asked the Minister for Health if he will consider restructuring the hospital bed bureau so as to provide for representation from the public on it to ensure that patients' interests are protected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Bed Bureau.
6.
The hospital bed bureau has operated up to now under the auspices of the Hospitals Commission and, when the commission ceases to function, it will operate under the auspices of the Eastern Health Board. Formal restructuring is not involved.
7.
asked the Minister for Health if his Department receives reports of the activities of the hospital bed bureau; if so, how often; and if any complaint has been noted of the failure of certain Dublin hospitals to co-operate with the bed bureau and, if so, the action taken on the matter.
As indicated in the reply to the previous question the Hospitals Commission oversee the operations of the bed bureau. They obtain monthly reports of the bureau's activities.
Regular reports about the bureau were not sought by my Department but occasional ad hoc reports were obtained. The most recent report in the Department relates to the year ended 31st March, 1973.
I understand from the Hospitals Commission that no formal complaints have been received about the bureau's working in recent years but an occasional verbal complaint is received.