Vol. 522 No. 3
4 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will conduct an inquiry into the death of a 66 year old woman from County Clare who spent an estimated ten hours trying to find a hospital bed, having failed to be admitted to two hospitals in the Mid-Western Health Board region, as reported in a newspaper (details supplied); and the action he will take to ensure no seriously ill patient is ever again refused essential hospital care. [18805/00]
At the outset, I extend my sympathy to the family of the woman referred to by the Deputy. I was also deeply concerned at the account presented in media reports of her admission to hospital. I understand that the Mid-Western Health Board is currently undertaking an investigation in relation to the circumstances surrounding her death and that it will be completed at an early date. Until all the facts and findings have been established, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
However, I would like to assure the Deputy that when the board's investigation is completed my Department will evaluate the situation with a view to ensuring that any appropriate follow-up action is taken which will prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.
When does the Minister anticipate he will get the board's report? As the board is directly responsible for what occurred, is he is satisfied it is appropriate that the board investigate itself? Should the Minister not have an independent inquiry conducted into what occurred?
Hear, hear.
Will the Minister publish whatever report he has been promised by the board?
I have no difficulty in having such reports published, subject to the normal legal requirements. It is regrettable and unacceptable that people should have to go through what this lady went through. In the first instance, it is important, for a whole raft of reasons, that the health board conducts an investigation to ensure such a situation does not reoccur. We will assess the situation following the completion of that report. I understand legal representatives of the family of the deceased have also been in touch with the health board and it is possible that legal proceedings could arise from this.
Does the Minister agree there is a vital public interest in having an independent inquiry conducted and that the health board has a vested legal interest in not reporting comprehensively and truthfully on what occurred? Does he agree it is a scandalous outrage that a 66 year old woman spent ten hours trying to gain admittance to a hospital, that she had four separate ambulance rides, that she spent five hours in Limerick regional hospital, which refused to admit her, that she was then taken to Our Lady's psychiatric hospital in Ennis, which refused to admit her, and then ultimately Ennis General Hospital, where she died the following morning?
Does the Minister accept this is a total indictment of the Government's failure to provide a proper health service? Does he agree the bereaved family of the woman concerned should be given the fullest possible information and assistance so that the total background is known publicly? The Minister has a duty to take action at departmental level to ensure such an appalling, scandalous event is never repeated.
As I said, I regard as unacceptable the delay and the manner in which this lady was treated, having to go to so many hospitals and so on over such a lengthy period. As already stated, I will await the outcome of the investigation that has been undertaken by the health board. I would not be satisfied if we were to take it as given that health boards should have a vested interest in concealing the truth. Health boards are statutory bodies and they are accountable to their members, the Government and the Oireachtas. It would be unthinkable and unacceptable if any health board considered itself to have a vested interest in suppressing the truth.
Everyone is interested in discovering the truth in order to ensure that the family of the woman concerned may obtain the fullest information possible and that steps can be taken to ensure that a similar incident never occurs. Before we make definitive conclusions regarding whether this incident is an indictment of the overall system or whether it was peculiar to the particular circumstances that obtained, it would be prudent to await the outcome of the investigation. Incidents of this nature are not, in many instances, caused by a lack of resources but occur because certain systems and procedures did not, for whatever reason, fall into place.
Does the Minister agree that, to use the old legal terminology, no body should be a judge in its own court? Does he agree that there will be a total lack of public confidence in whatever report is produced by the health board into what, on the face of it, is gross and appalling negligence and a failure of the systems for which the board is directly responsible? Does the Minister further agree that he has a responsibility to ensure that the fullest and most comprehensive information is obtained and that wide-ranging recommendations are issued in order to guarantee that there will be no repetition of such a tragedy? Is it not correct that he has a serious obligation to ensure that this sad event is independently investigated?
As already stated, the first step in the process is to obtain the report from the health board. I will then evaluate that report and decide on what action to take. Such action could involve establishing an inquiry but such a development will depend on the quality, content and nature of the report we receive from the health board.
