Finian McGrath
Question:233. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate a complaint regarding a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin. [15795/13]
View answerHospital Complaints
Questions (233)
Written answers
With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our public hospitals, the HSE has a formal complaints policy in place, details of which are on the HSE website, at www.hse.ie/eng/services/ysys/Complaint. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie. There are a number of options available to individuals seeking to make a complaint - in person, on line, by e mail, letter or LoCall: 1890 424 555.
In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance, to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the complaint a staff member/service manager will attempt to resolve the complaint locally or a complaints officer will look into the issues raised in the complaint. If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.
HSE Director of Advocacy
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel 1890 424 555
If an individual is not satisfied with the outcome of a review they may request an independent review of their complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman or Ombudsman for Children.
Office of the Ombudsman
18, Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel 1890 223 030
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie
I have asked the HSE to answer the specific queries you have raised and to reply to you directly.
Respite Care Services
Questions (234)
Sandra McLellan
Question:234. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of nursing homes with lock-in facilities in the east Cork area to provide respite care for a person (details supplied) in County Cork with a brain injury who requires 24-7 care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15799/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (235)
Pearse Doherty
Question:235. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15802/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (236)
Pearse Doherty
Question:236. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15803/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
HSE Funding
Questions (237)
Sean Fleming
Question:237. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if funding for prosthesis for a replacement socket and glove will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15806/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (238)
Ciaran Lynch
Question:238. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to reduce the requirement for patients awaiting admission to Cork University Hospital to remain on trolleys for extended periods; the measures in place to ensure the privacy and dignity of patients while on trolleys; the way patients on trolleys can be assured of adequate medical attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15808/13]
View answerWritten answers
Immediately following my appointment, I set out to address the issues which have been causing unacceptable delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), as set out in the Programme for Government. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. Since its establishment there has been significant improvements in the waiting times for unscheduled care against a background of reduced funding for health, reconfiguration of services and a challenging socio-economic climate.
Hospitals across the country have experienced a surge in presentations to ED, as would be expected in the winter months, resulting in high demand for admissions and a consequent rise in trolley waits. Recent outbreaks of influenza have created additional logistical difficulties in relation to the admission, movement and discharge of patients in some hospitals. Those hospitals have released media messages advising non-attendance and restrictions on visiting. The SDU continues to monitor ED activity closely, engaging with key hospitals via teleconference and on-site meetings, collaborating in putting in place a range of measures to assist with patient flow and reviewing the available data for trends in relation to the reported levels of high activity.
Despite these pressures the year on year improvements continue nationally. Numbers recorded on trolleys at the end of 2012 showed a marked improvement of 23.6% less than 2011 which equates to 20,386 less people. From 1st January to 15th March, there has been a total of 15,220 patients on trolleys: this is a reduction of 2,258 patients or 12.9% on the equivalent period last year. Priority now is to reduce long waiters (over 9 hours) as we move to a six hour patient journey target. The SDU and the Patient Safety & Quality Directorate in the HSE are currently in communication to agree a mechanism of capturing and responding in instances where a Hospital reports one or more patients breaching 24 hours on a trolley on one or more occasion.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (239)
Ged Nash
Question:239. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when an orthopaedic outpatient's appointment at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15819/13]
View answerWritten answers
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
Medical Card Appeals
Questions (240)
Robert Troy
Question:240. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [15821/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.