Results 4,641-4,660 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 506. To ask the Minister for Health if he intends to increase his Department’s representation in Brussels to ensure Ireland’s position is adequately represented in European Council negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38288/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I am on the board of the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. We have completed a new outpatient ophthalmology unit and two theatres are due to be finished by 1 October. My concern is that there is still a huge waiting list. A new unit ophthalmology unit has been built in Ballincollig which will employ 32 people. The problem is that it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Is there ongoing consultation between all of the units across the country or is it only between certain units?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: There are 19 maternity units in the country. There seems to be much more co-operation between them. Some units cannot do certain procedures and, therefore, there is a mechanism for referring patients. Do we need to do something similar with ophthalmology and develop far more co-operation? In each area of medicine, there is sub-specialisation. Is that the way to deal with this issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: The funding for Ballincollig is from the HSE, not the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. The building has been completed, but we need funding for the equipment and to get it up and running. Also, obviously additional staff are required as well. With regard to fast-tracking the waiting lists that exist at present and a co-ordinated approach, and Professor Keegan says that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Has the IT system NERIECS wishes to use been identified at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Is there not a problem in Ireland in that we have 1,200 to 1,400 different systems between all the private hospitals, public hospitals and everything else? Denmark started back in 1996 and it is down to 12 or 14 systems and it is working down towards five systems. It has a huge saving as a result. Do we need to make sure now that we co-ordinate not only with IT but with the other sections...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: We have done it in maternity services. Four units have a fully integrated IT system. I am not sure whether it has been expanded into the other areas yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I wish to deal with another issue, which is the treatment abroad. I am hearing quite a lot of complaints. The main complaint I have heard is that if I refer people to Belfast, I will get €50 for every patient referred. I am not sure if Professor Keegan is aware of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: It has come back to me by someone who was there who said, "If you can refer people up to us, we will give you €50 for every patient you refer".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: That is my understanding of what is being said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: This came from someone who physically attended the facility, where it is advised that if somebody refers anyone else there, the facility will give €50 for every patient referred.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: It is from the actual facility in Northern Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: No, the facility in Northern Ireland.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Anyway, that is the position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: No, this came from someone-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: It is not because it happened in Northern Ireland. It is somebody who physically attended the facility and I got it from that person. The issue I wish to raise is where procedures are carried out in Northern Ireland and the person encounters complications when he or she returns here. How is that dealt with? Has it arisen and is it arising now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Coming back to what I said earlier regarding the Ballincollig centre, I just got a message saying that there was a reply to me from the Minister yesterday that just arrived this morning. It indicates that the funding will be provided for the equipment and that the unit should be fully operational by the end of the year. That is on paper at this stage, so I am just hoping that is what will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Integrated Eye Care: Discussion (13 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: What about inpatient as opposed to day care procedures for cataracts? What are the numbers for inpatient care?