not, on further examination, turn out to have prostate cancer. Also, there...