Vol. 548 No. 5
297 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the loss of records for a number of patients who unexpectedly had their ovaries removed while in a hospital (details supplied) in County Louth; if he will require an independent and expeditious inquiry and the establishment of a tribunal of compensation in view of the trauma which has affected about 65 families directly. [5823/02]
The matter raised by the Deputy is an important and sensitive one and is being handled accordingly by the North-Eastern Health Board which has statutory responsibility for the provision of services in its functional area.
The chief executive officer of the board took immediate steps to deal with the situation as soon as he became aware of it and the board initiated a review which was carried out by experts nominated by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The report of the review group has been referred by the board to the Medical Council in the context of its statutory functions as set out in the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978.
Since the matter is being investigated by the Medical Council, I will await the outcome of its deliberations prior to deciding what further measures may be required in this case.
