Health Committee to discuss report into Tallaght Hospital when it meets with HIQA next week

Chairman of the Committee Jerry Buttimer TD welcomed the HIQA report into the quality, safety and governance of care provided to patients in the emergency department of Tallaght Hospital. The report arose from an investigation following the death on a corridor of a patient awaiting admission in March 2011.

Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “We welcome this report and look forward to examining its findings and recommendations in depth with representatives from HIQA when they attend our Committee meeting next Tuesday, May 22nd.

Patient safety in any hospital should be paramount and this report raises serious issues in relation to the quality of care and patient safety at Tallaght hospital. According to the report, this resulted in the persistent, and generally accepted, tolerance of patients lying on trolleys in corridors for long periods of time with a lack of clarity as to who was accountable for patients. This is an unacceptable practice which should not happen in any hospital. Patients deserve a health system where they are confident they can receive quality care in a safe environment.

HIQA said the findings of its investigation reflect a history of longstanding challenges in leadership, governance, performance and management at Board and Executive level of the Hospital, and a failure of the State to hold the Hospital, which was in receipt of significant amounts of State funds, effectively to account for the quality and safety of services it provided.

This report should serve as a guide for future governance and patient care for our hospital system and its recommendations should be implemented without delay. We are looking forward to HIQA attending our next committee meeting where we will have an opportunity to discuss how governance can be improved throughout our healthcare system to ensure the State can deliver a service that is focused on patient welfare.

On behalf of the Committee I would also like to extend my sympathies to the family and friends of the patient whose death led to this report being commissioned.”

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

ENDS

Committee Membership:

Deputies

Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Derek Keating, Fine Gael
Billy Kelleher, Fine Fail
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Charlie McConalogue, Fianna Fail
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein

Senators

Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
David Cullinane, Sine Fein
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent