Results 12,781-12,800 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together. As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Crime Data (11 Dec 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Data (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE Winter Plan was launched on Thursday 14 November. The aim of the Winter Plan is to ensure that service providers are prepared for the additional external pressures associated with the winter period, including the prolonged holiday period, severe winter weather, seasonal influenza, and the spread of norovirus and other healthcare associated infections. Nine Winter Action Teams,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Status (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the legislation establishing Children's Health Ireland, the boards of Crumlin and Temple Street hospitals voluntarily transferred their assets and liabilities to the new entity. As such, the Crumlin hospital campus has transferred to Children's Health Ireland. On completion of the new children's hospital on the campus shared with St James's and the two paediatric outpatient urgent care...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: In line with best international practice, it is Government policy, as set out in the National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 that standalone maternity hospitals should be co-located with acute adult hospitals. Following a detailed review undertaken the Government decided that the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital would be relocated to the St James's Hospital campus. The...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is fully committed to the development of the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on the campus of St Vincent’s University Hospital at Elm Park. As such, this project is encompassed within Project Ireland 2040, as well as the HSE Capital Plan 2019-2021. My Department continues to engage with the NMH and St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) to develop a legal framework...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Building Programme (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is fully committed to the development of a new maternity hospital on the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus at Elm Park. The buildings at Holles St. are no longer fit for purpose and therefore the new National Maternity Hospital must be moved forward to provide the necessary infrastructure to enable the delivery of a modern, safe, quality maternity service for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Electronic Cigarettes (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The current position on e-cigarettes in Ireland is based on advice from the Health Information and Quality Authority (‘HIQA’) in its 2017 Health Technology Assessment of Smoking Cessation Products and Services. In relation to the safety of e-cigarettes the HIQA assessment concluded that this remains an evolving area of research; while potentially safer than smoking, evidence on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Agency Staff Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The HSE National Escalation Framework, issued to the system in late 2015, consists of a tiered and incremental suite of actions to be adapted and implemented in hospitals with an ED during times when such hospitals are challenged in matching capacity and demand for acute inpatient care. The full capacity protocol is the last escalation step in the HSE National Escalation Framework In...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year. For the first ten months of 2019, the number of patients over the age of 75 attending hospital EDs increased by 3.3% compared to the same period last year. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service Data (11 Dec 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Relations Contracts Data (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The amount spent on external public relations companies to date in 2019 by the Department of Health is as follows: Company Service Cost Q4PR Communications support and strategic advice for Sláintecare 3,078.08 As amount spent by the HSE is a service matter this has been referred to the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Pharmacy Services (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of health service reform and modernisation. Community pharmacy is recognised as the most accessible element of our health service with an unequalled reach in terms of patient contact and access. Regulations governing the current...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 236 and 237 together. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Delays (11 Dec 2019)

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: Nursing Staff Recruitment (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.