Results 16,061-16,080 of 24,635 for speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Health Information: Health Information (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) has allocated specific funding for a three year plan to combat Health Care Associated Infections including antimicrobial resistance. A number of educational pilot projects have already been carried out as a result of The Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland National Committee recommendations. The HSE is now in discussions with...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I am advised by the Health Service Executive that, on the day mentioned by the Deputy, the number of patients awaiting admission nationally was 172. Of these, only one patient had been waiting longer than 24 hours. I understand that the reason for the discrepancy between the figures produced by the Irish Nurses Organisation and the HSE is that the figures are compiled at different times of...

Written Answers — General Practitioner Services: General Practitioner Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that the amount paid by the Primary Care Re-Imbursement Service for general practice development in 2005 represents the amount claimed by GPs under the Indicative Drugs Target Savings Scheme. The Executive has indicated that all such claims were processed and paid and the total value of claims paid in 2005 was €11.933m.

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 69, 101, 122, 132 and 133 together. The objective of this Government is to ensure the provision of a world-class hospital to serve the children of this country. It was for this reason, and for no other, that the Government strongly endorsed the recommendation of the Joint Task Group and the decision of the Board of the Health Service Executive to locate...

Written Answers — Water Fluoridation: Water Fluoridation (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: On foot of a recommendation from the Forum on Fluoridation, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health (known as the Expert Body) was set up in 2004 with specific terms of reference which include overseeing the implementation of the Forum recommendations. The Expert Body produced an Action Plan in 2005. This outlines a strategic framework to aid and direct the Expert Body in identifying...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services is to facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital and to progress consideration of a joint venture for the provision of oncology services in the medium term to patients in the North West from a satellite centre in the North West linked to...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: Information available to my Department and the Health Service Executive indicates that the number of patients discharged from neurological units for each of the years 2002 to 2006 was: Year Number 2002 4,077 2003 4,245 2004 4,531 2005 4,432 In the current year a total of 3,779 patients were discharged from neurological units between January and October. My Department will forward a...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 328 together. Government policy is to develop health services in all regions of the country to provide safe, high-quality and accessible services that provide the best possible outcomes for patients. My Department has developed a broad range of strategy documents and associated policies to guide it in its work. The progress being made in pursuing...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Government and I are anxious to build on the expertise and ethos of St. Luke's. It is held in great affection by the Irish people. Many thousands of Irish patients and their families from every part of the country have experienced high quality cancer care at St. Luke's. The decision to transfer St. Luke's Hospital to St. James's Hospital, Dublin was taken by the Government in the best...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 144 together. The Health Service Executive recently published a Review of Neurosurgical Services in Ireland. The Report identifies a clear need for significant investment in, and organisational reform of, neurosurgical services. Neurosurgery is currently provided at the national centre in Beaumont Hospital and in Cork University Hospital. The Report...

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I announced on 23 December, 2005 that the risk equalisation payment provisions of the scheme would be commenced with effect from 1 January 2006. Taking account of the phasing factor of 50% applicable to risk equalisation payments for the first 12 months, the amount BUPA Ireland would have to contribute in risk equalisation payments would be half of the amount quoted by the Deputy for the 12...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) established an Orthodontic Review Group in 2006. The terms of reference for the group are: to review the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee Reports; to examine the recommendations within the operational remit of the HSE and to establish their status; to conduct an analysis of the HSE's existing orthodontic delivery structure and capacity....

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 153 together. The Primary Care Strategy is the roadmap for the future development of primary care services in Ireland over a period of some ten years, both as the appropriate service for the delivery of the majority of people's health and social care needs, and to complement the services provided by acute hospitals. At the heart of the Strategy is the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive is committed to progressing the development of neuroscience services. Neuroscience includes neurology, neurophysiology and neurosurgery. A national neurosciences needs assessment is currently underway. This assessment is guided by the previous Comhairle na nOspideal report on neurology and neurophysiology and the recently published report on neurosurgery. It aims...

Written Answers — Screening Programmes: Screening Programmes (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: In March 2006, I established a Working Group to examine the nature and extent of haemochromatosis in Ireland and to advise on the actions necessary to address the problems caused by it. The Working Group presented its report to me in June 2006. It makes a series of recommendations relating to the management and treatment of haemochromatosis. The report has been circulated to the Health...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive has informed me that a ward at Mayo General Hospital which was being used for cardiac investigations is in the process of being refurbished as an admission lounge. This facility will provide 15 beds which will allow patients to be admitted to the Hospital from the A & E department in a timely manner, and be managed under the care of the appropriate consultant in...

Written Answers — Hospital Waiting Lists: Hospital Waiting Lists (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: Responsibility for the collation and publication of waiting list information falls within the remit of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The NTPF maintains public hospital waiting lists and waiting times nationally on a database, the Patient Treatment Register. My Department has, therefore, asked the Chief Executive of the NTPF to reply to the Deputy directly in relation to the...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: Almost 120,000 people work full-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government's ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are pursuing a number of claims in respect of pay and conditions. I have had no direct discussions with the Health Service Executive in relation to these claims. The claims were heard by the Labour Court on 20 June 2006 and a recommendation issued on 9 November 2006. The Court did not recommend concession of the...

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (5 Dec 2006)

Mary Harney: This Government is committed to the development of acute hospital services in each individual hospital, network, and region. Our policy is to provide safe, high-quality services that achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. This will mean that those services that can be safely delivered locally are delivered locally and the more complex services that require specialist input are...