Ms Bernie McNally:

The Ombudsman has spoken publicly in the past few months about his concern around the low level of complaints about care in this country. Approximately 10% of the complaints received by the office relate to health and social care. While many of the complaints received relate to the HSE, they related more to monetary than other matters. That 10% compares with 50% in other jurisdictions such as Wales. As such, the number of complaints received in this regard is small. A large percentage of those complaints down through the years would have related to end of life care. While only a relatively small number of complaints are received the fact that the same complaint continues to be made highlights that this is a constant issue.

In regard to the question about numbers, the Irish Hospice Foundation is the most appropriate organisation to answer them. The statistic of 35, or 43%, of people dying every day in hospital arises from the Irish Hospice Foundation's audit of end of life care. I understand there is an intention to repeat that audit.

On whether it is our intention to do similar reports, as stated by the Ombudsman as this issue had been a regular theme over a number of years it was dear to his heart that this report be done first. There are other themes emerging which the Ombudsman is committed to examining. Obviously, we have limited resources and as such we cannot do everything at once. We would hope to undertake a number of similar reports in the next couple of years.