Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1919. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the commencement of all sections of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39210/23]
View answerThe Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 which was signed by the President on 2nd May 2023, is a landmark piece of patient safety legislation. A key intention of the Patient Safety Act is to ensure that patients and their families have access to comprehensive and timely information. This is achieved by the open disclosure mechanism in the Act which contributes to embedding a culture whereby clinicians, and the health service as a whole, engage openly, transparently and compassionately with patients and their families when things go wrong.
Prior to commencement of the Act, there are a number of preparatory steps required. These are currently being progressed and significant multi-stakeholder engagement is now taking place across the health system.
The Act establishes a mandatory requirement for the notification of certain serious patient safety incidents. To facilitate this notification process, a new module to the existing National Incident Management System (NIMS) must be designed, tested and implemented before this provision can be commenced. Work with key stakeholders, including the HSE, State Claims Agency, HIQA and the Mental Health Commission, is currently taking place.
The HSE advise that work is underway to finalise and fully roll out their new open disclosure training policy and communications plan to all staff regarding the new disclosure and notification requirements under the Act before its implementation can be rolled out.
The Patient Safety Act also mandates open disclosure of patient requested review of cancer screening and the implementation of a communications programme regarding such reviews. The HSE and the Screening Services and currently finalising these processes.
The intention is to commence the Act at the earliest possible date.
