Vol. 526 No. 4
274 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that his Department's directive stating that hepatitis C patients should not wait more than two weeks for an out-patient appointment is being implemented in all hospitals. [26956/00]
Hospital services for persons with hepatitis C are provided through the following designated units: Beaumont, Mater, St. James's and St. Vincent's Hospitals, Dublin; Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin; St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny; Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway. Under the health care package made available to persons infected with hepatitis C through the administration within the State of blood or blood products, it is guaranteed that no patient will have to wait more than two weeks for an appointment to a hepatitis C unit. Also, patients referred by a liver consultant to another specialty, for example, gynaecology or rheumatology, are guaranteed their first appointment within two weeks. Subsequent appointments are on the basis of clinical need.
Concerns about the implementation of the "two week rule" have been expressed to me earlier this year by the support groups representing persons with hepatitis C. I raised these concerns directly with the chief executive officers of the relevant health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department also followed up the issues raised with the individual hospitals. Hospitals have been reminded of their obligation to provide the levels of service guaranteed to this group of patients and have been asked to review the effective operation of the "two week rule" on an ongoing basis. As a result, each hospital has been asked to nominate a dedicated liaison officer in their hepatitis C unit, plus a deputy to act in the liaison officer's absence. The liaison officer, or deputy, will be the point of contact for hepatitis C patients attending the hospital and will address the inquiries and concerns of hepatitis C patients regarding hospital services. In addition, hospitals have been asked to establish liaison arrangements with the support groups to discuss service provision, including user satisfaction and future service developments.
