Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of complaints received by the Health Information and Quality Authority during the year 2010 from members of the public regarding standards and cleanliness at a hospital (details supplied); the number of these complaints that were acted upon; the number of inspections that were carried out by HIQA at this hospital during 2010; the nature of the inspections and if they were announced or unannounced; if she will provide this Deputy with a copy of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1108/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority does not operate a statutory complaints process. However, reports received from the public regarding alleged shortcomings in our health services are valuable to the Authority's operations. The Authority would be concerned that publication of information relating to such reports might jeopardise receipt of further reports. Therefore, such reports are regarded as being given in confidence and are treated accordingly. The Authority has a policy of protecting these sources of information and not releasing details about the number or type of information provided. In the absence of such an understanding of confidence, it is likely that the flow of information to the Authority would be limited and that people would be reluctant to raise issues or make representations on behalf of others less able to represent themselves.

The Authority carried out a focused monitoring review in the hospital named against the National Standards for Symptomatic Breast Disease Services in June 2010. The report can be found on www.hiqa.ie. No hygiene monitoring reviews were carried out at the hospital in 2010.