Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to reports that the Health Service Executive office for the north west Dublin region is difficult to contact by telephone as the phones frequently ring out; and the steps she will take to address this problem. [27576/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has contacted the HSE regarding the matter raised by the Deputy and it is not aware of reports that the Health Service Executive office for the north west Dublin region is difficult to contact by telephone or that the phones frequently ring out without reply.

The HSE advises that all calls are queued until answered by the switchboard operator and are forwarded to the relevant extension. The Executive has pointed out that as the switchboard at Rathdown Road covers an extensive range of services and due to the volume of calls coming into it, there would be an occasional backlog of calls from time to time. The switchboard is manned from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each workday including lunchtime and arrangements are in place for unanswered calls to be routed back to the switchboard for further assistance.

As the Deputy did not provide details regarding the particular difficulties which gave rise to his question, the HSE was unable to comment on the reports referred to by him. My Department has been informed that the HSE has contacted the Deputy's office with a view to obtaining details to enable it to investigate the matter further.