Results 18,941-18,960 of 45,736 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Occupational Therapy Data (26 Mar 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: Medical Aids and Appliances Applications (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to reassure the Deputy that I have no plans to cease the LTI Scheme. However, the LTI Scheme will be included in the review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy. 

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Accommodation Provision (26 Mar 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 issues you raised concerning the proposed purpose built cystic fibrosis in-patient facility at Beaumont University Hospital.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Capital Expenditure Programme (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: My Department and the Health Service Executive are currently engaged in a process to finalise the HSE Capital Plan for 2019. Projects that are currently in construction and are contractually committed will not be affected. Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (26 Mar 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: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, I am committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The recently published Scheduled Care Access Plan, sets out a number of commitments aimed at improving access for patients waiting for hospital operations or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (26 Mar 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: National Children's Hospital (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I have no role in the appointment of a new Project Director to the National Paediatric Development Board.  In relation to the number of resignations from the NPHDB, as this is an operational matter I have asked the NPHDB to respond directly to the Deputy.

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

Simon Harris: The process for appointing members to the Board of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is set out in the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order (Statutory Instrument 246 of 2007).  The Children's Health Act 2018 amended the Board appointment process to better reflect the Board's primary role which is to deliver on the new children's...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Conditions (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: Fibromyalgia is a syndrome associated with wide-spread pain and fatigue. It is labelled a syndrome as fibromyalgia is a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause. Fibromyalgia is not classified as a disability and there are currently no plans for the reclassification of fibromyalgia. In addition, there...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (26 Mar 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: HSE Agency Staff (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 to 2020 provides that management will engage with the Parties with a view to minimising the use of agency as far as possible and practicable over the lifetime of the Agreement. The level of spending on agency staff in the health sector is under constant review.  Agency staff are utilised by the sector where there is a difficulty in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 69 together. I am committed to securing and further developing the role of the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise as a constituent hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Since 2014, the focus has been on supporting the hospital to develop and enhance management capability, implementing changes required to address clinical service...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, as a result of the infrastructural issues affecting the roof of the building that housed the two orthopaedic theatres on the Merlin Park University Hospital site, remedial work was carried out in March 2018 to facilitate the reopening of one of the elective orthopaedic theatres. Following the recommissioning of the theatre procedures started again and in the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In September 2018, the Sláintecare Programme Implementation Office commenced refining the three-year Implementation Strategy into a single-year Action Plan for 2019. This process has involved reviewing the 106 sub-actions of the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy - which was published in August 2018 - and identifying where further actions were required. A readiness assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Voluntary Sector Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: Major increases in public funding for our health services in recent years has brought the Governments annual investment to a level that compares favourably with spending in other countries.   In the last five years funding for community delivered services has increased by 27% to €5,876m, this increase in funding has facilitated key service developments.  However, it...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists Action Plans (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard I am committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in the Ophthalmology specialty. Last year, under the Inpatient/Day Case...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The Health Service Executive’s 2019 National Service Plan is based on an increased budget of over €848 million over the revised allocation for last year and brings their total budget for the 2019 financial year to over €16 billion. This is the largest ever financial allocation provided to our health services and will enable the continued improvement of services for...