Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

549. To ask the Minister for Health the date by which it is expected to publish the complaints and patient safety policy. [52940/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department of Health has been engaged in the development of policy in relation to the areas of Patient Safety, Complaints and Advocacy.

A national patient complaints and patient safety incidents policy covering both public and private health services is in development through a number of work streams. A comprehensive stakeholder engagement process has been ongoing to gather information from health and social care services, advocacy groups, regulators as the department continues to collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders.

The Department commissioned several independent research projects regarding clinical complaints and patient safety incidents, including looking at international comparisons. The latest completed evidence project is a stakeholder consultation on clinical complaints policy in Ireland by the RCSI. The Department is currently analysing all work previously undertaken.

While this policy work is being fully considered and progressed, it is not currently possible to provide an expected date of completion.