Results 13,301-13,320 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: As Minister for Health I have no responsibility for vaccine trials. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is responsible for monitoring the safety and quality of all medicines including vaccines that are licensed in Ireland. All HPV vaccines available in the EU are authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The HPRA has advised that the specific HPV vaccine...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: The number of patients attending emergency departments across the hospital system continues to increase annually, with the result that the system is currently operating at close to full capacity. HSE figures show that for the first ten months of 2019, the number of patients attending St. Vincent’s University Hospital increased by 4.9% and the number of attendances of patients over the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Services (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the challenges facing the emergency departments in our hospitals. According to HSE, there was a 2.7% increase in ED attendances nationally this year up to the end of October 2019 compared to the same period last year. The number of attendances for patients in the over 75 age group also increased by 3.3% nationally. My Department has engaged extensively with the HSE this year to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: A new endoscopy unit for Naas General Hospital is included for progression in the 2019 Capital Plan. An extension to planning permission was sought and has been extended for a further 5 years to December 2024. It is proposed to tender the works in 2020, with construction to commence early 2021 and to complete in late 2022. The original development proposal for a new standalone mental...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Genetically Modified Organisms (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Responsibility for the deliberate release, use of feed and food and the labelling and traceability of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is divided between a number of Departments and their Agencies. Generally, responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of GM crops rests with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE), while the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff Recruitment (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the HSE that while there is no national recruitment embargo or moratorium in place, there is a priority requirement for all HSE services to maintain, or get to, an affordable staffing level that is sustainable in 2019 and 2020, while also prioritising the delivery of safe services. In light of this, the HSE advise that they have introduced control measures relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the majority of cases of endometriosis are within the scope of a general gynaecologist to see, diagnose and treat. A GP referral to a gynaecologist is the standard pathway of care for the management of endometriosis in Ireland. This is similar to the pathway in place for the management of other gynaecological conditions. Information provided by the HSE indicates that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: I must clarify at the outset that the HSE's overriding requirement is to prioritise the delivery of safe services, within available resources, and frontline staffing numbers continue to grow in support of this priority. Over the past five years the numbers of whole-time equivalent consultants, nurses and midwives working in the public health sector have increased significantly. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: In relation to the new children's hospital, the Department of Health incurred no cost for external consultant reviews in 2019, and has no planned external consultant reviews for the remainder of 2019 and for 2020 for which to provide estimated costs. However, an independent review into the cost escalation associated with the new children’s hospital construction project was...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is aware of the workforce issues facing general practice, including the difficulties in filling certain GMS vacancies. I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity, that patients across the country have access to GP services, and has undertaken a number of measures to improve GP recruitment. The recent...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Children's Hospital Administration (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: The most recent (Dec 2018) updated operating expenditure forecast for the new children’s hospital and urgent care centres when open is estimated at €366m for 2023. These costings are subject to continuous revision in the light of nationally agreed pay increases, non-pay inflation and other external policy factors arising in the interim. Operation costs beyond 2023 will be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The latest published National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures for October show that there are 16,705 patients on the Sligo University Hospital Outpatient waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Ambulance Service (26 Nov 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: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (26 Nov 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: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 Nov 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The latest published National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures for October show that there are 8,629 patients on the Mayo University Hospital Outpatient waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services Provision (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: As this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for it to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (26 Nov 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: The Government is aware of the workforce issues facing general practice, including the difficulties in filling certain GMS vacancies. I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and has taken a number of measures to improve GP recruitment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Emergency Departments Waiting Times (26 Nov 2019)

Simon Harris: Figures provided by the HSE show that for the first ten months of 2019, the number of patients attending University Hospital Limerick decreased by 1.1% and the number of attendances of patients over the age of 75 decreased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2018. Similarly, admissions in University Hospital Limerick decreased by 11.3%. Notwithstanding the decrease in attendances and...