Page 4235 - Week 13 - Thursday, 25 November 1993

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CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW ATTRACT FULL LEGAL PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AND THIS WILL ASSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE CONCILIATION PROCESS. PROVIDERS AND USERS WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE HEALTH COMPLAINTS UNIT AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE CONCILIATION PROCESS TO BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE DRAFT LEGISLATION. IT WILL ALSO FACILITATE OPEN, FRANK AND HONEST DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN USERS AND PROVIDERS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REACH SOLUTIONS AND AGREEMENTS ABOUT HEALTH SERVICE COMPLAINTS.

MADAM SPEAKER, AS I HAVE STATED PREVIOUSLY IN THE ASSEMBLY,

THE GENERAL ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE LEGISLATION WILL BE TO -

(A) PRESERVE AND PROMOTE OF THE HEALTH RIGHTS OF USERS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH SERVICES;

(B) . RECEIVE AND RESOLVE OF HEALTH SERVICE COMPLAINTS;

(C) FACILITATE OF USERS AND PROVIDERS CONTRIBUTION TO THE

REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES; AND

(D) PROVIDE OF EDUCATION AND ADVICE IN RELATION TO HEALTH RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND ENCOURAGE THE .RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEALTH SERVICES.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THE BILL, AND THE ACCOMPANYING OMBUDSMAN (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WILL HELP LEAD THE WAY TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF HEALTH CONSUMER RIGHTS.

THE POSITION OF COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH COMPLAINTS AS ESTABLISHED BY THE BILL, CARRIES WITH IT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF BOTH PROVIDERS AND HEALTH, CARE CONSUMERS.

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