Charles Flanagan
Question:11 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the operation of the patients charter as applied to hospital patients and the proposals, if any, he has for a review in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Patients' Charter.
Helen Keogh
Question:30 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the amount of complaints that have been received by hospitals under the patients' charter and the amount of complaints that have been received on the GMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Helen Keogh
Question:62 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to introduce a proper reliable system of assessment of patients' satisfaction in State hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 30 and 62 together. I am satisfied that, in general, health boards and hospitals have implemented the provisions of the Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients. As stated in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to a review of the Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients to make any necessary improvements and to ensure that it provides a properly structured system of patients' rights. This review is underway at present.
The Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients applies to the acute hospital sector only. At present, my Department does not routinely monitor the level of complaints received from hospital patients. However, a preliminary review of the operation of the charter has indicated that there has not been any significant increase in the volume of complaints received following the launch of the charter.
The question of assessing patient satisfaction in public hospitals and the submission of annual reports of patients' complaints to my Department will be given consideration in the context of the present review.
Under the general medical services scheme, there are specific provisions in the agreement with participating general practitioners for dealing with complaints. In the year to end October 1993 a total of 19 complaints have been made against individual doctors under these provisions. There are a total of 1,638 doctors participating in the scheme providing services for 1,237,772 people.
I am pleased the Minister for Health is undertaking a review of the patients' charter and I hope there will be a wide public debate on the matter before changes are introduced. Most people have the highest regard for the care and dedication of the staff throughout the health services. I put it to the Minister that without the force of law the patients' charter is not much more than a piece of paper and it is very important that it be given the statutory force of law by way of legislation as quickly as possible.
There is merit in reflecting on the Deputy's proposition. Implementation of the charter is being reviewed. Arming people with information of their entitlements is a great advance on the position that existed heretofore. Interesting facts have emerged from our review to date. For example, the charter has been generally very well received by health agencies and the public. Health agencies are implementing the charter provisions and there seems to be no increase in the volume of complaints. I will certainly consider the Deputy's proposition.
Is the Minister concerned with the glaring anomaly in the working of the charter in terms of access to medical records? Under the Data Protection Act people have a legal right to obtain their records provided such records are on computer, but the patients' charter does not incorporate such a vehicle for the patient. I put it to the Minister that in terms of the relationship between the consumer and the provider, a simple complaint about the purchase of a Hoover can be investigated under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, but the same avenue is not available for the patient under the patient's charter. Until the Minister enacts appropriate legislation difficulties will arise in this area.
This is an extension of the existing charter on the provision of access to medical records and it is a matter in which I have been interested for some time. I see no difficulty for any hospital or health agency in providing access to patients. In the context of the review, this matter is being addressed.