Results 11,461-11,480 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Saolta University Health Care Group that staff have been recruited in line with the funding allocation for the development of a Stroke Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital. The designation of a the Stroke Unit is being impacted by COVID-19 requirements. It is hoped that designation will occur later in the year as COVID-19 measures at the hospital evolve.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity, including outpatient clinics. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the World Health Organisation, and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Public Health Emergency Team (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) was established on 27 January last in response to the emergence of Covid-19 in Wuhan, China. Since that time, it has met 33 times. In addition to the Expert Advisory Group, a number of sub-groups have also been established to support the work of the NPHET, including on:  - Acute Hospitals - Behavioural Change - Guidance and Evidence...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: A robust and real-time process of testing, isolation and contact tracing is central to our public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of COVID-19, as advocated by the WHO and ECDC. All healthcare workers meeting the current case definition for COVID-19 are referred for testing in line with current testing criteria. There is extensive guidance in place for healthcare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: A robust and real-time process of testing, isolation and contact tracing is central to our public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of COVID-19, as advocated by WHO, EC and ECDC. Decisions on the criteria for testing are made by NPHET and are informed by international guidance including from the WHO and ECDC. The criteria for testing is as follows: A patient with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As per the Health Protection Surveillance Centre report of 2 June 2020, a total of 20 COVID-19 outbreaks in meat processing plants are currently under investigation in HSE East, Midlands, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, South and West. One of those outbreaks includes the plant referred to by the Deputy in Ballyjamesduff. A National Outbreak Control Team is continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: Detailed response provided in the report contained in the following link.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: A major part of the Government's Action Plan in response to Covid-19 was to substantially increase the capacity of public healthcare facilities to cope with the anticipated additional demand. In order to urgently ramp up capacity for acute care facilities, an arrangement was agreed with the private hospitals to use their facilities as part of the public system on a temporary basis, to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: I know that CHI is aware that the current situation regarding the Paediatric Complex Pain Management Service is a cause of much anxiety and upset for parents and children.  CHI has advised my Department that it met with the Complex Pain Patient Advocacy Group on Friday 7 February and advised them that it has written to all families whose children have been attending the complex pain...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Government has published a Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business to ease the Covid-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society in a phased manner from 18 of May.  In relation to people with underlying health conditions, the Roadmap states the following:    “The continued protection of people aged over 70 and those with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The initial focus of the Government’s response to Covid-19 was aimed at measures required to interrupt the transmission of Covid-19 and related steps.  In regard to health considerations, this included that all non-essential surgery, health procedures and other non-essential health services were postponed. The postponements accord with the National Action Plan published on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Data (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country. In the context of the current COVID-19 Pandemic response, the HSE advised on 24 May 2020 that and additional 324 acute beds have opened since March, bringing the current total of acute beds in the system to 11,907 excluding critical care capacity. The HSE’s Critical Care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The services referred to by the Deputy are not matters within the responsibility of the Minister for Health. The responsibility for providing guidance in relation to a particular sector of the economy or on a specific activity remains with the Government Department with responsibility for that sector or activity. Local authority services are a matter for the Minister for Housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Advertising (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Harris: The Department of Health’s spend on advertising to social media platforms from 1 January - 31 May 2020 is set out as follows. Company Description Amount Twitter Healthy Ireland Fund €3,394.80 Google Healthy Ireland Fund €5,537.00 Facebook Healthy Ireland...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It is not.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: It was the right deal.