Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004
138 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he intends to take to ensure that hospitals comply with the requirement to have a mix of 20% private and 80% public in regard to elective admissions in view of the reports that some hospitals have not complied with these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7008/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in the Government's health strategy, Quality and Fairness, measures being taken in regard to addressing equity and mix between public and private care include: setting targets for waiting times for public patients and facilitating treatment for those patients waiting longest under the national treatment purchase fund; providing that additional bed capacity should be for public patients; ensuring greater equity for public patients as part of any revised contract for hospital consultants; and reviewing current arrangements regarding access of patients to public beds.
I am committed to ensuring that private practice within public hospitals will not be at the expense of fair access for public patients and I assure the Deputy that in the context of the ongoing health reform programme every opportunity will be taken to reinforce the application of this principle in the health system.
