Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is an inspection system for renal dialysis units run by private companies; the details of the frequency and nature of such inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1536/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The HSE has a number of partnership arrangements with contracted private sector haemodialysis providers. These have evolved over a number of years, and the pattern and nature of the arrangements continue to evolve.

All contracted haemodialysis units are linked with local HSE-provided parent departments of renal medicine. Patients are transferred to local contracted haemodialysis units at the direction of their supervising consultant renal physician. This physician continues to hold overall clinical responsibility for the patient.

Patients in contracted haemodialysis units are reviewed on an ongoing basis by medical staff from the local parent renal unit, and issues of clinical governance are regularly discussed between the parent renal unit and the contracted haemodialysis unit.