Vol. 496 No. 6
70 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, to give patients who have been treated in voluntary hospitals a right of access to their medical records; and when the necessary legislative changes will be made. [22398/98]
Following consultation with the Minister for Health and Children, I have agreed to extend the Freedom of Information Act to voluntary hospitals and major voluntary agencies in the health sector who are in receipt of significant public funding. These bodies will come within the scope of the Act at a date no later than 1 September 1999.
This lead in time is required to allow adequate time for preparation of publications required under the Act, training of staff and implementation of necessary organisational arrangements to handle FOI requests.
