Results 14,561-14,580 of 45,622 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Newborn Screening Cards (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: A National Screening Committee is being established and will hold its first meeting before the end of 2019, as per recommendation 5, contained within the Scally Review (2018). The Committee’s role will be to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Reviews (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group was formed from nominations from interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives. The aim of the Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: According to provisional HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 17% increase in patients waiting on trolleys year to date in UHL ED in September 2019 compared to the same period last year. In the month of September 2019, there were 897 patients counted on trolleys in UHL, which was a 28% increase compared to the previous month.   It is acknowledged that this is unacceptably high and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Overcrowding (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: According to provisional HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 2.8% decrease in patients counted waiting on trolleys at 8am in Naas General Hospital ED for the year to date as of the end of September 2019 compared to the same period last year. In the month of September 2019, there were 395 patients counted on trolleys in Naas, which was a 25.8% decrease compared to August 2019. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Reform (10 Oct 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: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021. The plan includes capital funding for the Community Nursing Unit programme and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including the replacement unit in Mountmellick, County Laois. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, I have signed legislation which will allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme (MCAP) on a pilot basis for five years. Commercial medical cannabis suppliers whose cannabis products meet the specified requirements set out in the legislation, and which have been listed in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs (Prescription and Control of Supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Legislation (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 65 together. It is my absolute intention that people can access termination of pregnancy services safely. My Department and An Garda Síochána have been closely monitoring the situation since termination of pregnancy services commenced in January this year. As part of our examination of the issue, I recently met with the Commissioner of An...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Strategy Expenditure (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that additional development funding will be provided to the HSE National Women & Infants Health Programme in 2020 to support the continued implementation of the National Maternity Strategy. The funding will enable us to build manpower capacity in maternity services, including the recruitment of additional consultant obstetricians/gynaecologists, in order to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (10 Oct 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Debt Collection (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Patient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the annual National Service Plan.   These charges typically include: -Out-patient charges - Emergency Department charges - Daily in-patient charges - Long-term stay charges Cohorts of people are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Improving access to hospital appointments and procedures in a key commitment of Government. The HSE Management Data Report (MDR) reports on HSE activity against Key Performance Indicators as set out in the National Service Plan for 2019. Under the National Service Plan 2019, the target for all hospital groups, including Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), is for 80% of people to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021. The plan includes capital funding for the Community Nursing Unit programme and also sets out the current status of all projects within the programme, including the refurbishment and extension of St. Joseph's Community Hospital, Millstreet. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cross-Border Health Initiatives (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 88 together. The HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive and the management of the HSE Cross Border Directive (CBD) office is an operational matter for the HSE.  The HSE has advised that the scheme is operating with an increasing workload and currently has a backlog of up to 4 months claims/applications (approx....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Budget 2020 (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: Budget 2020 sets out a budget of over €18.3 billion for health and social care services, the highest budget ever allocated. The Health budget increased by €1.2 billion on 2019, a substantial additional level of funding. The amount allocated follows an extensive process of engagement between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which considered both...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Newborn Screening Cards (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: A National Screening Committee is being established and will hold its first meeting before the end of 2019, as per recommendation 5, contained within the Scally Review (2018). The Committee’s role will be to undertake an independent assessment of the evidence for screening for a particular condition against internationally accepted criteria and make recommendations accordingly.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Staff Data (10 Oct 2019)

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

Written Answers — Department of Health: Abortion Legislation (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, section 23 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the offences under the legislation.  Section 23 states that it is an offence for a person, by any means whatsoever, to intentionally end the life of a foetus otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of the Act.  It is also an offence for a person to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (10 Oct 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: National Children's Hospital (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Harris: I advised Government in December 2018 that the final cost of the design, build and equipment programme for which the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is responsible was estimated to be €1,433 million. There has been no change to this figure advised to Government. Since the conclusion of the GMP Process there has been no change to the design intent for the new...