Vol. 572 No. 2
38 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to investigate the circumstances surrounding the decision taken by the Medical Council to strike a person (details supplied), based in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, off the medical register. [22469/03]
46 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he has taken or intends to take as a result of the report of the Medical Council into the activities of a person (details supplied) at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; if he intends to order an inquiry into the affair; when the promised Medical Practitioners Bill will be published and enacted to help prevent such cases and where necessary to allow such as this to be investigated on a more satisfactory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22509/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 46 together.
I received a copy of the Medical Council's report of an inquiry into the professional conduct of the person in question on 29 July. The report is a dreadful indictment of the treatment of the women concerned who have been both physically and emotionally scarred.
The Medical Council requested that the very serious issues raised in its report be explored and I met with the council on 2 September 2003 to discuss its implications.
On 23 September 2003, I met with representatives from Patient Focus and listened carefully to the case histories of a number of the patients concerned. I reiterated my concern at the findings of the Medical Council's investigation.
Arising from these meetings, I believe that further inquiries into practices at the hospital concerned are required. I am considering a number of options in relation to the scope and format of such an inquiry. I will be meeting again with Patient Focus later this month to review the position.
My Department has undertaken a thorough review over the past two years of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978. This review has involved widespread consultation with key stakeholders in the public health service. The views of patients, doctors, the Medical Council, health service agencies, training bodies and medical representative organisations have been obtained. The information contained in these submissions has contributed to the draft proposals that will be contained in a new medical practitioners (amendment) Bill. Preparation of the draft heads is now at an advanced stage. I intend that these heads will be put before the Cabinet as soon as possible.
