Results 10,761-10,780 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Infections are happening in hospitals. That phenomenon has been taken on by every advanced health system in the world. We have put in a systematic approach. Last week, when I referred to a Deputy raising an individual case, I did not suggest it was not significant or had not been a very traumatic experience for a family. Of course I appreciate that situation. I have held the office of...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: On Question No. 17, improvements are taking place as a result of that increased investment. The evidence available from the annual hygiene audit confirm that we have a downward trend in the level of infection in our hospitals compared to when we began to measure it. Is it sufficient? No, it is not. Have we a means to measure, monitor and improve it? Yes, we have, and that is to the...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: In my previous reply I mentioned Dr. Donal O'Shea, an endocrinologist who practises at both St. Vincent's and Loughlinstown hospitals. He stated on public radio last Friday that there has been a significant improvement——

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I have been asked to respond to suggestions that there has been no improvement or that the situation is out of control. An endocrinologist who works in those two hospitals has said on public radio, although I did not hear him, that there have been improvements in infection control in these hospitals as a result of proactive steps taken by staff and consultants after previous incidences of...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy should let me answer the question. I am either going to be allowed to answer the question or I am not. At present a microbiologist is shared between St. Vincent's and Loughlinstown hospitals.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Either we will have a response or we will keep playing like children.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: A serious question has been raised and I would like the opportunity to answer it. The Deputies have had an hour for Question Time and they have probably got nowhere, but I would like to deal with Deputy Gilmore's inquiry.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy is not at an IMO meeting now.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: Perhaps the Deputy should come to one and he might learn something.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I am simply making the point in response to Deputy Gilmore that there have been incidences of infection in hospitals which already have microbiologists. The presence of a full-time microbiologist does not change this as things stand. I have simply made the point——

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: If that were the case, we would not need infection control in hospitals with microbiologists. However, that is not my main point. In Ennis, for example, where there has been a significant improvement in infection control, it was not due to the presence of a microbiologist but to proactive steps that were taken to improve basic hygiene in the hospital to the extent that it now has a reduced...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: The Deputy's attempt to shout me down does not stop me from making the point.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I thank the Deputy. As a result of the changes to the consultants' contract that have been achieved we can look forward to the quick appointment of another 120 consultants to the system. These will probably include some microbiologists. The whole purpose of this long and too drawn-out negotiation on the consultants' contract was to enable the Government, or any Government. to move from a...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: We will appoint more consultants and have fewer junior doctors, which will deal with one of the structural problems with the provision of hospital services that has existed for years and perhaps decades.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I accept that the appointment of more microbiologists adds value to the system. I am not suggesting otherwise.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I emphasise to Deputy Stagg that I am not suggesting otherwise.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I was not. What I am saying is that there is plenty of evidence for reductions in infection incidence in the absence of a resident microbiologist. Why do we not have that speciality in Loughlinstown? The structural problem with the system is that we have half the number of consultants we should have and twice as many junior doctors as we should have. One of the only ways in which we can...

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: ——it took far too long.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: A structural change is required and we are engaged in this.

Leaders' Questions (29 Apr 2008)

Brian Cowen: I also accept that Dr. O'Shea was one of the people who was seeking another microbiologist. I do not want to use his name in a partial way. That was his view and I accept what the man said. However, the idea that we can improve the service without the structural changes required, including reform of the consultants' contract, is known by everybody to be impossible. Such a change is the...