Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
7 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the provisions which have been made in Counties Cavan and Monaghan and nationally for carrying out post mortem examinations at weekends on persons whose sudden deaths occur other than in hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32609/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of Departments have responsibilities regarding the provision of a death investigation service, which is carried out by, and on behalf of, a coroner. Coroners are engaged by relevant local authorities, which are responsible for all matters relating to the engagement and financing of the coroners' activities. Local hospital consultant pathologists in the main, provide post mortem services to the coroner, using the facilities of their local hospital, but outside of their hospital contract. The responsibility of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform relates to the enactment of any necessary legislative provisions, the provision of legal advice and assistance, where required, and other operational issues.
Currently, it is a matter for each coroner to make local arrangements with a pathologist for any post mortem examinations required. Following consideration of these arrangements, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has held discussions with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association with a view to effecting improvements in the provision of this service to coroners. Arising from these discussions, the Minister hopes to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future. In the interim period, the Department has made arrangements for the provision of post mortem services at weekends for counties Cavan and Monaghan.
On a general point, Department officials are currently working on a new Bill to provide for a comprehensive reform of the coroner's service. The Minister proposes to publish this Bill by the end of March 2005.
I thank the Minister of State for his answer from which I detect that a service will be put in place. I tabled the question, as Counties Cavan and Monaghan do not have a weekend post mortem service. In the event of a sudden death the body is brought to a hospital and becomes the possession of the coroner. More often than not these involve sudden and unexpected deaths of young people perhaps as a result of a car accident or suicide. I have received numerous representations on Friday evenings from parents seeking a post mortem examination to be carried out on their child. Particularly on a bank-holiday weekend, the stock answer they receive is that the post mortem examination will be performed on a Tuesday morning and the body would lie in a cold mortuary, as the family would describe it. They are thus unable to bring the body home to help with the grieving process. In all counties including Cavan and Monaghan we should have a seven-day-a-week post mortem service.
The Deputy should ask a question.
When will these pathologists take up duty? Particularly over holiday periods can we be reassured that post mortem examinations in Counties Cavan and Monaghan will be carried out at weekends? Will the ability to carry out post mortem examinations be restored to Cavan General Hospital as was promised in the recent past?
As I have already indicated, the Minister fully appreciates that the weekend service should be available to the people of Cavan and Monaghan as it is in all other areas of the State. This is why the Minister took action on two fronts. First, he made arrangements to ensure a service at weekends in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Second, he has engaged with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association with a view to effecting improvements in the provision of services in each coroner's area. No problems with post mortem services at weekends in other parts of the country have been drawn to the attention of the Minister. He has engaged with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association with a view to ensuring improvements are made in each coroner's area.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform cannot assist the Deputy in identifying the exact physical configuration of where the service will be provided in the Cavan-Monaghan area.
Is the Minister of State aware that we have a post mortem service in Cavan General Hospital at weekends but only for patients who die suddenly in the hospital? My emphasis is on sudden deaths outside the hospital, in which cases the bodies are brought to the morgue. The hospital pathologist has no input into such post mortem examinations.
The Minister fully appreciates the statutory responsibilities of the coroners and his role regarding that legislation, and he is guaranteeing a weekend service for Cavan and Monaghan.
