Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 977: To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath [27402/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including the management of referrals from GPs by hospitals. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the NTPF.

As a priority, public hospitals were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery of a 9 month maximum wait time for inpatient or daycase surgery.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 978: To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding hospital visiting [27419/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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With regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, details of which are on the HSE website, at www.hse.ie/eng/services/ysys/Complaint. In addition, advice and instructions for making complaints about a service or an individual may be found at www.healthcomplaints.ie.

In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made, in the first instance, to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred. In the case of the Rotunda Hospital, the complaint can be addressed to

The Complaint's Officer

Rotunda Hospital

Parnell Square

Dublin 1 email: foi@rotunda.ie

If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out below.

HSE Director of Advocacy

Oak House

Millennium Park

Naas

Co Kildare

Tel 1890 424 555

Office of the Ombudsman

18, Lower Leeson Street

Dublin 2

Tel 1890 223 030 Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie

I have asked the HSE to answer the specific queries you have raised and to reply to you directly.