Results 11,621-11,640 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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 Appointments Status (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has approved a number of recommendations relating to protecting and maximising the delivery of essential time-critical non-Covid-19 care alongside Covid-19 care. On 5 May, NPHET agreed that its recommendation of 27 March, in regard to the pausing of all non-essential health services should be replaced, in relation to acute care, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health and Safety Inspections (27 May 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: Hospitals Data (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The HSE through the Health Protective Surveillance Centre has developed an extensive body of guidance and support tools to assist in the management of COVID-19 cases, including in relation to decisions on transfer of patients/residents between care facilities where appropriate. The current relevant guidelines are the: “Interim Public Health and Infection Prevention Control Guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The current advice from the HSE, regarding personal protective equipment (PPE), is as follows: "Personal protective equipment (PPE) is valuable as an additional protection for patients and staff. It should only be used where it is likely to be beneficial as outlined in the HSE Personal Protective Equipment PPE guidance: (). It should not be used in other settings where it does not provide any...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Section 11 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 inserted section 38A in the Health Act 1947. Section 38A of the Health Act 1947 provides for the detention and isolation of persons in certain circumstances. Having regard to matters set out in section 38A(2), a medical officer of health may order in writing the detention and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services to medical card and GP visit card holders. The GMS contract stipulates that GPs must make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them, or a locum/deputy, for urgent cases outside normal practice hours. Most GPs choose to participate in GP out of hours cooperatives to meet this contractual obligation. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I have sought a specific report from the HSE in relation to this matter. This will set out the circumstances under which results were not communicated to individual workers in affected meat plants and in long term residential care facilities, and the actions that are being taken to ensure that communication of the results of individual COVID-19 tests is directly to the individual.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 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: Health Services Staff Data (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (27 May 2020)

Simon Harris: On 5 May 2020, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) agreed that its recommendation of 27 March to pause all non-essential health services should be replaced with a recommendation that delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision-making. Application of the essential risk mitigating steps set out in the guidance developed under the NPHET...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: My priority with Covid-19 is to keep as many people in this country alive as possible. Through the incredible efforts of the Irish people, we have saved an awful lot of lives. My ongoing priority is to manage the virus to a point that we do not see a second wave and that we continue to see the virus suppressed while we try to live alongside it. That will be a difficult and delicate...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I am open to correction but I believe the risk assessment was done by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. I did not carry it out but I hope the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission will make it available to Members if it has not already done so. The point the Deputy made about deaths because of but not of Covid-19 is a serious and accurate one. This will be a major challenge for all...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: We will not have the nursing home debate because we do not agree on that and it would take up time. We will get to debate it one day. There is vacant capacity in the private hospitals but, to be clear, we do not want to get the capacity in our health service to 100%-----

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: Let me agree with the Deputy on this point. I want us to see greater utilisation of that capacity but, as Dr. Colm Henry of the HSE has said, we have to do it in a safe manner. Even in the case of surgeries the Deputy talks about wanting to be recommenced, it is not just a matter of flicking a switch. We will have to look at how we can provide it safely and how we can bring people back...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I will have to find out from Saolta why it decided to move patients. Presumably, it was a clinically appropriate decision to do that but I will check that out. A review at the end of May is built in to the agreement and I am very open to the idea of looking at how we can use the hospital. I will write to the Deputy on the matter.

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I know why the Deputy makes that point but I certainly would not be in any way flippant in respect of this. The decision to suspend cancer screening was taken by clinicians on public health grounds. I do not have responsibility for McDonald's but I do have responsibility for the safety of people in our health service, of its staff and of the women and men of Ireland who use it. The...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: The first thing we do when sourcing any equipment is to try to source it from wherever we can. I am very pleased that we were able to secure some international supply chains to get access to personal protective equipment and so on. The Deputy's general point is on the importance of trying to support indigenous industry. This issue has been raised by a number of Deputies in the House. I...

Covid-19 (Health): Statements (21 May 2020)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for highlighting this issue. My Department provides public health advice and other line Departments interact. I will certainly bring the issue raised to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and ask that his Department respond directly to the Deputy.