Results 13,921-13,940 of 46,522 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy and I cannot determine-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The suspension will remain in place until the chief medical officer and chief clinical officer advise me and the HSE to the contrary. As I informed the Deputy at our meeting, there are no imminent plans to lift that suspension and there is much work to do before we would be in a position to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: The urgent care centre in Connolly Hospital Dublin is currently open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. I would like those hours extended by an hour either side, that is, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Children's Health Ireland is working on that. I have no confidence in some of the work practices of our consultants - absolutely none - when I see private practice and income being put ahead of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I will ask Dr. Henry to comment on some of the RCOG matters. The Deputy and I both know Mr. John Wall well. He is a great individual and a great advocate. I met him most recently three weeks ago and he was also in touch with me yesterday. We set up a new clinical advisory group to look at what is going to be an expansion of the access to medical cards for people with a terminal illness....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: It will be dealt with from the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, budget. I know the Deputy made a pre-budget submission which was generous and set a large sum aside for it. It will not be that large but I am happy to let the consultant applications advisory committee, CAAC, do its work first. I will not comment on individual cases, although I do not think that the Deputy is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: Of course, I will, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I am very clearly on the record that I do have confidence in the RCOG report, that I have thanked the college for it and that I think it is a very robust piece of work. I am not trying to stay off the record on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Quarterly Meeting on Health Issues (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I have been clear that I met RCOG. I asked if it was satisfied about its independence and it said it has never been surer of anything. Its expertise is beyond reproach. It is true that there were errors around wrong letters and so on that it has apologised for. I do not feel as though I have the competency to go beyond that on the methodology the RCOG used. Dr. Henry has significant...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Naughten for the constructive way in which he has engaged on this matter. We do listen in this House when good suggestions come forward such as that on the minor injury units. We will have that statutory instrument formalised in the coming days. It is currently with the drafters. I hope to be in a position to sign it by next week. On the reviewing of the regulations, I...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: It might be Deputy Naughten.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Naughten for bringing forward this amendment. I will not be able to support it at this Stage but I will explain what action I intend to take following on from his request. First, it is Government policy and the policy of the Oireachtas to drive more patient traffic through the smaller hospitals. It makes sense to fully utilise our hospitals. I visited Roscommon hospital...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: Deputy Naughten also raised the matter he has just spoken about at length on Committee Stage, when my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, took the debate on my behalf. My officials were in a degree of provisional contact with Deputy Naughten in this regard. My officials have also consulted with colleagues in the Health Insurance Authority and with the Department's internal legal...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Report Stage (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Written Answers — Department of Health: Community Pharmacy Services (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305, 341, 343, 344, 347, 379, 382, 413 and 450 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that supports are in place in order to assist eligible persons with their healthcare expenses associated with the referenced chronic conditions through the General Medical Services Scheme, the Drugs Payment Scheme and the Long Term Illness Scheme where applicable. Applications for eligibility should be made to the HSE for the applicable scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (10 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: Hospital Staff Recruitment (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Harris: 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. In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, the company must submit...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (10 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: Hospital Appointments Status (10 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...