Seán Barrett
Question:50 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself that the patients' charter sufficiently addresses the needs and rights of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Patients' Charter.
The Government is fully committed to the principle of patients' rights and his commitment has been shown in the Programme for a Partnership Government and reaffirmed in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
As I have previously stated in the House, I am satisfied, in general, with the way in which health boards and hospitals have implemented the provisions of the charter. In the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the Government undertook to review the effectiveness of the Charter of Rights for Hospital Patients, so as to make any necessary improvements and to ensure that it provides a properly structured system of patients' rights. This work is ongoing.
The whole area of service quality, from clinical outcome to patient satisfaction generally, is one to which I am committed to progress. As well as introducing further charters, I shall be bringing forward in the new national health strategy which will be published next week a range of proposals to promote quality in all aspects of our health and personal social services.