Results 10,821-10,840 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 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 — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. 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 case raised by the Deputy. My...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: In relation to the issue of charges for venesection services in Beaumont Hospital, my Department contacted the Health Service Executive in July last year requesting a review of current charging practices and variances in treatment provision in all hospital locations in order that there would be a standardised approach across the hospital sector. My Department contacted the HSE again in...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 254 together. The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services is to (i) facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital and (ii) progress consideration of a joint venture for the provision of oncology services in the medium term to patients in the North...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: As the Deputy will be aware the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a responsibility to deliver services in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 National Service Plan and within the financial allocation to the HSE and the Government approved employment ceiling. The HSE has advised that the replacement of staff is an issue for decision by local management having regard to service...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including ambulance 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 case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: Under the Health Act, 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for arrangements to ensure appropriate service delivery for General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme (medical card and GP visit card) patients. Services under the GMS Scheme are...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I am aware that strike notice had been issued by SIPTU, the staff representative body for the grades of Paramedics, Advanced Paramedics, LEMT and Emergency Medical Controllers within the National Ambulance Service. Since serving this notice, I understand that a series of intensive discussions were undertaken between management and members of the relevant staff representative bodies. I am...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Infection Control: Infection Control (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I am informed by the Health Service Executive that it has recently produced a document for internal consultation on the subject of the built environment and infection control. I understand that the internal consultation process is now complete but the final guidance will not be available until late April or early May 2008.

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: My Department's computer systems are protected against a range of threats through the use of industry standard firewalls, security software and authentication devices and also use the government network infrastructure for external connectivity. An incident reporting system is in place to monitor amongst other things, potential security threats. Procedures are in place requiring staff to...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. The establishment of private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals is conducted through a competitive dialogue process. As this procurement process is still ongoing with regard to some sites the information requested is commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed at this time. There will be no rental income to the Public...

Written Answers — Patient Statistics: Patient Statistics (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) monitors rates of Tuberculosis in Ireland on an on-going basis. Prior to 1998, cases of multidrug resistance to TB were not recorded. According to data provided by the HPSC, cases of multidrug resistance to TB in Ireland between 1998 and 2007 were as shown in the following table. Year Cases 1998 0 1999 2 2000 2 2001 2 2002 0 2003 1...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I am aware of the studies referred to by the Deputy and I note the concerns expressed. I view safe prescribing by doctors and the avoidance of inappropriate medication of patients as an extremely important matter and accordingly I have asked the Chief Medical Officer in my Department to bring these concerns to the attention of the relevant undergraduate and postgraduate training bodies.

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: The Emergency Department Task Force Report was commissioned by the Health Service Executive and published in June 2007. The Report set out a series of recommendations for action to improve service delivery and included a particular emphasis on the introduction of waiting time targets for patients attending emergency departments. The report also described a range of initiatives which would...

Written Answers — Irish Blood Transfusion Service: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has sought capital funding to build a new blood transfusion centre in Cork. The IBTS has carried out an assessment of the need for this centre in accordance with the Department of Finance's Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector. It has also submitted a report to me, prepared by a Focus...

Written Answers — Health Service Allowances: Health Service Allowances (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: A number of senior administrative personnel in The Health Service Executive are eligible for an annual Performance-related Award under a Scheme recommended by The Review Body on Higher Remuneration. The Board of The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Scheme which is based on the setting of individual sets of stretch objectives on an annual basis linked to key result areas and...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: I wish to advise the Deputy that the circular to which he is referring is the Health Service Executive Circular 01/2008. This circular sets out the HSE Employment Control Framework for 2008 and is aimed at ensuring that health services are delivered in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 National Service Plan and within the funding provided by Government. The Employment Control...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Harney: Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of...