Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2008
23 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will instigate an external inquiry into the circumstances in which a healthy kidney was removed from a child in a hospital (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16320/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to take this opportunity to express my deep regret over this incident. The immediate priority must be to ensure that the child in question is provided with all necessary medical care and that the family receives full support. An investigation into this case is already underway. It will be carried out in two phases. The first phase involves an internal review to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the incident. This review is being conducted by a team consisting of a
Clinical Risk Manager
Consultant Surgeon
Consultant Anaesthetist
Consultant Nephrologist and
Senior Nurse Manager.
Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin expects that this internal review will be completed in the next week. On completion, the second phase of the investigation will be carried out by a team of external experts. The Hospital has confirmed that Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, led by a team of consultants, will carry out this external review on their behalf. This review will undertake a root cause analysis to determine why the incident occurred and provide recommendations for future practice at the hospital where appropriate. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children have committed to completing the review in the shortest timeframe possible. The Board of Directors of the hospital will consider the findings of both reviews. The completed reports will also be made available to the parents of the child in question and to the Health Service Executive.
