An Ombudsman for older people will be created by the Progressive Democrats if elected to government after the General Election, Minister for Health Mary Harney vowed today.
Addressing her party's last annual conference before campaigning begins in earnest, the former PD leader said the health reform "is about better results for patients".
She said better standards if care would be achieved through measures contained in the new Health Bill which includes the creation of the Health and Information and Quality Authority, which will set and monitor standards in both public and private healthcare.
Hospitals would also have to meet a new standards regime because if elected, the PDs would introduce a licensing scheme.
"Ultimately, no hospital will open, or stay open, if standards are not met. That means standards of safety, standards of hygiene and standards of medical and nursing care. It will apply to all hospitals - public, private, voluntary."
She said the party would continue to keep services for older people a top priority with further development of community care and home care packages.
"We give this commitment to older people: we will do our utmost to ensure that you are supported to live in your home for your lifetime."
To maintain standards Ms Harney said she "fully expected" a commitment to create Ombudsman for older people would form part of the PD's election manifesto.
It would be a statutory office acting as an advocate for older people, as well as providing a dedicated service for redress beyond existing organisations she said.
"We believe also that older people deserve a special level of support from public services and a dedicated office to promote their interests," she said.
"Beds, spending and staffing are a means to an end: better care and better service for patients is what it's all about."