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Open Disclosures Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 June 2018

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

Questions (208)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to follow through on the commitment to introduce mandatory open disclosure; and the timescale proposed for its completion. [28362/18]

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Written answers

The Government recently gave approval to the drafting of legislative provisions to provide for mandatory open disclosure through the development of the General Scheme of a Patient Safety Bill. The General Scheme has been developed by officials of my Department, with a view to having this item brought to the Government for consideration in early July 2018. It is hoped that it will be possible to have the Bill referred to the Oireachtas in order for Parliamentary Counsel to commence drafting of the legislation shortly thereafter.

These provisions to provide for mandatory open disclosure of serious patient safety incidents will be in addition to the provisions for open disclosure contained in the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017. The Regulations to prescribe the process for open disclosure in line with the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017 are also being drafted at present and are expected to be finalised shortly.

The Patient Safety Bill, in addition to addressing mandatory open disclosure will also provide for a number of other important patient safety concerns, including in relation to mandatory reporting of serious incidents to an appropriate regulatory body such as HIQA, enabling the Minister for Health to issue guidance in relation to clinical audit, and extending the remit of HIQA to private hospitals.

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