Results 1-20 of 61 for flu speaker:Mary Harney

Accident and Emergency Services (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: ...of 12 acute medical units during 2011 with an investment of €8.5 million. Emergency departments have particular infection control protocols in place for staff to manage patients attending with flu-like illnesses including the H1NI virus to minimise risk to patients and staff. The key to addressing the emergency department challenge is an integrated proactive management by all concerned...

Accident and Emergency Services (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: ...has been normal for umpteen years. There have been significant improvements. That is not to say that there have not been occasions when there were blips. We all are aware that there is a swine flu problem. That has led to over 300 people being in hospital over the past period.

Accident and Emergency Services (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: It is a factor. If swine flu patients are taking up over 300 beds and over 70 ICU beds, it is a factor. It is a bigger factor this week than it was last week because we have seen a doubling of swine flu incidents this week over last week. It has been doubling each week for the past number of weeks and there will be a press conference later today to review that. Among the issues identified...

Hospital Accommodation (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: ...still be enormous challenges. The commitment is to provide a similar level of service in 2011 to that provided in 2010 in terms of activity, although there will be some changes. I mentioned swine flu earlier. I am not going to pretend this is the reason for the problem in accident and emergency departments, but it is having an impact. We now have two confirmed deaths, unfortunately, and...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together. Approximately 650,000 seasonal flu vaccines were delivered to the HSE in September 2010 and have already been distributed to GPs and HSE sites. The HSE is in the process of drawing down a further 100,000 vaccines which were part of the contingency arrangements within the same contract. The HSE will also deliver supplies of Pandemrix, one of...

Written Answers — Accident and Emergency Services: Accident and Emergency Services (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: ...of 12 Acute Medical Units during 2011 with an investment of €8.5m. Emergency Departments have particular infection control protocols in place for staff to manage patients attending with flu like illnesses including the H1NI virus to minimise risk to patients and staff. The key to addressing the ED challenge is an integrated pro-active management by all concerned throughout the system. I...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (13 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the monitoring of infectious diseases in the country. The latest data which the HSE has available for the 2010/2011 flu season is that as of 9th January 2011 a total of 985 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza have been reported in Ireland, of which 796 were H1N1. A total of 393 patients have been hospitalised with flu and 72 have been...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (12 Jan 2011)

Mary Harney: The total amount spent on acquiring special vaccines (Celvapan and Pandemrix) to prevent the Pandemic Flu virus H1N1 over the period 2009/2010 was €35m. In 2010/11 a seasonal flu vaccine was acquired which included immunisation against the H1N1 virus at a cost of €2.32m. A further tender will occur in the spring of 2011 for the vaccine for the 2011/12 season.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Oct 2010)

Mary Harney: The HSE launched the 2010 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Campaign on 6th October. Based on advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO), this year the seasonal flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains, including the Pandemic H1N1 (Swine Flu) strain which is still circulating this year and is expected to be the most common strain this winter. The National Immunisation Advisory...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (18 May 2010)

Mary Harney: ...e.g. cancer treatment (and their household contacts) Haemoglobinopathies Diabetes Morbid Obesity (check with your GP) All those travelling to the southern hemisphere during the upcoming influenza season. With regard to the other issues raised, I wish to advise the Deputy that, due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive, it is not possible for the Executive to supply...

Written Answers — Public Hygiene: Public Hygiene (6 May 2010)

Mary Harney: There are no health regulations regarding spitting in public. Serious respiratory illnesses can be spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands. During the pandemic flu crisis, great emphasis was placed on respiratory hygiene and a public information campaign utilising the slogan 'catch it, bin it, kill it' was undertaken to encourage the public to practice correct respiratory and hand...

Written Answers — Nursing Education: Nursing Education (3 Mar 2010)

Mary Harney: ...and more effective use of the nursing and midwifery resource is the key role that a large number of nurses and midwives are playing in the administration of the H1N1 vaccine in the current Swine Flu vaccination campaign. I regard nursing and midwifery as key elements of our health services and I am currently finalising a new Nurses and Midwives Bill. This will not only recognise...

Written Answers — Health Service Staff: Health Service Staff (10 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: ...and more effective use of the nursing and midwifery resource is the key role that a large number of nurses and midwives are playing in the administration of the H1N1 vaccine in the current Swine Flu vaccination campaign. I regard nursing and midwifery as key elements of our health services and I am currently finalising a new Nurses and Midwives Bill. This will not only recognise midwifery...

Written Answers — Misuse of Drugs: Misuse of Drugs (9 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant used in the treatment of colds and flu. The sale and supply of medicinal products containing pseudoephedrine is covered in the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply Regulations) 2003 as amended. Products containing pseudoephedrine are exempt from prescription control at the low doses specified in the Regulations; however, under Regulation...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (4 Feb 2010)

Mary Harney: ...for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently considering the matter. Other joint Departmental initiatives include collaboration in other areas such as Suicide prevention, Pandemic Flu Planning, Child Protection and GP Out of Hours Services. Cooperation And Working Together (CAWT) Outside of the formal structure of the North South Ministerial Council the main vehicle for...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (8 Dec 2009)

Mary Harney: ...in Navan until hip fracture surgery resumes in Our Lady of Lourdes. Additional hygiene protection measures taken during the outbreak at both hospitals remain in force, being cognisant of the H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) threat. Members of the public have been asked to only attend the Emergency Department at the Hospitals in the case of a genuine emergency and to contact their GP or...

Written Answers — Health Service Expenditure: Health Service Expenditure (10 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: ...reconfiguration efficiency measures in 2009 in order to offset expected cost pressures and stay within budget. The HSE has experienced unforeseen cost pressures in areas such as the pandemic flu and higher than expected superannuation costs associated with increase in retirements. Notwithstanding these pressures, the HSE continues to control spending to the greatest degree possible...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (5 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: As part of the pandemic planning process, the Health Services Executive has provided guidance and protocols concerning swine flu incidences in schools. This guidance advises that in the event of an unusual number of students or staff within a particular school presenting with influenza like illness, the principal of that school should inform the Department of Public Health of the HSE....

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the country will be offered the vaccine. However, initially the vaccine...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (4 Nov 2009)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124, 136 and 152 together. The incidence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported on 25th October last is at a rate of 210.9 per 100,000 population. This is the highest ILI rate reported since sentinel influenza surveillance began in 2000. Vaccination is a key strategy that is being used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Every person in the...