Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 May 1999

Vol. 505 No. 5

Written Answers. - Maternity Services.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

34 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received the report commissioned from the North-Eastern Health Board from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in relation to the fact that a number of caesarean hysterectomies had been carried out unnecessarily by a consultant in the board's area; the action, if any, he will take arising from the report; if further complaints have been received regarding consultants working in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13970/99]

Alan Shatter

Question:

88 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take in view of the publication of the review group report into hysterectomies undertaken by a consultant attached to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, to ensure that hospitals perform regular medical audits of these procedures and to ensure the removal of clause 5.3 (iii) in the hospital's code of ethics; and the discussions, if any, he has engaged in with the hospital and the health board concerning compensation claims which may be brought by mothers who underwent a caesarean hysterectomy in circumstances in which no such procedure should have been undertaken. [14106/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 88 together.

The report of the review group referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the North-Eastern Health Board on 26 April 1999. The board has referred it to the Medical Council.

The consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist in question is on administrative leave and no caesarean hysterectomies have been carried out at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, Drogheda since the matter was first brought to the attention of the board last October.

Since receiving the report, the North-Eastern Health Board has taken a number of steps in support of patients who may have been affected by these events. These include: a helpline is in place to advise any patient, past or present, on any queries they may have; a comprehensive range of support and counselling and support services is being provided for patients and their families. Direct contact has been made by the board with the general practitioners of the patients involved to give them information and advice; and as a precaution, the North-Eastern Health Board has arranged for a systematic look back of all records of the consultant in question prior to 1992.

The North-Eastern Health Board and local hospital management are committed to facilitating and encouraging all health professionals to implement all necessary measures to meet the current requirements for quality assurance. To date the following improvements have been or are being introduced by the Hospital: revised protocols and procedures within the maternity unit, and particularly the delivery suite, to ensure best practice. All staff at the hospital are co-operating fully with the North-Eastern Health Board in implementing agreed protocols and procedures, including audits of these procedures; new arrangements commencing in June for the management of antenatal clinics admission protocols regarding assessment and discharge of women who are not in labour; a twice-daily reporting system involving consultants and midwifery staff; improvements in the consultative process regarding the management of midwifery and obstetrical care; and the introduction of customer care satisfaction surveys.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda has been in public ownership since May 1997. The question of amending the code of ethics that applied when the hospital was in independent ownership does not arise. The ethical code of any medical practitioner is defined by the Medical Council and the law of the land. The clinical care of a patient is solely a matter for the individual consultant concerned.

The question of compensation in this case would be a matter for consideration by the relevant bodies acting on behalf of the consultant in question.

The North-Eastern Health Board is dealing with certain issues in relation to two other consultants in its area at present. Both cases are under consideration by the Medical Council and I do not wish to comment further on them at this stage.