Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Information.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

24 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the concern among many general practitioners and family doctors regarding the confidentiality of the medical information sought on forms; and the procedures in operation in his Department in relation to the information received. [1323/95]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

Medical information about clients is requested by my Department from general practitioners in order to determine or review entitlement to particular benefits. These requests vary in frequency from a once-off to an ongoing basis.

Claim forms and medical certificates received in relation to sickness and certain other schemes are treated as highly confidential. The information is protected by the Official Secrets Act and no information is ever released to a third party without the written consent of the claimant. All personal information, medical certificates and medical reports are held in secure filing areas.

Under the disability and other sickness schemes medical referees of my Department provide advice, by way of a second opinion to that of the client's own doctor, which assists deciding officers and the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office in determining entitlement.

When a medical referee examination is arranged, the client's doctor is notified and invited to be present or to furnish a report on the medical history and current condition of the client. The form notifying the general practitioner is marked confidential and is returnable by special pre-addressed, free post envelope to the medical referee centre where the examination is scheduled to take place. For the medical referee's easy reference the nurse attendant on duty associates each report with the appropriate file in advance of the examination.

Following the medical referee's examination all papers are returned to the Department's medical adviser for his action in the first instance and are then passed to administrative staff.

My Department has received no complaints from any medical practitioner in respect of breaches of confidentiality. Nevertheless, the administrative procedures which are in place for ensuring confidentiality of medical information are reviewed from time to time and changes are made if necessary.