Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2023
551. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 279 of 23 February 2023, if he is aware that the families concerned have made requests to meet the HSE individually and as a group but have not yet received a response. [10948/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgain, I would like to again express my deepest sympathy to the 18 families in Cork who, having experienced the tragedy of losing a beloved child, then had the difficult experience of learning that the organs of their child were disposed of without their consent. I am very cognisant of the paramount importance of dignity and respect for parents who have experienced the loss of a child and am committed to ensuring that this does not happen again to parents of deceased children, or any other individual.
The Health Service Executive (HSE), South/South West Hospital Group, Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital advise that they apologised to the bereaved families and very much regret the incident.
The HSE advised that, prior to publishing the final systems analysis report on 25th November 2022, all families were engaged with on how they wished to receive the report. This included an offer to meet with the hospital in receiving the report and the hospital going through the report in person with the family. In correspondence which accompanied the report, the HSE reiterated the offer of a meeting at a time and a date which was suitable to each family. This offer remains to open to each of the families.
While it is not appropriate to comment on individual cases, I wish to advise that in an update provided to my Department on 22nd February 2023, the HSE advised that one family took up the offer to meet in advance of the report being published and were met on the morning prior to the report’s publication. All other families opted to have the report sent to them and two families indicated that they would take up the offer of meeting with the hospital once they had time to review the report. The HSE advise that the hospital is currently in the process of arranging a meeting with one of these families and have asked the family to identify dates/times suitable to them. A meeting will be organised when this has been identified.
The HSE advise that the families have been and will continue to be offered ongoing contact, care and support.
