I seek the permission of the House to give one minute of my time to Deputy Callely.
Adjournment Debate. - Beaumont Hospital Neurosurgical Services.
Is that satisfactory? Agreed.
On 3 April last year I wrote to the then Minister for Health calling for an independent inquiry into what was going on in Beaumont Hospital. That was the culmination of a long series of questions I had put down to the Minister for Health going back as far as November 1989, arising out of my continued concern at the extraordinary events which were taking place in the neurosurgical department of Beaumont Hospital. During the period of this controversy more than £1.5 million, most of it public money, has been spent on investigations and litigation because of the state of affairs in the hospital. Patient care has suffered grievously and I have been informed that there are now 700 on the waiting lists for necessary treatment. Despite the dozens of parliamentary questions, Adjournment debates and Private Notice Questions, no Minister for Health has said anything about the matter up to this except to express total confidence in everyone involved. I sincerely hope that this state of affairs will now be brought to an end.
A number of reports have already been prepared in regard to the issues involved. These reports are complex and quite alarming. There has been a mountain of correspondence, claims and counter-claims in relation to the operation of the neurosurgical department. I believe morale in the hospital has been shattered and its reputation has been severely damaged. Even today the hospital is awash with rumours of more suspensions or further pending dismissals. Some of the reports have been considered by the Medical Council.
I have been particularly disturbed to discover that one report has never been examined by that body, even though it has a fundamental bearing on certain decisions which have already been made. The report in question was commissioned by the Medical Protection Society and has, I understand, been in the hands of the Medical Council for some weeks at least. It was prepared by a highly respected consultant neurosurgeon, Dr. Jonathan Punt of the University Hospital in Nottingham. He was brought in as an independent consultant, with no connection at all with any individual there, to give an objective, professional and modern view on the work practices in the hospital. It would be unfair of me to set out in detail the findings of that report as it deals with the conduct of individuals in a very trenchant and forthright way. I am aware that the Minister has had sight of that report. I expect him to be able to reassure the House tonight that its contents will receive the closest possible scrutiny, will not be suppressed and will be acted upon.
I call on the Minister tonight to announce that he intends to announce an inquiry not alone into the suspension of one individual neurosurgeon but into every aspect of the running of the neurosurgical department in that hospital. I recognise that it may not be possible to hold such an inquiry in public but the Minister must agree on two basic requirements: (1) that it will be chaired by an independent professional from outside the hospital and (2) that their findings will be published.
I am dismayed at the actions of the board of the hospital over the last few years. The board must bear a considerable portion of the blame. I hope that when the Minister considers the future of that board within the next couple of months, there will be a hope and expectation that the centre of excellence which we expected to be established for neurosurgery, the flagship for neurosurgery, will be restored and that confidence in the overwhelming excellence of the medical staff there can also be restored.
I wish to thank Deputy Howlin for giving me part of his time. I have been relatively quiet on the subject of the concern expressed by the public in the constituency which I represent in Dublin North Central, in relation to the neuro-surgery department of Beaumont Hospital because, initially, I felt it would sort itself out. However, I now believe that this matter is of grave concern and the cause of huge public disquiet. The morale in the hospital is possibly at its lowest ebb and confidence must be restored, not just in the hospital, but in the catchment area which it services. It has a budget of something in the region of £47 million, a huge amount of money to spend on health care services in which the public have no confidence.
The rumour machine is at its best in relation to what the public and patients have heard. There is only one way in which this matter can be dealt with, I know the Minister indicated that he will have an inquiry and I support Deputy Howlin's call in relation to not just the suspension of Mr. Ó Laoire but into the whole neurosurgery department. I honestly believe that something is wrong and there is only one way in which confidence can be restored to the public, that is by having a public inquiry. I ask the Minister to initiate such an inquiry.
I wish to thank the Deputies for their very restrained approach to this matter.
Before taking up office I was most concerned about the difficulties which have arisen within the neurosurgical unit at Beaumont Hospital. As I indicated to the Dáil last week I have taken a particular interest in the matter since becoming Minister for Health last month. I was anxious, above all, that matters be resolved to allay any fears that the public may have in relation to standards of care at the hospital.
The Deputies will appreciate, however, that I am somewhat constrained in the degree to which I can comment on certain aspects of the situation given the ongoing inquiry which is being conducted by the Fitness to Practise Committee of the Medical Council into allegations made against staff at the neurosurgical unit. The Medical Council are the statutory regulatory authority for the medical profession set up by the Oireachtas and in carrying out their functions the Fitness to Practise Committee of the council have the powers, rights and privileges vested in the High Court or a judge thereof. I hope, however, that the Medical Council would be in a position to conclude their inquiry at the earliest possible date.
A situation has arisen now in relation to one of the six consultant neurosurgeons at the unit in that, under the disciplinary procedures of the consultant's contract with his employing authority, he has received notice of his suspension as and from today. I was only formally notified of this decision on Monday last and, in accordance with the disciplinary procedures, I have been requested to establish a committee of inquiry which must meet not later than three weeks from the date of the suspension. Having considered this request I have now commenced the process of putting this committee of inquiry in place.
If the committee of inquiry, following their deliberations, make certain recommendations an appeal will lie with me as Minister for Health. In these circumstances, I am sure the House will fully appreciate that, in fairness to the parties involved, it would be most inappropriate for me to make any further comment at this stage.
In regard to the present level of services at the unit I should state that the complement of consultant neurosurgeons includes two newly appointed neurosurgeons who have taken up duty in recent weeks. One of these has a special interest in paediatric neurosurgery. As regards the present waiting list, I am satisfied that the additional staff and significant extra facilities which have been approved will make a major contribution to reducing the numbers on waiting lists.
The two patients who need immediate treatment have been advised — as have their surgeons — that they may have their operations in the Mater Private Hospital if they wish to have their operations carried out by the surgeon.