Chris Flood
Question:82 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a charter for children in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2745/96]
Written Answers. - Children's Hospital Charter.
Limerick East): As the Deputy will be aware, a charter of rights for hospital patients has been in place since 1992 and its provisions apply to all acute hospitals, including children's hospitals. The Programme for Competitiveness and Work contained an undertaking by the then Government 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 patient rights. This work is ongoing and is now being undertaken in the context of the health strategy's provisions in relation to service quality. The strategy gives an undertaking to reorientate the health services so that they are more responsive to patient's needs. I would like to say that this Government is committed to the whole area of service quality from clinical outcome to patient satisfaction. This commitment is shown in A Government of Renewal which has endorsed the health strategy as a basis for Government policy in the health area.
I see the charter of rights for hospital patients as a first step in making the health service more consumer responsive. The question of introducing further charters, including a charter for children in hospital, is currently being examined by my Department in the overall context of the health strategy.