Health Managers have been invited to take part in a public consultation on the development of a national Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy, which aims to improve how our health service responds to complaints.
It is also aimed at advancing advance the Programme for Partnership Government commitment to establish a national patient advocacy service.
The Department of Health said this policy was part of a programme of patient safety reforms being led by the National Patient Safety Office in the Department of Health. These reforms were focused on patient safety legislation including open disclosure and licensing of our hospitals, extending the clinical effectiveness agenda and establishing a patient safety surveillance system.
“The purpose of the Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy will be to give national leadership and set direction for policy and legislation in this area.”
The Minister said, “Patient Safety is at the core of our health service and a vital element is to ensure a person centred approach where patients have a strong voice in the planning and delivery of our health services. Feedback from patients which highlights both good and poor practice provides learning for our service and a focus on where we need to improve. I want to ensure that we have a responsive, compassionate and supportive approach to assisting people when they are unhappy with their care.”
The Minister added, “My Department wants to hear all opinions. This is a chance for all citizens to make their voices heard and to influence the development of this Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy”.
Patients and their families, the general public, carers, voluntary organisations, health and social care providers, health staff and representative organisations are invited to give their views on what is working well, what is not working so well and suggestions for improvements in relation to complaints and advocacy. We would like to hear what needs to be included in the overall Patient Safety Complaints and Advocacy Policy to support patients, service users and staff.
The Consultation is open until June 22, 2017 and is available online at http://health.gov.ie/consultations/
