Results 8,161-8,180 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 130 together. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible, in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, so that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes can be achieved. It is essential that we prioritise patient...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The HSE was set up to manage and deliver health and personal social services. One of the core objectives of the health reform programme was to be provide clear lines of accountability and to simplify structures. I have made it clear on many occasions that I want to see health and personal care provided to patients on an integrated basis. I have also made it clear to the HSE that there needs...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 280 together. An accurate initial medical diagnosis is the foundation upon which all subsequent healthcare decisions are based. Unfortunately, research studies and experience have demonstrated the extent to which misdiagnois in cancer cases occurs. It is important to note that radiology and other diagnostic procedures used to identify the presence of...

Written Answers — Cancer Screening Programme: Cancer Screening Programme (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's specific question in relation to the roll out of BreastCheck to the remaining counties in the South and the West is the responsibility of the National Cancer Screening Service. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Chief Executive Officer of the Service to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 116 and 278 together. I do not agree that a culture of acceptance of trolley waits exists. We have made considerable improvements since 2005 in improving the delivery of services in Emergency Departments. For example, the average daily number of patients awaiting admission at 2 pm fell from 179 in 2005 to 92 in 2007. The figures over the first ten months...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Government's proposal, to be effected in legislation, is that, with effect from 1st January 2009, the income thresholds for entitlement to a medical card for those aged 70 and over will be €700 (gross) per week for a single person and €1,400 (gross) per week for a couple. It is expected that 95% (or 19 out of 20) of those aged 70 or over will continue to hold a medical card under...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: A methadone protocol was introduced in Ireland in 1998 to address the problem of opiate addiction, particularly addiction to heroin. Methadone maintenance is internationally recognised as a valid and successful part of an integrated response to the drug problem. At the end of September 2008 there were 8,670 opiate users on the Central Treatment List (CTL) for methadone substitution...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Administrative Budget for my Department in 2009 has been set at €43.10m which represents a reduction of 8% (€3.8m) over the original allocation for 2008. This reduction consists of a 4% cut in payroll costs, a 24% cut across general administrative budget areas such as office premises expenses and training and a 50% cut in Departmental consultancy costs for 2009. Management of this...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the findings of the independent review of maternity services in the Greater Dublin Area, undertaken for the Health Service Executive, by KPMG. That review was completed recently and the findings have been presented to the Joint Standing Committee of the three Dublin Maternity Hospitals. The report indicates that optimal patient outcomes can best be...

Written Answers — General Practitioner Services: General Practitioner Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The number of General Practitioners (GPs) who are in active practice is about 2,500. This equates to approximately 0.5 GPs per 1000 of the population, a ratio that is low by comparison with other EU and OECD countries. I recognise there is a need to increase the number of GPs to take account of the projected growth in population, the ageing of the population and the ageing of the GP...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: On 21st October 2008, the Government announced its intention to pursue appropriate amendments to Section 4 of the Competition Act 2002 to enable the representative body of GPs, the Irish Medical Organisation, to represent its members in negotiations with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children in respect of the services provided to the public health service in a...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 122 together. A capitation rate of €640 per annum is currently paid to GPs for the provision of service under the GMS contract for each person who qualifies for a medical card for the first time, on the basis of being aged 70 years and over in the community. In respect of persons aged 70 years and over in the community who had at some time...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Medical Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations, 2007 (SI No. 540 of 2007) requires that all medicinal products (drugs) must be authorised by the Irish Medicines Board prior to being placed on the market in Ireland. During the assessment of a medicinal product, the IMB determines the appropriate classification and route of sale. Medicinal products that, if used...

Written Answers — Hospital Staff: Hospital Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004 and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the 1970 Health Act, the Health Service Executive may arrange for the supply, without charge, of medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with specified conditions, for the treatment of that condition, through the Long Term Illness Scheme (LTI). The LTI does not cover GP fees or hospital co-payments. The conditions are: mental handicap, mental illness (for people under...

Written Answers — National Treatment Purchase Fund: National Treatment Purchase Fund (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has assured me of its commitment to ensuring value for money so that as many patients as possible are treated from the funding allocated to it. To this end the NTPF compares the prices which it pays with treatment costs in public hospitals and, where known, the prices being paid by health insurers to private hospitals. The financial statements of...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive commissioned Horwath Consultants in association with Teamwork Management Services in February 2007 to examine the arrangements for the provision of acute hospital services in the Mid West with a view to identifying the best configuration of such services in the region including arrangements for A&E, critical care, acute medicine and surgery, together with...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: The report of a consultancy firm, commissioned by the HSE to carry out an independent study on a possible location for a new Regional Hospital in the North East, was considered by the Board of the HSE last April. The contents of the report were noted by the Board. No decision has been taken to date by the Government or by the HSE on the location of the new hospital. The HSE has advised...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (25 Nov 2008)

Mary Harney: In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million (€4.78m in 2006, €2m in 2007) was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop services for people with cystic fibrosis. The Department is advised that 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date across a number of hospitals, including St Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street,...