Vol. 547 No. 1
647 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the standards which apply for outpatients' appointments; the way in which matters stand in the major hospitals; and his views on the situation of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [2311/02]
The Government is committed in the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to ensuring that the operation of out-patient departments is improved and includes specific initiatives this regard. The strategy states that protocols for investigation and referral to hospital out-patient departments will be developed in conjunction with general practitioners; acute hospitals will allocate individual appointments to each out-patient, where this is not already the practice. This will change the current situation where a number of patients who are given the same appointment time may experience a lengthy delay; an assessment of out-patient recall rates will be undertaken; and nurse-led clinics for selected conditions will be introduced where feasible.
With regard to the specific case referred to by the Deputy I would point out that responsibility for the provision of health services to persons living in County Dublin rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has therefore asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
648 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will examine the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2312/02]
Responsibility for the provision of hospital services to residents of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive of the authority to provide me with a full report on this case and I will return to the Deputy as soon as this is to hand.
