Results 101-120 of 270 for cervical speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: In September, Government accepted all 50 of the recommendations that were set out in Dr Scally’s report into CervicalCheck, which was published on the 12th of September. I then committed to returning to Government within three months as recommended by Dr Scally with a full plan for the implementation of these recommendations. That plan was published on the 11th of December on my...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Harris: Where low grade changes are detected on a cervical smear test, a second, so-called ‘triage test’ – which looks for the HPV virus – is carried out by laboratories. If HPV is found, women are recommended to attend for further testing. If HPV is not found, women are recommended to attend for routine screening again in 3-5 years. In the test used by the laboratory...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: ...judgement and discussion into which of these two groups any single false negative will fit. Following the Government decision on 8 May, I established an independent Expert Panel Review of Cervical Screening as part of the investigation into issues relating to the CervicalCheck Screening Programme. The review will be carried out by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (30 Jan 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. The HPV test is a more accurate testing mechanism than liquid-based cytology, which is the current testing mechanism, and its use will result in fewer false negative results, though it will not eliminate them completely. Its introduction is in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware of the current delay in processing smear tests, which is a priority concern for me, for my Department and for the HSE. 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 they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. This...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (24 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that a 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. Following that decision, concerns were raised...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: ...audit, the Government decided on 11 May 2018  to put in place a comprehensive package of support measures for women (and their families) who have been identified as having been diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008, for whom cytology review recommendations following clinical audit differed from the original test, and for any other women so identified by the clinical review to be...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: ...as Future II. This study concluded that in young women who had not been previously infected with HPV-16 or HPV-18, those in the vaccine group had a significantly lower occurrence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia related to HPV-16 or HPV-18 than did those in the placebo group. Subsequently the results from Future III updated the product information for Gardasil in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (17 Jan 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 they should have a further test, 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 as a result of significant media coverage...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Harris: ...Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) to include the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the State Claims Agency that it has received notification of 90 claims with respect to Cervical Check screening under the National Screening Services (NSS). The Agency expects this number to grow based on the number of women identified by the HSE as part of their audit programme.

Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: .... I would like to see this happen with other drugs like Spinraza, from which a small number of affected people could see a significant benefit. We will do it for to pembrolizumab for women with cervical cancer. There is now a second application before the HSE concerning Translarna, which Deputy Browne referenced. Deputy Butler referenced Orkambi. I am very proud that we are providing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that a 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 which includes all out of pocket medical costs incurred and medicines which might not be approved for reimbursement, once they are prescribed by the treating clinician. Although not specifically referenced,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: ...of other indications for which it has received marketing authorisation. However, Pembrolizumab has not been granted a marketing authorisation by either the EMA or by HPRA for the treatment of cervical cancer and accordingly, in accordance with the 2013 Act, it cannot be assessed by HSE for reimbursement for cervical cancer, using the standard criteria. The Deputy will be aware...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: We came within hours of the collapse of the cervical screening programme because laboratories did not want to be involved in screening in this country any more in a situation where contracts were due to expire the following week. That would have meant we would have had a pause on screening. That was the priority issue to resolve for the HSE. I pay tribute to those involved, in particular...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: ...for reimbursement as market authorisations are granted and applications received. A Government decision put in place a package of support measures for the women and families affected by the issues related to CervicalCheck. As part of this package, all out of pocket medical costs incurred by the women affected will be met to the extent that they are not already covered either under...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Arising from the court cases relating to CervicalCheck the Government agreed that High Court Judge Charles Meenan would be requested to review, in the case of women affected by CervicalCheck issues, mechanisms which avoid, wherever possible, women and their families having to give evidence in court. The Judge was requested on 2 August, 2018 to undertake this review. The Terms of Reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Incidence (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: Based on data from the National Cancer Registry, the number of women who have been diagnosed with Stage IV cervical cancer in the Republic of Ireland in each of the years 2015 to 2017 is set out as follows: Cancer Type 2015 2016 2017 Cervical (Stage IV) 31 29 37 These figures relate to the stage at the time of the patient’s initial diagnosis with cervical cancer, or within a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 380 together. As the Deputy will be aware, CervicalCheck laboratory activity has been significantly above normal levels in recent months. This is a result both of out-of-cycle smears and increased uptake generally. This has impacted turnaround times for results of smear tests. Between May and October this year and when compared to the same period...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (27 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: No licences have been issued for the specific treatment of cervical cancer with medical cannabis. The Department is not aware if any of the patients currently being treated with medical cannabis in Ireland have been affected by the Cervical Check issues. If the Deputy would like to provide more information on this matter which has come to his attention, I will be happy to provide a further...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programmes (27 Nov 2018)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 to 370, inclusive, together. On 1 May this year, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who has had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considers that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. CervicalCheck laboratory activity has since been significantly above normal...