asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the growing number of complaints concerning the appointments systems of outpatient departments at Dublin city hospitals; and if his Department will undertake a special review of the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Appointment Systems.
13.
I presume the Deputy has in mind the specialist clinics in Dublin hospitals. Such clinics are arranged between the health boards and the hospitals concerned and my functions are limited to approving the financial arrangements. Nevertheless, I am anxious to ensure that such clinics operate efficiently. A recent survey conducted by my Department elicited the information that while, for various reasons, a uniform appointments system is not feasible, 18 of the 22 hospitals in Dublin, where specialist clinics are held, have varying systems of appointment in operation.
Complaints concerning such clinics are rare and I am always willing to investigate specific complaints.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware that, far from there being, as he describes, varying systems of appointment in such clinics, there seems to be a completely haphazard and general indication given to people to come along at 11 a.m. and that people come along, as I personally had to do in relation to my own family, and hang around until 1 o'clock and until 2 o'clock when somebody would deign to see them and that this kind of treatment under the health services brings our services into disrepute and creates considerable public disquiet about their effectiveness and would he not agree that there should be a uniform straightforward system of appointments in operation?
We cannot have a speech at Question Time.
The Deputy should bring me any complaints he has and I will have them referred to the hospital concerned but of the 22 hospitals that my Department surveyed 11 had fixed appointment clinics; six had two systems, neither one suited for all clinics; four had a first-come arrangement and one a block booking system.
Is the Minister satisfied that the systems of appointments in operation are really satisfactory in these hospitals? Is he, or are the officials who inspected, satisfied that they are efficient and that a person who comes at 10 a.m. will be out by 11.30 a.m. or 12 noon? Is he satisfied that that is the case generally now in hospitals?
No, I do not think the appointments system is perfect, I will agree. Delays in dealing with patients are due to multiple causes including patients not attending on time, doctors being delayed in the examination of patients and doctors being called away to emergency cases. It is a very difficult matter.
There are far too many patients being allocated to the small number of doctors available at such clinics, particularly for consultation. There is the appalling situation of 30 or 40 people queueing up to see a consultant and having to hang around for a whole morning. Many of them have to travel from country areas. They are getting a dreadful service, quite frankly.
There should be some relief when the choice of doctor system comes into operation.