Seanad debates
Wednesday, 25 June 2003
Council Regulation on Procedures for amending the Sirene Manual: Referral to Joint Committee. - Health Service Reform: Statements (Resumed).
The Minister should look at the administrative structures within the health boards to see whether consumers are getting value. I will give an example of a situation which probably exemplifies the frustrations of people. I recently met a person who suffered a stroke and has a specially adapted car. As she is going abroad on holiday and decided to take her children, she looked for an E1.11 form. She contacted the health board in Limerick and was told that they had the forms. When she asked for it to be put in an envelope and sent on to her, the person who answered the phone replied, "No, I can't because it is not my job. I will send an e-mail to the girl responsible so she can put it in the envelope and send it on to you." This person waited six weeks for the E1.11 form. If that is a classic example of an administrative layer doing a justifiable job, I would question it.
No comments