Results 61-80 of 270 for cervical speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (15 May 2019)

Simon Harris: ...outlined in more detail in the document attached. It should be noted that the waiting list as compiled by the NTPF is based on the collation of information for the following procedures: - Decompression of cervical spinal cord with anterior fusion, 1 level - Decompression of cervical spinal cord with anterior fusion, 2 or more levels - Posterior spinal fusion, 1 or 2 levels - Posterior...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (14 May 2019)

Simon Harris: In April 2018, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme, I made the decision to offer free out of cycle smears to any woman who was concerned about her health, where her GP felt she should have a further test as part of her reassurance. Approximately 112,000 consultations were provided by GPs, and 57,810 early repeat smear tests were provided...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (14 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 293, inclusive, together. In April 2018, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme, I made the decision to offer free out of cycle smears to any woman who was concerned about her health, where her GP felt she should have a further test as part of her reassurance. Approximately 112,000 consultations...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (14 May 2019)

Simon Harris: The introduction of primary HPV screening is in line with developments in cervical screening internationally. Ireland will be among the first countries in the world to make this transition. The HSE has been engaging with other countries who have already made the switch – the Netherlands, and Australia - or who are preparing to do so, to identify learnings for the project across a range...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (14 May 2019)

Simon Harris: In April 2018, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme, I made the decision to offer free out of cycle smears to any woman who was concerned about her health, where her GP felt she should have a further test as part of her reassurance. Approximately 112,000 consultations were provided by GPs, and 57,810 early repeat smear tests were provided...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: ...for Health, nor did many of the challenges arise. However, the issue blew up during my time but it is my job to fix it and to work with the Deputy in that regard. We are going to eradicate cervical cancer in our country within a generation. That is not pie in the sky, it is something that has been done effectively in other jurisdictions. It will be done in Ireland through screening,...

CervicalCheck: Statements (9 May 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the House for giving me the opportunity to provide an update on matters related to CervicalCheck. It is over a year since issues related to the CervicalCheck audit emerged. I welcome the opportunity to address a range of issues that have arisen in the past year and outline the work that is well under way in my Department, the HSE and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (8 May 2019)

Simon Harris: In April 2018, following issues which had emerged in relation to the CervicalCheck screening programme, I made the decision to offer free out of cycle smears to any woman who was concerned about her health, where her GP felt she should have a further test as part of her reassurance. Approximately 112,000 consultations were provided by GPs, and 57,810 early repeat smear tests were provided...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her questions. On the issue of cervical cancer, it is something on which we are all united. We can effectively eradicate it. There are many diseases about which we cannot say this, but it is one we can eradicate. I used to refer to the huge progress made in Australia and New Zealand, but now I need only refer to Scotland, a much nearer neighbour. I was only reading...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: ...that gets much criticism for many issues. It has stepped up in promoting vaccination and the national immunisation office has done a good job with powerful patient advocates on the issue of cervical cancer and we think particularly of the late Ms Laura Brennan who did so much. We often hear accusations that we are a nanny state and all this sort of nonsense. This is life and death,...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: ...to be convinced it would have worked but I should have tried to. I do not wish to talk about people who are not here. However, Dr. Gráinne Flannelly has done much good work for screening and tackling cervical cancer. That should never be taken from her or the people who worked in the management of the programme. On this I agree with Deputy Micheál Martin. These people helped...

Select Committee on Health: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 38 - Health (Further Revised) (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: ...this area in general and the reasons medical negligence cases need to be so adversarial to see if there are better ways to deal with cases. We have seen an element of this in the piece of work done on CervicalCheck and the tribunal legislation we will bring forward, but there is a broader piece of work to be done. I do not disagree with the point made by the Deputy. On how we can...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Report Stage (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Harris: It is not a view that is new to colleagues on the Opposition benches tonight that we must ensure the Bill is legally robust. We have spoken much about cervical cancer in these Houses, as well as the Scally report and recommendations. I accepted an amendment put to me in the Seanad and redrafted it to ensure we could implement the Scally recommendations. This relates to section 16N(2)(b) of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme (27 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that she should have a further test as part of her reassurance, to access such a further test without charge. This decision was made in good faith to address the considerable fears of the many anxious women in Ireland, following issues...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Inquiry (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: ...Independent Clinical Expert Panel Review is being carried out by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), with expertise also sourced through the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology. The purpose of the review is to provide women who participated in the national CervicalCheck screening programme and who developed invasive cervical cancer with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Cervical Screening Programme Administration (26 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, I established the CervicalCheck Steering Committee to provide oversight and assurance on the implementation of key decisions taken by Government in relation to CervicalCheck, and to work to ensure a sustainable and effective cervical screening programme in the interests of women’s health. The Committee is chaired by my Department and membership includes senior officials...

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

Simon Harris: ...authorisation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decision of 11 May 2018 put in place a package of support measures for the women and families affected by the issues related to CervicalCheck. Those measures included medicines which might not be approved for reimbursement including Pembrolizumab, once they are prescribed by the treating clinician. The establishment of such a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I have asked the HSE to introduce HPV testing as the primary screening method for the prevention of cervical cancer as soon as possible. Funding to implement the switch to HPV screening, and extend HPV vaccination to boys, has been allocated in Budget 2019. The decision to switch to primary HPV screening follows on from a Health Technology Assessment carried out by HIQA. This found that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: The increased volume of smear tests since the CervicalCheck issues arose in April 2018 has been significant, and includes women who have availed of the out of cycle tests, but also a greater number of women presenting for scheduled screening. This increased level of engagement with the programme is welcome. However, the increased demand has undoubtedly put pressure on lab capacity and...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Licensing (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that Pembrolizumab does not have a marketing authorisation for the treatment of cervical cancer in Ireland or the EU.