Vol. 497 No. 7
144 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce a proper complaints system in the health services in view of the recent annual report of the Irish Patients' Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26230/98]
I am aware of the contents of the report of the Irish Patients' Association, which was forwarded to my Department last week, and I would con sider that an essential component of a quality health service would be the availability of systems at hospital-institution level to investigate com plaints in a courteous and speedy manner.
The Deputy will be aware that a charter of rights for hospital patients was introduced in August 1992. It provides guidelines for good stan dards of practice in acute hospitals and its objec tive is to ensure that the health service becomes more responsive to the needs of the individual patient and that there is a code of practice avail able which sets out what patients have a right to expect when they make use of hospital services. The charter also makes specific reference to for mal complaints procedures within hospitals.
My Department is committed to the further development of patient advocacy systems throughout the acute sector and I am generally supportive of any measures which will give a bet ter customer service to patients and their families in the healthcare system. I will be making arrangements for officials from my Department to meet the Irish Patients' Association shortly to discuss their report.
