Results 6,341-6,360 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney
- Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 47 together. I have emphasised to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) the need for maximum cost-effectiveness in the discharge of its remit, consistent with providing safe and effective care, and I am satisfied that the Fund is aware of its responsibilities in this regard. I have also asked the NTPF, in its dealings with private hospitals, to...
- Written Answers — Screening Programmes: Screening Programmes (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 104 together. The Health Service Executive's Expert Advisory Group on Children and Families has produced a draft policy document on the introduction of a cystic fibrosis screening programme for newborns. Recommendations include the establishment of a Steering Group to oversee its implementation and to ensure coherence with the development of other...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: While the co-location initiative is a complex process, it is an efficient means of delivering extra bed capacity for the public hospital system. Significant progress has been made in advancing the individual projects involved. The Board of the HSE has approved preferred bidder status for the development of co-located hospitals at Beaumont, Cork University, the Mid-Western Regional Limerick,...
- Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: Refurbishment work took place last year in St Vincent's University Hospital to provide eight single en-suite rooms for the exclusive use of people with cystic fibrosis. The next stage in the development of St. Vincent's Hospital will involve the building of a new ward block to replace existing accommodation. The new ward block will include accommodation for cystic fibrosis patients. I am...
- Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: The new Consultant Contract provides for a single waiting list for outpatient diagnostics. This agreement did not initially cover colonscopies, but this was subsequently agreed at my request. The HSE is now working to give effect to this agreement in relation to colonoscopies. I have instructed the HSE to ensure that urgent colonoscopies are provided within four weeks. The HSE has established...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
- Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I do not believe that there will, in fact, be a loss of â¬50m to public hospitals arising from the new consultants' contract, and I will set out the reasons why. A central objective of the new consultants' contract is to improve access for public patients to public hospital services. It ensures, for example, for the first time in public hospitals, that patients needing outpatient or...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: The estimated additional cost of the implementation of 'A Vision for Change' the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy is â¬150m over 7 â 10 years. Substantial resources are invested in mental health services; overall spending on these services amounts to an estimated â¬1 billion. Development funding totalling â¬51.2m was allocated to the HSE in 2006 and 2007, some of which...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers, the Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment, promotion, or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade with effect from 27 March 2009 to end 2010. A HSE circular has issued which gives effect to the Government decision in the public health services and other specific aspects of the...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: The Transformation Programme for the North East region has been informed by the Teamwork Report to the Health Service Executive (HSE) which demonstrated that the service configuration in the region was unsustainable. A series of focused and necessary service changes are being implemented across the region. The transfer of acute medical care from Monaghan General Hospital to Cavan is subject...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 72, 123 and 135 together. The provision of high quality hospital services for children will continue to be a priority for the Government. The Children's Health First Report commissioned by the Health Service Executive indicated that the population and projected demands in this country can support only one world class tertiary paediatric hospital. It...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: The HSE National Service Plan 2009 approved by me in December 2008 included â¬250m in economy and cost avoidance measures for 2009 (in addition to a continuation of â¬280m value for money measures from 2008). In broad terms, the planned level of activity outlined in the HSE Service Plan for 2009 is in line with that targeted in 2008. Since then, a number of potential exposures (some of...
- Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: My Department has approved 4 posts at Grade VIII (and equivalent) or above in 2009. It is important to note that, as announced in Budget 2009, there will be a 3% reduction in management and administrative grades in sections of the health sector in 2009. This equates to 500 wholetime equivalents and the reduction will streamline management structures in the health service and will further...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: New Zealand does not have a specific no fault compensation scheme to deal with personal injury claims arising from the delivery of health services. Requests for compensation arising from medical accidents or clinical error are dealt with by the Accident Compensation Corporation as one element of a general no fault system covering all accidents including motor, industrial/occupational and...
- Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: An air ambulance service is currently provided by the Air Corps on the basis of a Service Level Agreement prepared by the Departments of Defence and Health and Children, in consultation with the Health Service Executive, the Defence Forces and the Air Corps, all of which are signatories to it. This arrangement has operated successfully for a number of years. The air ambulance service is...
- Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: On 31 March 2009, Benzylpiperazine (BZP), one of the so-called 'party' or 'happy pills' available for sale in 'head shops' was declared a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 (Controlled Drugs) (Declaration) Order 2009. This means that the possession and sale of BZP are now illegal. A press release issued from my Department on 31 March and there was considerable media coverage...
- Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: The Government is committed to the development of the National Paediatric Hospital as a priority. The project is proceeding as planned and is being overseen by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, which was established in May, 2007. The Board has appointed a Chief Officer, a Medical Director and a Finance Officer. The HSE is working closely with the Board in progressing the...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 134 and 138 together. The fundamental objective of Government health policy continues to be to maximise the health status of the population. The Government is committed to ensuring quality health services delivered efficiently and effectively. Ensuring patient safety is paramount so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best...
- Written Answers — Drug Rehabilitation Programmes: Drug Rehabilitation Programmes (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: I discussed this issue on 21 January and 5 March 2008 with Minister of State Pat Carey T.D. who at that time was Minister of State with responsibility for co-ordinating the National Drugs Strategy: the outcome of these meetings was the appointment by the HSE of a senior rehabilitation co-ordinator. The Deputy's question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply in relation to existing...
- Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (21 May 2009)
Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.