HSE Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Ceisteanna (441)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

441. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health where the responsibility lies for Dáil Éireann being misled by his response to parliamentary questions tabled by me on seven occasions, between 19 May 2011 and 19 November 2013, in which he stated he had been advised that the circumstances surrounding a patient's death were investigated by the Health Service Executive under the national incident protocol, yet at the resumed inquest into the death of a person (details supplied), it emerged that the only investigation was an internal one, which was carried out by the staff of the Rotunda Hospital, appointed by the master of that hospital who approved the report between two and four weeks before the members of the review team signed off on it; and the action he proposes to take regarding same. [51734/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I wish to categorically confirm for the Deputy that there is no question of the Dáil being misled in responses to previous Parliamentary Questions regarding this case. May I clarify the HSE's Risk and Incident Investigation procedure and its application in this case.

The investigation of the circumstances surrounding this person's death was conducted in line with the HSE's Risk and Incident Investigation Procedure. A cornerstone of the HSE's incident management procedure, which is in accordance with recognised practice internationally, is that identifying and managing risks and incidents is most appropriately and effectively carried out at local level. It would not be appropriate for all incident investigations to be dealt with at a national level. As local investigation is an integral part of the overall Risk and Incident Investigation Procedure local managers investigate risks and incidents, as appropriate, that occur within their own service.

I have been advised that the circumstances surrounding this patient's death were investigated by the Rotunda Hospital in accordance with the HSE Procedure and that the 11 recommendations made have all been implemented.