Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I know they are compelled to attend but in reality we will be doing well if they attend once or twice a year. That fact will be borne out in years to come.

Fine Gael has particular concerns about section 55 which restricts a complaints officer from making a recommendation which would require an amendment of the executive service plan or of another body's arrangement with the executive for service provision on its behalf. Should such a recommendation be made, arrangements must be requested by the executive or other body to amend, reject or suspend implementation of the recommendation. This effectively ties the hands of the complaints officer and stymies any chance of improving the service to the patient. Fine Gael queries whether reform is taking place when a complaints officer, who has examined a complaint in detail, is prevented from making recommendations to the service plan. A problem never highlighted is, in our view, a problem that never existed.

The Bill also precludes the making of a complaint on a matter relating to the Social Welfare Acts. This preclusion could have dire consequences for complaints regarding the supplementary welfare allowance administered by the health services on behalf of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Also, the complaints officer is designated by either the HSE or by a service provider. It will be important to ensure that complaint officers can act with the necessary degree of independence. The members of staff of the existing structures are gravely concerned about the Bill. The pace of reform was slowed down last week when IMPACT, which represents 15,000 administrative staff in the health boards, voted for industrial action from Monday, 13 December. According to the unions the decision will block the introduction of administrative structures due to come into force on 1 January 2005 and results in concern among staff regarding work locations, job security and working conditions. This is a reflection of the lack of consultation on the part of the Government.

The ballot from unions came just one week after the proposed CEO of the new HSE pulled out at the last minute due to personal circumstances, an issue on which, regrettably, the Government party put a different spin. Perhaps the person to be appointed felt he would not be able, under current structures, to do his job properly.