Written answers

Thursday, 30 June 2011

5:00 am

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Health if he will implement the recommendations of Health Information and Quality Authority's Report and Recommendations on Patient Referrals from General Practice to Outpatient and Radiology Services, including the National Standard for Patient Referral Information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17894/11]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome this Report from the Health Information and Quality Authority which sets out a number of recommendations to improve the quality and safety of the referral system for patients to outpatient and radiology services. The HIQA Report also includes a recommendation for a new national standard for the provision and communication of information between General Practitioners and hospitals. A pilot project is underway in hospitals in Cork, Kerry and in AMNCH Tallaght on an electronic generic referral system for public outpatient appointments. Following feedback on the experience with the pilot project I will consider mandating the proposed national standard for patient referral information. I have also asked the newly appointed head of the Special Delivery Unit, (Dr Martin Connor), for his views on how to ensure that the excellent work done by HIQA on this issue can best be integrated into the plans and priorities of the SDU to tackle patient access to emergency, elective, outpatient and diagnostic services.

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