Vol. 568 No. 1
484 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received reports from the health authorities regarding improvements in the practices of setting appointments for out-patient visits in order to reduce the lengthy delays that appear to have become a feature of out-patient services; and if he will make a statement on the progress being made on improving the system. [15176/03]
Action 85 of the health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, states that the operation of out-patient departments will be improved and that one of the elements of improvement will be the provision of appointment times. The introduction of appointment times is consistent with the guiding principle of a people centred approach incorporated in the strategy.
In 2002 the health boards executive set up a health strategy implementation project team to produce guidelines for hospitals for timed out-patient appointments. The project team produced guidelines which have been circulated to the ERHA and health boards. My Department received reports from health agencies that showed the continuing progress being made towards full implementation. My Department will continue to monitor progress in this regard.
