Results 9,201-9,220 of 11,255 for speaker:Colm Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their detailed presentations. I will touch on a number of issues. The witnesses have referred to an additional number of midwives and I am not sure whether that takes into account the number of people who retire every year. One major concern I have is lack of support for nursing staff, consultants and junior doctors when there is an adverse event. It is not clear...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentation, which was circulated to members before the meeting. I welcome the report on the national maternity strategy. My problem with reports is that in 2003, when there were between 90 and 100 consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, the plan was that to have 180 by 2012. The report published last year showed that in 2014 there were 121 consultants....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The simple solution is to give us the figures for what was in place in 2014 and what is in place now. That would allow us to see the comparisons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: I ask that we be given the figures for 2014 as well because that is the year we are talking about and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The reference period. If it is possible, Ms Fitzgerald might also give us the figures as of January 2017-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: -----for each of the units, and the birth rate for each of those units for the year ended 31 December 2016.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: That would allow us see the comparisons and sort out the problem in terms of determining whether the figures are accurate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: The problem for the past 25 year is that very little has been set aside in the capital budget. In real terms it is a case of developing services in a piecemeal way because not enough moneys have been put into capital funding. To take the example of the three maternity units in Dublin, they are all more than 150 years old and we are now talking about dealing with those over a short...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: Can I ask a question on that, Chairman? Mr. Woods talks about the appointment of strong clinical leadership. Where all the clinicians in a particular facility agree there should be an independent review, however, someone in administration - who has neither hand, act nor part in the facility - can overrule their decision and 18 months later no review report has been completed. If that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: It was an adverse outcome. A decision was taken that a clinical review would be carried out by an independent person outside the particular facility. All the clinicians agreed on who should be appointed. They were overruled, however, by someone in administration who had no physical contact with the unit, but who just drew a line across the person who was appointed. Some 18 months later,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: That is causing problems within the maternity services, which leads to litigation as a result.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Maternity Strategy: Discussion (19 Jan 2017)

Colm Burke: If one operated the theatre in Cork University Hospital for five days a week one would have a problem with beds and other problems caused by a lack of staff. The consultants have suggested that they could get space in another facility, and get the beds, and backup support staff thus taking many people off the list in a faster time. Let us remember that it will take time to recruit people....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and thank her for coming to the House to deal with this matter. I know she has a very busy schedule. The matter I am raising this morning concerns Mercy University Hospital in Cork, which has an accident and emergency department and a urgent care centre. When the accident and emergency department was constructed, the view was that it...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. My only problem with it is that it is very much HSE spin. I will give the figures. Between the urgent care centre and the accident and emergency department, 48,000 people attend Mercy University Hospital. A total of 66,000 people attend Cork University Hospital. We have 1.6 consultants in Mercy University Hospital and we are now talking about...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Consultant Recruitment (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the Minister of State. If she ever visits Cork, she is very welcome to visit Mercy University Hospital where staff would be delighted to meet the Minister and the Minister of State because it is an excellent hospital. It would be worth a call.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: In response to the criticism of the health service, we need to be careful because over 100,000 very dedicated and committed people work in the health service. We need to keep in mind the fact that they must work over Christmas while the rest of us are at home. Every week 61,500 people attend outpatient departments and a further 23,000 people attend the accident and emergency departments....

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: An additional 5,000 people now work in the health service when compared with 2014 and we are making huge progress. It is important to give credit where credit is due in respect of the service that is delivered. Many people have been caught up in the rental market and I am talking about tenants in particular. We need to give security and do everything possible for them. We need to all work...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. The only thing we all need to be conscious of in regard to health insurance is that we do everything possible to try to prevent further increases. The risk equalisation arrangement makes sure there is a level playing field for everyone, regardless of age. I welcome the Bill from that point of view but we have to deal with the cost of private health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill: Discussion (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I thank the witnesses for their presentation and replies to questions. To return to Deputy O’Connell's first question on information being exchanged on the sale of a practice, due diligence applies nowadays to all commercial transactions. Does a due diligence process apply when a medical practice is being taken over? Does the legislation provide for this? I am not convinced by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health Information and Patient Safety Bill: Discussion (14 Dec 2016)

Colm Burke: I am not talking about a buyer being given to personal health records----