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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Oct 1992

Vol. 424 No. 1

Written Answers. - Patients' Charter.

Bernard Allen

Question:

67 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to change the recently announced Patients Charter in order to enshrine the right of patients to speedy access to hospital services in order to bring the charter on line with the British Charter which guarantees timescales within which patients are entitled to treatment.

The recently published Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients specifically sets out the right of patients to be admitted immediately to hospital in a medical emergency. In cases other than in an emergency, patients should be placed on a waiting list if they cannot be admitted to hospital immediately.

The Patients' Charters in the United Kingdom state that patients have the right to be guaranteed admission for treatment by a specific date no later than two years from the day when a consultant places them on a waiting list. I understand that many regional health authorities in the United Kingdom are experiencing difficulty in meeting this target.

In fact, in this country, most patients who are placed on a waiting list are admitted within two years. There are, however, a small number of specialties where problems do exist. Specific action has been taken this year in order to ensure that service deficiencies are addressed. These developments include:—
—improved Orthopaedic Services at the Regional Orthopaedic Hospital, Croom, St. Mary's Hospital, Cappagh, the Midland, North Western and Southern Health Board areas.
—improved ear, nose and throat (ENT) services in the North-Western, Midland, Western, Southern and the North-Eastern Health Board areas.
—An additional £120,000 allocated to the Mater Hospital for an increase in Cardiac Surgery this year and a second post of Cardiac Surgeon approved for the Cork Regional Hospital.
I am also at present considering proposals in relation to waiting list management with an aim to further reducing waiting times in these specialties.
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