Results 19,881-19,900 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I value the important role community optometrists play in our Health Service in the delivery of holistic patient care. In particular, I fully acknowledge that community optometrists have played a key role in responding to the health needs of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic optometrists have been responsive to the challenges presented and have developed guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: GPs are private practitioners who hold contracts with the HSE to provide services under various public health schemes; there are no plans at present to directly employ GPs. Any proposed model involving salaried GP positions would require careful consideration to ensure the required level of service could be provided for medical card and GP visit card holders. The 2019 GP Agreement on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: A Public Only Consultant Contract is a key step in the move towards universal, single-tier healthcare, with public hospitals exclusively used for the treatment of public patients, including private patients opting to go public, as envisaged in the Sláintecare Report. As recommended by the Independent Review Group established to examine the removal of private healthcare from the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e., full eligibility (medical cards) and limited eligibility. Eligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Individuals...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As per the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for more children, an important healthcare measure that will remove a potentially prohibitive cost barrier to accessing GP care and will help to improve children’s health as they develop. My officials and the HSE are engaged in preparatory work for the commencement of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: At the 1st May, 530,425 people hold a GP visit card and, when those holding medical cards are taken into account, nearly 2.1m people (over 41% of the population) have access to GP care without charges. In accordance with the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to increasing access to GP care without charges for children. At present, my officials and the HSE are engaged...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Sláintecare Report outlines the steps required for reformed health system where the vast majority of all aspects of healthcare are provided for in the community through population health, primary or social care. The Programme for Government commits to the full implementation of Sláintecare as part of a mission to introduce universal single tier health and social care system...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: To help prevent the spread of Covid-19, mask wearing is advised on public transport and in healthcare settings. Mask wearing is also advised based on individual risk assessment, particularly while disease incidence is high. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should not be discouraged from doing so. The HSE website provides advice on when and how to wear a face mask. General practice...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1443, 1803, 1905, 1912 and 1927 together. 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 Appointments Status (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Maternity Hospital (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Deputy will be aware, on 17 May last, the Government approved the legal framework that will underpin the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) to the St Vincent’s campus at Elm Park. In terms of next steps in relation to the legal framework documents, the Co-ordination Agreement between the three signatories – the HSE, the NMH and St Vincent's Healthcare...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: The Government is committed to addressing the long-standing deficit in critical care capacity. Very significant funding of €77 million has been provided by Government across 2021 and 2022, to increase national capacity to 340 critical care beds by 2023. The HSE has advised that 51 of these beds are now open, bringing permanent adult critical care capacity to 306 beds, from a baseline...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: 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. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Properties (14 Jun 2022)

Stephen Donnelly: As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.