Vol. 425 No. 7
436 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on recent reports that an organisation (details supplied) has advised its consultant members not to serve on hospital complaints committees established under the Patients Charter until his Department clarifies a number of key issues in relation to the operation of these committees.
The organisation to which the Deputy refers recently wrote to my Department seeking clarification on aspects of the operation of the complaints procedure envisaged under the Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients.
I met with the Organisation on Friday last and I sought the Organisation's co-operation in ensuring that the spirit of the Charter is fully upheld, including the need to have simplified complaints procedures in operation in our hospitals. The Organisation undertook to make a further submission to me in the matter which I will consider carefully.
