Vol. 417 No. 5
228 Mr. Stafford asked the Minister for Health whether it could be arranged for hospitals to organise approximate appointment times, as many of our senior citizens find it difficult to get to the hospital, as their bus passes only come into operation at 9.45 a.m., and this leaves them at the end of long queues.
The Third report of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group which was published last September included, inter alia, a major examination of out-patient services. The group highlighted the deficiencies they found in the present organisation of this service and made extensive recommendations concerning the improvement of the operational management of out-patients departments. Following publication of the report, my Department formally requested all acute hospitals to take the necessary steps to implement the recommendations in the report including those relating to out-patient services.
My Department has recently been in touch again with all acute hospitals reminding them of the need to implement these recommendations at the earliest possible date. In particular, I am anxious that an out-patients service group be established in each hospital with a view to putting in place an effective appointments system for patients attending out-patient clinics. All hospitals have been requested to report back within the next month, to my Department, on the progress made to date on implementing the recommendations.
The Deputy will be aware that the issue of and regulation of bus passes is a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.
