asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding the death of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who was allegedly referred back from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 prematurely and died shortly thereafter; if his attention has been drawn to other similar instances; if so, the number; and the action which is being taken in all such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Death of Person.
8.
I have asked Beaumont Hospital to furnish detailed reports in respect of the examination and treatment of the person concerned at the hospital. To date all the relevant reports have not been received. When I have received and examined these reports I will decide if further inquiries need to be made.
My attention has not been drawn to any other similar instances at Beaumont Hospital.
As the family involved have very serious concerns and anxieties, does the Minister think that a protracted delay in getting a report on a very urgent matter is acceptable and would he be good enough to tell us why it is taking this length of time?
I have received a number of reports from the hospital but, as I have said, I have not received all of them and I do not think it is appropriate to go into detail until I have received the further reports which are necessary.
Let me press the Minister, the purpose of putting down this question was to get information. Would the Minister not agree that it is profoundly wrong that a family who are in some degree of distress arising out of this incident should be subjected to protracted delays because of either mal or inadequate administration in his Department or in th ehospital? I appeal to him to ensure that the report he is now waiting for will be made available to him immediately and that I will get a comprehensive response within days of his receiving that report. Can I have that commitment, please?
While I am awaiting reports I am also aware that the coroner has ordered a post mortem. I certainly will communicate with the Deputy as soon as I have all the information available.
Would the Minister accept that there is some disquiet about the situation in Beaumont, that there is some bemusement at the fact that a hospital which had such a lengthy gestation period was so ill-prepared when it eventually opened and that in a series of issues, some of them minor such as car parking and some much more substantial such as telephones, the hospital seemed unready to open despite all of the years of waiting?
That is the subject matter of another question.
That is not a specific question on the Order Paper.
In regard to the Minister's original reply, the question was whether he was aware of other such incidents and in his reply he stated that he was not so aware in relation to Beaumont. Would the Minister agree that other reports have been made to him regarding deaths and that allegations have been made that deaths have occurred due to the cutbacks? Would he also agree that having to wait three months for the findings of an investigation is unreasonable? The Minister should come back on reports such as these within a reasonable time. Having to wait three months or four months for a report on allegations which have been made is a long time to wait.
Which report is it?
The one from Waterford which has been with the Minister since November arising out of allegations made in this House last October.
This question deals with Beaumont Hospital.
There has still been no report.