Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Health if he will sanction an investigation or inquiry into the case of a person's spouse (details supplied) in County Dublin who claims neglect on the part of the health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34889/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Responsibility for the provision of services rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE). There is a formal complaints process for issues concerning individuals or services under the aegis of the HSE, details of which are available on the HSE website. Where an individual is not satisfied with the response they received, they may wish to take their complaint further by seeking a review from the HSE's Director of Advocacy or the Office of the Ombudsman.

If an individual is unhappy with the level of care provided by a health service employee such as a doctor, nurse or other regulated health care professional, the Medical Council is the statutory body charged with the responsibility for the regulation and registration of medical practitioners in this State. I, as Minister for Health, have no role in relation to the professional conduct of registered medical practitioners and I am specifically precluded under the Act from giving policy direction to the Medical Council in relation to the performance of its functions in this area.

In relation to the specific case that the Deputy is referring, the complaint has been examined by a number of parties including the hospital concerned, the HSE, the Ombudsman and the Medical Council.