Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012
119 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the action he proposes to take on the recommendations of the Health Information and Quality Authority report on Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29433/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully accept the thrust of this report, which is first and foremost about patient safety. I have moved quickly to address one of the key recommendations, the establishment of a committee to oversee the implementation of the report. The oversight committee, which I announced on 11 June, will be chaired by Dr Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer. Confirmation of some members is awaited and I will announce the membership when that is received.
Overall, HIQA's report makes recommendations about unscheduled care, scheduled care, and board governance. Many of the recommendations are in line with the Government's stated policy intention to reform scheduled and unscheduled access to acute services through:
(i) clinical standards and performance targets;
(ii) rigorous performance management of access, quality and budgets; and
(iii) proper accountability through the establishment of hospital groups and, eventually, hospital trusts.
Many of the changes required are already underway or planned. The hospital's board and management team have fully accepted the report and its outcomes and recommendations. The staff of the hospital have a hugely important role in responding to the challenges ahead in order to allow Tallaght Hospital to achieve its potential.
