Bernard Allen
Question:200 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if a new patient complaints procedure put in place at University College Hospital, Galway, will be put in place in all public hospitals. [29596/01]
Written Answers. - Patient Complaints Procedure.
At present the provision of complaints procedures in public hospitals is the responsibility of each individual health authority or board. However, as outlined in the National Health Strategy published yesterday, it is the intention of this Government to develop best practice models of customer care including a statutory framework for complaints. Legislation will be prepared by my Department to provide for a statutory complaints procedure, following which each individual health agency will develop and implement standardised customer care programmes, protocols and procedures.