Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 5

Written Answers. - Confusion Re Hospital Charts.

Jim Higgins

Question:

183 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health, in view of his letter confirming that there was a mix up of notes relating to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo and another similarly named patient at a Western Health Board hospital, if he will give details of the name and address of the patient whose notes were mixed up with those of the person; the nature of the complaint of both patients; the date and time of the admission of the person; the treatment and drugs administered to the person while she was being treated under a false identity; the date and time that the mix up was discovered; the way in which the matter came to light; and if he will have arrangements made for Deputy Jim Higgins and the son of the person to examine the charts that relate to this person's first two days hospitalisation.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The Deputy will appreciate that for reasons of confidentiality, I am unable to release the name and address or, medical treatment received by any patient in hospital.

I can confirm, however, that the Western Health Board has indicated that while there was a mix up of notes between the patient in question and another similarily named patient, this was rectified within a matter of hours. There is no evidence that the patient suffered in any way as a result of this incident.

In relation to the possibility of examining the medical records pertaining to this patient, the position is that the patient's son together with a medical officer nominated by him have already inspected all of the medical records. I understand that the medical officer, who was the patient's general practitioner, was satisfied with this inspection.