Vol. 512 No. 6
289 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the analysis, if any, undertaken to determine the extent to which hospitals are complying with the terms of the patients charter; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure greater compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27110/99]
The Deputy will be aware that the implementation of the standards specified in the patients charter is a matter for individual hospital management in the first instance. My Department places a high emphasis on the need for ongoing review of compliance with its terms and is in frequent contact with the service deliverers on issues which arise. Patient satisfaction surveys and the development of other mechanisms for improvements in patient advocacy underpin my objective in providing a patient focused service within which the priority must be equity of access to high quality care based on clinical need. The patients charter was an important step in developing awareness of patients rights and it is my intention to ensure that service providers continue to build on the good standards of practice which the charter provides.
