Results 8,541-8,560 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I believe some people use HSE and privately delivered services. At certain times, for example, when the HSE service is not available people can receive the private service and vice versa.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Sorry Senator Conway-Walsh-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: We will let Mr. Healy finish, after which Mr. Fitzgerald will contribute and the Senator can then speak again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Which questions were not answered? The Senator might repeat them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: To clarify, the witnesses have said that there are now 50,500 people in receipt of homecare packages. What has that increased from? What was the previous figure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: That corresponds to the demographic change in age etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: For 2019, if one was planning a budget, how will people be provided with homecare? There are currently 50,500.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: It is a fair point. Does Mr. McCarthy have anything to add?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Regulation of Home Care Provision: Discussion (30 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank Mr. Healy, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Crotty, Ms Metcalfe and Mr. McCarthy for their contributions. I certainly think it was a learning experience for all of us. The Law Reform Commission report on the regulation of home care providers has already been published. There is a draft Bill in place. I know the Department is working on this. However, I hope that, in the context of...

Seanad: Bed Capacity at National Rehabilitation Hospital: Statements (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. I fully accept that this is always a major challenge. My colleague is right about the need for long-term planning. The standard is 60 beds per 1 million population. Therefore, in real terms, we do not have a sufficient number of beds. About 20 years ago there was a proposal to develop a unit in Cork. We need to consider the long-term. I agree with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The witnesses referred to 15 laboratories in the mid-1980s. My understanding is that there are now two laboratories in Ireland that do this work. Are there other laboratories doing other medical analysis that could take on some of this work if they got the staff? What is the position relating to laboratories overall in the country if we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Yes, but 95% of that area that is being looked at. I am open to correction on this, but the tests would not pick up womb cancer for example. This information needs to be classified.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: That analysis relates to the screening programme being done. It does not deal with other issues around other cancers. The misinformation out there is very much that once a person gets a clear smear and a clear result she is totally clear and does not have to worry about it for three years, whereas there are other cancers that the tests may not identify. Would the witness agree with this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I also raised the issue of the 5%. We are now into the whole area of litigation. The witnesses have referred to the 95% where it will be identified but there is 5% where it may not be identified, for one reason or another. If this arises through subsequent audits and reviews where readings were incorrect, as in this case, how do witnesses propose that this is dealt with?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: How does the witness propose to deal with the cases where everyone has worked to their absolute best in dealing with smears and the analysis, and for some reason or another an issue is not identified and we are into a litigation situation? How do we deal with this in the long term? It is now a challenge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: On the cervical screening programme, I understand there is a 7% reduction in cervical cancer each year for the last four years. If HPV testing is introduced, what kind of reduction can be expected in cervical cancer? How long do we need to have it up and running before we can see really positive results?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I thank all of the witnesses for their presentations this morning and for the work they do. How much does BreastCheck cost per annum? It is important that we have that figure for comparison purposes now that we have litigation. I listened to Professor Hill comments, especially the worry that screening programmes may have to be closed down to reduce the level of litigation, which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Screening Programmes: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Colm Burke: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Colm Burke: I join my colleagues in conveying my sympathies to the families who have suffered a loss over the past week. It is a difficult time for them and for all of the people directly or indirectly involved in the events of the past seven days. It is important that we pay tribute to everyone involved in helping, including the Garda, those who volunteered to assist the Garda, and those who gave...