Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013
248. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if there has been a review or audit of the patients complaints within the addiction service to see if there are common issues arising which need to be addressed. [11854/13]
View answerI understand from the HSE that a number of complaints were received from patients in relation to addiction services over the past year. The complaints were followed up in each case on an individual basis. Waiting lists were among the areas of complaint and considerable progress has been made in this regard. Also, the HSE envisages that the forthcoming Clinical Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment will address many of the issues that are raised by service users and their families. The views of service users were sought and taken on board when a review of the methadone protocol which was carried out in 2010. Work on the implementation of the recommendations of that report is now progressing. Meanwhile, the Methadone Protocol Prescribing Implementation Committee and the National Drug Rehabilitation Implementation Committee include service user representation.
