Vol. 413 No. 6
120 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the number of patient complaints received by her Department in (1) 1989 (2) 1990 and (3) 1991; in respect of each year's complaints the number of which she has furnished written reports to the complainant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Records indicate that approximately 1,450 representations were made to the hospitals division of my Department in 1989, 1,150 in 1990 and 810 so far this year.
These figures must be seen in the context of over 500,000 patients being admitted to acute general hospitals in each of these years.
Where a complaint is made, it is my Department's policy to pursue this with the hospital concerned and, where appropriate, to review the outcome with my Department's professional advisers. In general, all such representations receive a reply.
