asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints from patients received by his Department against doctors operating the choice of doctor scheme since the inception of the scheme; and the machinery that is available for processing such complaints.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Choice of Doctor Scheme.
12.
Nine complaints have been received in my Department against doctors participating in the choice of doctor scheme.
Complaints in writing against a participating doctor are considered in the first instance by the chief executive officer of the health board with which he has an agreement to provide services. If the chief executive officer has reason to believe that the doctor has failed to comply with the terms of his agreement he may raise the matter with the doctor. If, having considered the doctor's representations, he is satisfied that the doctor had not complied with the terms of the agreement, he may issue a warning or refer the case to a committee established under the Health Services Regulations, 1972. This committee are composed of five members, including representatives of the medical profession. They could recommend that the doctor be admonished or fined or that his agreement should be terminated. Finally there is an appeal by the doctor against such a decision to the Minister for Health.
13.
asked the Minister for Health if any estimate has been made of the saving in hospitalisation since the introduction of the choice of doctor scheme; and, if so, if he will give details.
As the choice of doctor scheme became fully operative only on 1st October last, no study has yet been made of the savings on hospitalisation which might be attributed to the scheme.
Would figures not be available as to the expenditure on hospitalisation from October to March last?
They would be, but the half year would be untypical as related to the full year. As the Deputy knows, the number of admissions to hospitals in winter far exceeds that in the other part of the year. Whether it could be done in respect of the Eastern Health Board I do not know. They have had this scheme in operation from 1st April, 1972.
Surely it should be possible to get the figures on the cost of hospitalisation for any six months from October to March and compare them with similar figures for the same period in the previous year, so that differences in respect of hospitalisation during the winter period would not arise?
As I have told the Deputy, the choice of doctor scheme has not been in operation for a full year and I do not think a comparison of one six months of a year with another six months of a year would represent a true picture.
We are at cross purposes. We are on different wavelengths. If we could get an estimate of the cost of hospitalisation from October, 1972, to March, 1973, when the choice of doctor scheme was in operation all over the country, and compare it with the previous year when the choice of doctor scheme did not operate at all, we might get some indication of the difference in hospitalisation costs as between these two periods.
I would prefer to get the cost over the full year. It is only possible now to do it for a limited period in respect of most of the health boards. The choice of doctor has been in operation only since 1st October. In the Eastern Health Board area, granted, the scheme has been in operation for a full year and it probably would be possible to get these figures in respect of the Eastern Health Board area, but not for the others.
Question No. 14.
Would it not be possible——
We cannot dispute this matter here all day.
I have only asked for an estimate.
I am afraid no useful purpose can be served by arguing this point any further.
Would the Minister not look for numbers rather than costs? The costs can vary very much.
Question No. 14.