Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly hope that we have people working for the department that are competent and trustworthy people, and I am sure that any concerns that would be expressed officially and formally through the process would be conveyed through the system and come to rest wherever the concern is dealt with best. I think that any patient that has a problem with a medical service and is concerned with what is happening certainly must deal with their physician first and directly, and then there is a step that follows from there that goes to the health board in the respective region. If it is done on a formal basis, then I think the hospital board in that area will undertake a formal investigation. Certainly they will undertake a formal investigation upon any written complaints and then from there on, because of the confidentiality and stuff like that, one must be very careful and cognizant of privacy and the disclosure of information that should not be made public. This is why I say that initially the physician must be the first point of contact and then from there on, if there is no satisfaction, I believe the hospital board should be contacted, and this should be done as formally as possible in writing so it leaves tracks and these tracks can then be followed up in time, after a formal investigation; and if there is no satisfaction there, I believe there are other methods that may be undertaken. Any complaint to my office would be the last resort. But I hope that answers the question.
Tony Whitford on Question O402-12(2): Procedure For Accepting Patient Complaints
In the Legislative Assembly on March 26th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Return To Question O402-12(:2): Procedure For Accepting Patient Complaints
Question O402-12(2): Procedure For Accepting Patient Complaints
Item 5: Oral Questions
March 25th, 1992
Page 474
See context to find out what was said next.