Results 7,001-7,020 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Accident and Emergency Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: The average number of people waiting admission to hospital during the month of March was 137 people. It is my intention to continue to reduce waiting times for all patients presenting as emergencies to our hospitals. The HSE has set a lower waiting time target of six hours for all patients. The aim is that all patients, irrespective of whether they are admitted, will be assessed, treated...

Accident and Emergency Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: I agree with the last point the Deputy made. The Fair Deal, which will be implemented later this year when legislation is enacted, will play a very important role in facilitating patients, particularly older ones moving from the acute setting to long-term care, because we will have a fair system of funding for all persons. We are measuring time of arrival now. We are considering this...

Accident and Emergency Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: The emphasis must be on how we use the beds. As I stated, we should have a national standard whereby 75% of those admitted for surgery would be admitted on the day of surgery. This does not happen. We do not have discharge plans for the vast majority of our patients. The new HealthStat system, which will drive the performance of our hospitals, will be enormously beneficial in helping...

Health Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: The HSE is facing significant financial pressures. These are due to a range of factors, including the implications for the HSE of the broader economic circumstances of the country. There have been intensive ongoing discussions between the executive and my Department regarding the executive's emerging financial position. Based on figures for the end of January and the end of February, the...

Health Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: In deference to Deputy Reilly, who tabled a question on cystic fibrosis, I will reserve my comments on it until we take that question. The sum of €160 million arises because of the emerging economic circumstances in March, according to the Department of Finance. I said at the committee last week that the shortfall was €160 million rather than €100 million. Furthermore, I stated in my...

Health Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: The bottom line is that the use of the money allocated to the HSE which, in gross terms, amounts to approximately €15 billion on the current side, must be maximised in the interest of patients. Therefore, any restrictions must hit hard in areas such as travel and subsistence, work practices, overtime issues, redeployment and legal costs.

Health Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: I have the power to reject the proposals submitted and suggest alternatives.

Cystic Fibrosis Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: Since 2006, some 19 additional staff have been recruited in St. Vincent's Hospital to work with cystic fibrosis patients. The physical infrastructure has also been enhanced through the refurbishment last year of accommodation to provide eight single en suite rooms for the exclusive use of people with cystic fibrosis. It had been intended to free up a further six beds at the hospital for the...

Cystic Fibrosis Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: It is a priority but, to be fair to the HSE, if it does not have the money it cannot do it. Virtually all of the HSE's capital plan is contractual. Yesterday, I stated that I know the hospital has an alternative proposal on how this could be funded in the immediate period and we need to explore options in an innovative and imaginative way to bring this facility into place as quickly as...

Cystic Fibrosis Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: That was explored last summer and the hospital's very strong preference, because of space issues, was to do it all together. We committed to doing this, which is why we reorganised within the hospital. Certainly, all options will be explored. As the Deputy may be aware, the care of the elderly facility at St. Vincent's leaves much to be desired. The facilities there for very old stroke...

Cystic Fibrosis Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: The matter of life expectancy is not confirmed by the registry. However, this is not the issue. The issue is having appropriate facilities for these patients and I am committed to making this happen.

Hospital Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 87 together. I have no plans to close any acute hospital. My priority is to ensure all acute hospital services are delivered to the highest standard of quality and safety to patients and in the most efficient way possible. My aim is to make certain that we provide the right type of acute care in the right type of hospital. There is an abundance of...

Hospital Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: Professor John Higgins has been appointed as the clinical project director. I met him last week. His task is to engage with the clinical community in the region and to reach agreement on what should take place in Mallow General Hospital rather than Cork University Hospital or the other hospitals in Cork or Kerry. I believe this has been a very successful process and it is working well in...

Hospital Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: It is probably top of the class in the country in that regard. The national day case target is 75%, but in the case of Mallow General Hospital it is only between 30% and 40%. Its mix of public and private patients is very far off the mark. Some 50% of the surgical patients are private in Mallow General Hospital and, as the Deputy is aware, the national target is 20%. I hope that in the...

Hospital Services. (31 Mar 2009)

Mary Harney: I hasten to add I am not being critical, because it was placed top of the class along with St. Vincent's Hospital on the hygiene audit. Last year, I visited Mallow General Hospital and I was very impressed. There are infrastructural requirements for the hospital as there are for many acute hospitals. There are a large number of very old hospitals providing services and we must ensure any...