Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Services.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

67 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on a clinical audit of the medical profession; the plans, if any, he has to introduce quality assurance across the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22857/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I support the concept of clinical audit in the context of promoting quality in our health services and ensuring the best possible service for patients. In fact, the consultant's common contract for appointment requires that each consultant, in the context of their management responsibility, participate in creating and operating a clinical audit system. This assessment must be undertaken through a peer review system in which the confidentiality of the patient and the doctor is preserved.

As part of a policy of supporting continuous quality improvement in the health sector, my Department has recently agreed to, and provided funding for, the development of an accreditation scheme, on a pilot basis, for the acute general hospital system. The development of hospital accreditation offers the potential either to verify high standards or address shortcomings within the hospital sector. The pilot scheme will be concentrated initially in the major academic teaching hospitals, and will be structured in a way that it could eventually encompass other hospitals and agencies. The scheme will involve health professionals and will be designed to provide added value for patients and other clients of the hospitals involved.

The primary objective of the scheme will be to have an accreditation system in place that will allow public hospitals to assess their performance against an objectively agreed set of standards and, within this framework, to create an environment of continuous review and improvement of structures, processes and outcomes. The objective of this approach is to promote patient and public confidence in the public hospital system and to develop a consistently high quality and patient-centred service.

The details and phasing of the scheme are now being finalised and the scheme will commence in the near future.